AN OVERVIEW OF LAWS AND RULES GOVERNING ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT ISSUES IN PAKISTAN Shahbaz Latif Mirza Assistant Chief National Transport Research Centre

Definitions of Terms relating to Road Freight Transport in Pakistan Goods vehicle means any motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods. “Good” include livestock and anything carried by a vehicle except living persons but does not include personal luggage of passengers traveling in the vehicle. “Axle weight” means the total weight transmitted by the several wheels attached to the axle to the surface /road.

Definitions of Terms… Contd Delivery vehicle” means any goods vehicle the registered laden weight of which does not exceed twenty-five hundred kilograms. “transport vehicle” means a public service vehicle, a goods vehicle, a locomotive or a tractor “Heavy transport vehicle” means a transport vehicle, the registered axle weight of which exceeds five thousand kilogram, or the registered laden weight of which exceeds six thousand five hundred kilograms.

Definitions of Terms… Contd “Registered laden weight” means in respect of any vehicle the total weight certified and registered by the registering authority as permissible for that vehicle. “Light Transport Vehicle (LTV)” means any public service vehicle other than a motor cab, or any goods vehicle other than a heavy transport vehicle or a delivery van.

Definition of Terms… Contd “Private carrier” means an owner of a transport vehicle who uses that vehicle solely for the carriage of goods which are his own property. “Public carrier” means an owner of a transport vehicle who transport or undertakes to transport goods for hire or reward. It includes any person, body, association or company engaged in the business of carrying goods.

Definition of Terms… Contd “Tandem axle” means two axles centre- to-centre spaced between forty to forty- eight inches of a goods vehicle. “Tridem axle” means three axles, the outer two axles centre to-centre spaced between eighty to ninety-six inches of a goods vehicle. “Weigh station” means stations incorporating static and weigh-in- motion(WIM) devices installed to measure and enforce legal load limits

Definition of Terms… Contd “Articulated vehicle” means a motor vehicle to which a trailer is attached in such a manner that part of the trailer is superimposed, and part of the weight of the trailer is borne by the principal vehicle;

Current Laws relating to Road Freight Transport in Pakistan Road Transport Workers Ordinance 1961 The Punjab Tolls on Roads and Bridges Ordinance, 1962 Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965) Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 Traffic Offences Ordinance 1981 National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 (NHSO 2000)

Road Transport Workers Ordinance 1961 The ordinance provides that: No person, other than a driver, shall be employed in any road transport service unless he has attained the age of eighteen years. No person shall be employed in any road transport service for the purpose driving a vehicle unless he has attained the age of twenty-one years.

Road Transport Workers Ordinance 1961 … contd No worker shall be employed on a vehicle (a) for more than five hours at a time before he has had an interval for rest of at least half an hour. (b) for more than eight hours in a day; and (c) for more than forty-eight hours in a week.

The Punjab Tolls on Roads and Bridges Ordinance, 1962 The ordinance provides that: Government may cause tolls to be levied on all persons, animals, vehicles or other things using, crossing or passing over any road or bridge at such rates as it may notify in the official Gazette

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965) A. Licensing The ordinance provides that: No person shall drive a motor vehicle in any public place unless he holds an effective license. [Ch. 2 Sec 3(1)] No person shall drive a heavy transport vehicle, unless he has attained the age of twenty-two years. [Ch. 2 Sec 4(1)]

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965)… contd B. Vehicle Registration No person shall drive any motor vehicle unless the vehicle is registered. [Ch. 3 Sec 23(1)] A registering authority shall not register any transport vehicle, if the application is not accompanied by a document from assembler stating the maximum laden weight and maximum axle weights for which the vehicle is and the several axles are designed. [Ch. 3 Sec 37(1)]

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965)… contd A transport vehicle shall not be deemed registered unless it carries a certificate of fitness. [Ch. 3 Sec 39(1)] A certificate of fitness shall remain effective for three years. [Ch. 3 Sec 39(2)]

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965)… contd C. Permit A transport vehicle shall not be used or driven without permit. A public carrier’s permit shall authorize the holder to use the vehicle for the carriage of goods for a trade or business carried on by him. [Ch. 4 Sec 44(1)] the permit shall remain effective for three years after which it will have to be renewed. [Ch. 4 Sec 60(1)]

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965)… contd D. Control of Vehicles No person shall drive a motor vehicle in any public place at a speed exceeding the maximum speed fixed for the vehicle.[Ch. 7 Sec 75(1)] Government may prescribe conditions for the issue of permits for heavy transport vehicles and may prohibit or restrict the use of such vehicles in any area or route within the Province..[Ch. 7 Sec 76(1)]

Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 (MVO 1965)… contd D. Weight Limit No person shall drive any motor vehicle or trailer a.The unladen weight of which exceeds unladen weight specified in certificate of registration b.The laden weight exceeds that specified in registration certificate. c. Any Axle weight exceeds that specified in registration certificate. [Ch. 7 Sec 76(3)]

Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 Speed Limits for goods Vehicles (eighth Schedule) Max. Speed aif all the wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres and the vehicle is a delivery van and is not drawing a trailer 80 Kmph bif all the wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres and the registered laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed kilograms and the vehicle is not drawing a trailer 50 Kmph c in any other case25 Kmph

Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 Overall width, length and height of vehicle The overall width of every a transport vehicle shall not exceed eight feet [S.167] The overall length of every motor vehicle shall not exceed:- thirty feet for motor vehicle having two axles, thirty three feet for an articulated vehicle having more than two axles [S.168] The overall height of a motor vehicle shall not exceed eleven feet. [S.169]

National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 (NHSO 2000) Applicable to national highways and motorways network. For universal applicability, the provinces need to adopt it Rules have not been framed as yet Most of the provisions are same as in MVO Axle load limits have been defined

National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 PERMISSIBLE AXLE LOAD LIMITS

National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 PERMISSIBLE SPEED LIMITS (THE FIFTH SCHEDULE)