Transporters, agency agree on axle loads

By STANDARD REPORTER

The Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) has backed down on its axle load demands.  It has instead urged its members to fully cooperate with Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). In the surprise move, KTA said it will fully co-operate with KeNHA in a move likely to end a feud that started in December.

In a letter addressed to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and copied to KeNHA, KTA says it fully supports the Government’s position of protecting road investments in a bid to spur development. “We will now fully support KeNHA efforts to protect our highways by ensuring that our members adhere to stipulated axle load limits,” KTA Chief Executive Jane Njeru says in the letter.

Overloading trucks

The letter is also copied to all loading agents, warning them not to overload trucks. “KTA wishes to remind all loading agents of their obligation not to overload trucks. We wish to draw their attention to the provisions of the Traffic Act (Cap 403),” KTA says.

 Ms Njeru said the Act further sets the maximum permissible Gross Vehicular Weight as 48 tonnes. This effectively caps the maximum container weight (40 feet) at 28 tonnes, Njeru’s statement avers.

She said KTA would ensure full compliance to protect roads. “We are seeking the cooperation of all parties involved to ensure we preserve the road infrastructure,” said the letter.

Last December, KTA lost a petition in court filed to stop KeNHA from implementing new axle load limits as revised in the Traffic Act. They protested the move, but KeNHA Director-General Meshack Kidenda ordered his officers to comply with the court order and implement axle load limits to the letter.