16-Day Truck Operational Restriction Burdens Business Actors

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Indonesian Truck Entrepreneurs Association has expressed objections to the regulation on restrictions for freight transportation during the 2025 Eid homecoming and return traffic period. The association is requesting the government to revise the regulation by reducing the duration of the operational restrictions on trucks.

The government has just issued a Joint Decree (SKB) by the Director General of Land Transportation, the Director General of Sea Transportation, the Head of the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police, and the Director General of Highways regarding Traffic and Crossing Regulations During the Homecoming and Return Period of the 2025/1446 Hijri Eid Transportation Season.

In the joint decree, it is stated that the regulation on the operational restrictions of freight transportation will be enforced starting Monday (24/3/2025) at 00:00 WIB until Tuesday (8/4/2025) at 24:00 WIB, on toll roads and non-toll roads.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Truck Entrepreneurs Association (Aptrindo), Gemilang Tarigan, stated that the restrictions and operational bans on trucks during Eid 2025 are excessively prolonged. Therefore, his party expressed objections to the joint decree.

"The duration of restrictions is getting longer. This (Joint Decree) has the longest duration, up to 16 days. In previous years, it was 10-12 days. Each year, the duration increases. Not only that, truck restrictions during Eid and Christmas-New Year holidays no longer exclude export-import goods. In the last two years, these goods have started to be included. This will certainly lead to significant losses, with widespread impacts," he said when contacted in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/3/2025).

The association has requested President Prabowo Subianto to promptly revise the joint policy regarding the prohibition of freight vehicle operations from March 24, 2025, to April 8, 2025. The association also urged that the duration of the policy prohibiting freight vehicle operations be changed to March 27, 2025, to April 3, 2025.

If the proposal to change the duration of the operational ban on freight vehicles is not addressed by decision-makers, added Tarigan, then all freight transport businesses across the country, particularly those serving activities at all ports in Indonesia, will cease operations starting March 20, 2025.

According to Tarigan, the decision to limit the operation of goods transportation clearly did not take into account input from the association of goods transportation business actors regarding the impact of the long-term restrictions on the operation of goods transportation.

"The regulations are made very close to implementation. Therefore, many parties will be unprepared, which can cause panic and increase production costs due to the potential for production stops, export cancellations and delays in shipping due to the accumulation of activities after the ban period," Tarigan said.

The ban not only has a direct impact on vehicle owners, but also on the business actors involved, namely drivers, stevedores, factories, warehouses, shipping and parties involved in the world of logistics.

"The broad impact is on the achievement of 8 percent economic growth, because the delivery of industrial raw materials is hampered, exports and imports will be disrupted, and what will happen is the cancellation of contracts with foreign parties which will result in the failure of foreign exchange entering the country," said Tarigan.

The ban on truck operations will also result in a buildup of goods at the port. This is because ships from abroad continue to arrive carrying goods, so there is a possibility of stagnation at the port. The buildup will also burden importers with port stacking costs.

Importers will be fined or pay additional fees imposed when the owner of the goods exceeds the agreed time to use the container at the port terminal (demurrage container) from the time the goods are unloaded from the ship until they leave the port. Ships coming from abroad will also return without cargo.

Another consequence is that exporters have difficulty exporting their goods, so they cannot fulfill trade agreements. Then, drivers have no income during the ban, causing unrest among drivers.

"The impact of the ban will worsen Indonesia's image in the eyes of the world, especially in international trade, so that investors will switch to countries where the import and export process is easier," he said.

According to Tarigan, from the various impacts, President Prabowo's government should be more sensitive to the current economic and industrial conditions in the country. There have been many companies that have gone bankrupt, resulting in the termination of employment (PHK) of their employees.

The conditions that occur are not only caused by the effects of losing competition or competing with other countries. However, it is caused by regulations that do not support the business climate to be able to grow and develop.

"Restrictions on freight transport operations under the pretext of ensuring smooth traffic flow during the 2025 Eid homecoming and return period sacrifice the right to life of freight and logistics business actors," said Tarigan.

Similar to previous years, the mobility of goods transportation will be limited during the 2025 Eid holiday. This is reinforced by the issuance of a Joint Decree involving three agencies, namely the Director General (Dirjen) of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, the Head of the Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police, and the Director General of Highways of the Ministry of Public Works.

"This is to ensure safety, security, order, smoothness, and optimize road and crossing traffic during the 2025 Eid homecoming and return flow," said Head of the Ministry of Transportation's Communication and Public Information Bureau, Budi Rahardjo, in a written statement.

The regulation is carried out through operational restrictions on freight transport. The affected vehicles are freight cars with three or more axles, freight cars with attached carriages, trailers, and freight cars transporting excavations, mining, and building materials.

Several toll roads that implement restrictions on freight transport are focused on Sumatra and Java. The affected areas are Lampung, South Sumatra, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

Non-toll roads will also experience restrictions on freight transportation focused on Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Kalimantan. Provinces in Sumatra include North Sumatra, Jambi, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and Lampung. The scope of restrictions in Java will be applied to Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java. The other two provinces are Bali and Central Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, vehicles transporting several special goods are not affected by the restrictions. These goods are fuel oil/gas fuel, money transfers, animals and animal feed, fertilizers, natural disaster management, free homecoming and return motorbikes, and basic necessities. However, vehicles must be equipped with a cargo letter for the type of goods.

"Logistics is a priority, there are no bans or restrictions, so the supply remains safe," said Budi.

Separately, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said he would discuss again the incentives for logistics entrepreneurs. The longer duration of the restriction than last year was due to the work from anywhere (WFA) program for state civil servants.

"But the most important thing for us is to ensure the smoothness and safety of the implementation of Lebaran transportation, that's all for now. Then we anticipate WFA, also anticipate if people go home early on March 21, 2025," said Dudy.

He stressed that his party is open to discussing incentives for entrepreneurs. The invitation to sit together to discuss with various stakeholders is also wide open.