Still no policy limiting age of trucks, clarifies LTFRB

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ID-100172586The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said there is no age requirement yet for trucks plying the roads, or even for those applying for a franchise.

LTFRB Executive Assistant III Arnel Del Rio in a text message to PortCalls said there is “no final word on setting of age requirement for trucks yet.”

The requirements for securing a certificate of public convenience (CPC) are still the same, Del Rio noted, adding that “discussions are still open” on the matter of age requirements.

However, a CPC’s validity depends on the age of the truck.

There have been earlier reports that the LTFRB is now imposing a regulation that bars trucks at least 15 years old from securing a franchise.

In a letter to the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) in June, LFTRB chairman Atty. Winston Ginez said trucks for hire that are more than 15 years of age are still allowed to apply for CPC under certain conditions.

The franchise of trucks with age 26 years and above is valid for only one year, while trucks aged 21 to 25 years can operate for two years.

Trucks 16 to 20 years old are allowed on the roads for three years, 11- to 15-year-olds can operate for four years, and new units up to age 10 have CPCs that are valid for five years.

CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot told PortCalls some operators are already buying new trucks to prepare for the implementation of the truck age limit.

Bayocot said that 60% of the trucks on the roads today will be affected if LTFRB imposes the order, and that “there will be a shortage of trucks nationwide.”

Earlier, Port Users Confederation director Dominador de Guzman said trucks plying the roads are mostly second-hand models because their purchase cost is only from P600,000 to P700,000 each compared to at least P1.5 million for a brand-new unit.

A draft memorandum on the 15-year truck age limitation has been on hold since last year.

The Court of Appeals has upheld LTFRB’s implementation of a circular that phases out public utility vehicles (PUVs) aged 13 years old and above. However, CTAP and other trucking groups contest the view that trucks should be treated as PUVs.

Bayocot earlier said some trucks that are already 30 years old are still in good running condition because they are well maintained. However, he still encourages CTAP members to buy new units if they can afford it. – Roumina Pablo

Image courtesy of Gualberto107 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net