Saudi Arabia cracks down on foreign truck violations

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has ramped up inspections of foreign freight transporters to enforce compliance with transportation regulations and support fair competition in the kingdom’s burgeoning transport sector.

Regulations incorporating stringent penalties against violators went into effect in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Hundreds of violations have since been registered.

In cooperation with the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Transport General Authority (TGA) launched a large-scale inspection campaign targeting foreign trucks entering the kingdom to ensure their compliance with rules.

More than 13,000 violations have been recorded since the new regulations took effect.

The violations ranged from operating without the mandatory permits to exceeding the maximum period allowed for operating within the kingdom.

The penalties include fines ranging from SR10,000 to a maximum of SR5 million, and seizing the violating truck for at least two weeks and up to two months.

The truck will be confiscated in the event of a repeat violation while a non-Saudi violator, who practises the transport activity without a licence, will be deported.

Besides protecting local operators, the crackdown aims to boost safety standards and encourage observance of best practices.

Trucks operating without permits or exceeding time limits are more likely to disregard essential maintenance, safety inspections, and insurance requirements.

TGA has pledged continued efforts in monitoring and field inspection to expose violations and take the necessary steps to ensure an organised and safe transport environment that supports economic growth, bolsters the efficiency of supply chains, and raises the competitiveness of the logistics sector.