Enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) apprehended a total of 9,736 trucks for overloading during nationwide operations from January to July this year.

LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said most of the apprehensions for violation of RA 8794, or overloading, were done by enforcers from the LTO Central Office, and their personnel from the National Capital Region and Northern Mindanao.

Mendoza said he already instructed all regional directors and heads of the agency’s enforcement units to conduct more aggressive operations through surprise inspections on regular truck routes across the country.

In Metro Manila for instance, he said among the usual routes are major thoroughfares leading to and from the ports and several roads that include C-5 Road and Katipunan Avenue.

“We have to make our presence felt because what is at stake are the lives and limbs of all road users. While most in the trucking industry complies with what are stipulated in the laws, especially on overloading and roadworthiness, there are still a number of them who blatantly disregard these laws,” said Mendoza.

“These hard headed people are our target,” he stressed.

The penalty for trucks and trailers for loading beyond their prescribed gross vehicle weight is equivalent to twenty five percent (25%) of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC).

Mendoza explained that overloaded trucks usually compromise the integrity of the engine and the braking system, citing fatal road crashes in the past.

He said they are now coordinating with local government units and other government agencies to intensify the campaign through additional manpower and infrastructure that would help in implementing the law against overloading.

The infrastructure includes weighing bridges on major thoroughfares across the country.