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Bisnis Indonesia - Angkutan darat: Pemerintah lanjutkan Zero ODOL
23 June 2025
Bisnis, Jakarta – The government is continuing with its Zero ODOL (Over Dimension and Overload) action plan for freight transport, despite opposition from truck drivers in several regions.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the ban on overloaded and over-dimension trucks remains a priority, as it concerns road safety and the protection of road infrastructure.
According to him, road safety is the government’s top priority in every transport policy.
“Overloaded and over-dimension trucks not only accelerate the deterioration of road and bridge infrastructure but also increase the risk of accidents that can claim lives. And when it comes to safety, even one life lost is one too many,” he said in an official statement on Sunday (22 June).
According to data from the National Traffic Corps (Korlantas) of the Indonesian National Police, in 2024 there were 27,337 traffic accidents involving freight vehicles—around 10.4% of the total 262,328 incidents. These accidents resulted in 183,995 minor injuries, 16,601 serious injuries, and 26,839 fatalities.
Meanwhile, PT Jasa Raharja (Persero) reported that ODOL vehicles were the second-highest cause of accidents. In 2024, 6,390 fatalities received compensation, while as of May 2025, 2,203 deaths from 7,485 accidents were attributed to ODOL vehicles.
Several fatal incidents have further highlighted the dangers of ODOL this year. The Minister cited a truck carrying bottled water that crashed at the Ciawi Toll Gate on 4 February 2025, killing eight people, and a coal ash truck accident in Kalijambe, Purworejo on 7 May 2025, which claimed 11 lives.
Inspections by the Motor Vehicle Weighing Implementation Unit (UPPKB) from January to April 2025 revealed that out of 752,000 vehicles inspected, 129,887 were found to have exceeded load limits.
The Minister explained that the ODOL policy has been in motion since 2016. After a pause in 2021–2022, the government relaunched the Zero ODOL programme in collaboration with cross-sector stakeholders.
In 2025, efforts are focused on drafting the National Action Plan for ODOL Handling as part of the broader strategy under the Presidential Regulation on National Logistics. The initial phase includes outreach targeting goods and vehicle owners.
The policy is coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, involving several ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Police, and private sector stakeholders. Law enforcement will be carried out gradually through persuasive, educational, and measured enforcement approaches.
However, Dudy affirmed his commitment to listening to the concerns of truck drivers regarding the regulation of overloaded and over-dimension vehicles.
He stated that the government understands the drivers’ concerns and aims to strike a balance between safety and the sustainability of the national logistics sector.
“It is important for us to hear directly from the drivers, who are on the front lines of the national freight transport sector,” said the Minister.
Dudy emphasised that truck drivers play a strategic role in supporting smooth logistics distribution and economic growth.
Head of the Type Test Sub-Directorate at the Directorate General of Land Transport, Hert Prabowo, added that regulating ODOL trucks could actually support the advancement of the national logistics industry.
He acknowledged that some parties, including business owners, have complained that ODOL enforcement disrupts the flow of goods from factories to markets.
“This is actually a synergistic effort. A well-managed logistics system, I believe, will reduce ODOL violations,” said Hert during the TMIIN Logistic Skill Contest on Saturday (22 June).
He stated that overloaded vehicles can damage roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.
On the other hand, he clarified that not all heavily loaded vehicles are considered ODOL. Trucks carrying large volumes are allowed as long as they meet standards and do not violate regulations.
“ODOL refers to violations that do not comply with the rules. Carrying a lot of goods is fine, just do not be ODOL,” he explained.
He also noted that ODOL violations could be reduced if industries made greater use of other transport modes. Currently, nearly 90% of logistics transport relies on road infrastructure.
“Meanwhile, rail and sea transport still have room for growth. Balancing these modes is key to resolving ODOL issues and making our logistics transport more efficient,” he added.
Distribution route
Chairman of the Indonesian Trucking Association (Aptrindo), Gemilang Tarigan, believes that establishing dedicated logistics lanes could be a solution to the ongoing issues surrounding ODOL freight transport.
He noted that ODOL trucks are often seen as a threat to road safety. For example, the government imposed a ban on overloaded logistics transport during the 2025 Eid holiday, which disrupted distribution activities and affected manufacturers.
“Our proposal now is to increase the maximum axle load and create dedicated logistics lanes,” said Gemilang.
He suggested raising the maximum axle load standard from the current 8–10 tonnes per vehicle to a higher capacity.
He cited examples from other Asian countries, where the maximum axle load standard is around 11 tonnes, while in Europe it has reached 13 tonnes.
“Factories are now located in rural areas, and the roads are village roads. How can we avoid ODOL in such conditions? That is why we need to reorganise things—raise the load capacity and improve logistics efficiency,” he explained.
In addition, dedicated logistics lanes are needed to ensure the smooth flow of goods to various regions. He also emphasised the importance of digitalisation in securing freight transport.
He added that the government is currently reforming the national logistics industry to promote more efficient, integrated, and competitive economic growth. One key focus is improving the quality of human resources in the logistics sector.
As part of the national automotive industry, Toyota Indonesia recognises the importance of preparing a competitive workforce to face industrial dynamics, including the Industry 4.0 revolution and the decarbonisation challenge toward Net Zero Emissions.
Mastery of technology and advanced skills is essential to strengthen competitiveness in today’s digital transformation era. President Director of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), Nandi Julyanto, stated that logistics plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the national industrial supply chain.
“In the midst of increasingly fierce competition among national automotive manufacturers, logistics plays a major role in enhancing competitiveness across all aspects—safety, quality, delivery, and cost,” said Nandi.
He added that TMMIN consistently promotes a greener and more efficient future. This commitment is reflected in the Logistics Skill Contest, which contributes to a sustainable logistics supply chain by focusing on safety, operational efficiency, and support for carbon neutrality through the Green Logistics concept.
“This activity not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also lowers vehicle fuel consumption, which overall supports improved company competitiveness,” he said.
TMMIN’s logistics operations total 1,195 trips per day, consisting of 1,066 trips by nine milk-run logistics partners (LPa), 83 trips by 14 container trucking companies (TCs), and 28 trips by five car carriers (CCs).
TMMIN Vice President Director Bob Azam emphasised that the company strives to ensure efficient and safe operational systems in every distribution process, highlighting the critical role of human resources in safety.
TMMIN also plans to expand its system by adding Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based features to address issues such as driver distraction.
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