23-06-2025
Group vows to work with agencies to maintain truck height requirements
The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) vowed to work with concerned agencies in addressing the persisting problem of trucks in maintaining clearance height requirements.
According to CTAP President Mary Zapata, trucks have not been able to meet the requirements for vertical clearance in major roads, which has caused accidents such as what happened at the Marilao Interchange Bridge.
'This problem is widespread. Not just in NLEX, not just in Abad Santos, but even in SLEX. Because the vertical clearance of the bridges is no longer acceptable with the height of the trucks that are passing by. So usually, trucks take the long way round to avoid having to cross those bridges,' Zapanta said in a press release issued Monday.
'We'll have a General Membership Meeting of the members of CTAP by Wednesday and we'll talk about how we'll need to avoid bridges. Even if it will be more expensive, when it comes to toll fees, diesel, a driver's salary, and the turnaround will be longer. Whatever rate we'll have, I'll tell them that we'll need to compute on how we can charge this to our clients. That is the only solution we can think of at the moment,' she added.
The CTAP is also pushing for more dialogue with stakeholders, including those from the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Toll Regulatory Board, NLEX and SLEX, in order to form a more effective solution to the problem.
To recall, a truck hit the Marilao Interchange Bridge, killing a 54-year-old passenger of an Asian utility vehicle (AUV).
Based on the initial investigation of the Marilao police, the trailer truck passed the Meycauayan exit to go back to Malabon, but it hit the interchange bridge on the northbound lane at Marilao. —Anna Felicia Bajo/RF, GMA Integrated News
