JPJ’s War on Overloaded Lorries: A Comprehensive Compliance Checklist for High-Value Cargo in Malaysia

Why Compliance is Now a Shared Liability

For engineers, project managers, and factory owners operating high-value production lines across Malaysia, the transport of heavy industrial equipment has always been a high-risk activity. However, the regulatory climate has recently entered a new era of strict enforcement.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has launched an “all-out war” against overloaded heavy vehicles nationwide. This is not merely an operational inconvenience; it is a critical business risk, as overloaded lorries are a major cause of severe road damage and safety hazards, particularly to motorcyclists.

Crucially, the government is actively drafting legal amendments to penalize not only the drivers and transport companies but also the consignors (senders) and consignees (receivers) of the goods. This shift means mandatory compliance is no longer just the mover’s problem—it is a shared liability that directly impacts your company’s financial and legal exposure.

Choosing an expert mover like Jaberson Technology, who operates with an engineering mindset and meticulous planning, functions as your primary defense against these high-stakes compliance risks.

Part I: The Legal and Enforcement Landscape

The severity of the current enforcement effort, driven by Transport Ministry directives, requires immediate attention from all industrial consignors:

1. Heightened Enforcement and Statistics

JPJ is deploying a massive, nationwide crackdown with dedicated enforcement teams at known hotspots. This special operation involves arming officers and equipping them with body-worn cameras as a deterrent against intimidation tactics.

Statistics underscore the necessity of this action: a recent JPJ finding indicated that almost 55% of 500 “high-risk” lorry operators repeatedly flouted traffic laws, especially by exceeding weight limits. Repeat offenders risk permanently losing their operating permits.

Action Point for Clients: Request evidence of your mover’s clean compliance record. Partnering with a specialist company that guarantees zero major violations ensures your critical project is not subjected to immediate, unscheduled stoppages by enforcement teams.

2. The Legal Risk: Liability Extension

The new legal focus aims to hold the entire logistics ecosystem accountable for adhering to legal load limits. The rationale is clear: lorry drivers and transport companies are often pressured by factory owners to carry excess loads to cut operational costs.

The proposed legal amendments ensure that both the senders and receivers of the goods are also held responsible. This means that if a load moving off your factory floor is found to be non-compliant, your company can face severe penalties alongside the carrier.

Action Point for Clients: Ensure your mover’s contract explicitly guarantees adherence to all legal weight limits (BDM/BGK) and mandates that all costs associated with overloading penalties—including fines and detention—are borne entirely by the logistics provider.

3. Strategic Policy Shift: Road-to-Rail

The government is also promoting a “road-to-rail” policy, seeking to shift the transport of the heaviest and highest-risk cargo away from public roads and onto the railway network. This effort aims to reduce accidents and protect public infrastructure.

Action Point for Clients: For extremely heavy or complex long-haul moves, consult with your mover about integrating intermodal (road-to-rail) solutions where feasible. Forward-thinking providers will be able to advise on logistics strategies that align with this national policy direction.

Part II: Mandatory Documentation and Permits

Relocating oversized or overweight industrial equipment in Malaysia necessitates strict adherence to a complex series of mandatory inspections and permits managed by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

1. JPJ Vehicle Licensing and Inspection Requirements

Before any goods vehicle is permitted for heavy load operations, specific documentation must be verified and filed with JPJ:

PG11A Inspection Report (Goods vehicle inspection report).
Vehicle Inspection Report VR 1
JPJ Form K1
Vehicle Weighing Letter
PUSPAKOM Certificate Disc

2. Controlling Maximum Laden Weight (BDM)

If the relocation project requires adjusting the vehicle’s Berat Dengan Muatan (BDM) or maximum laden weight (or the Berat Gabungan Kenderaan (BGK) for combination vehicles), specific technical approvals are required. This process is complex and often requires an Approval Letter from Headquarters (Automotive Engineering Division).

Action Point for Clients: When discussing the movement plan, demand written assurance that the mover’s proposed transport configuration (truck and trailer combination) has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, all necessary BDM/BGK approvals before scheduling the move.

Part III: The Mover’s Compliance and Assurance Checklist

Beyond submitting paperwork, operational compliance requires an established commitment to engineering precision and safety—the core philosophy of a specialised mover.

Compliance Area	Jaberson Technology’s Service Assurance	Risk Mitigated
Meticulous Planning	We employ an engineering mindset to meticulously plan routes, manage weight distribution, and calculate the center of gravity for every lift.	Equipment damage and structural failure.
Safety Standards	A commitment to high safety standards, professional execution, and stringent safety control, including a track record of delivering cargo without any accidents.	Operational liability and site accidents.
Specialized Tools	Investment in specialized moving tools and advanced rigging equipment designed for tight spaces and sensitive equipment handling.	Damage to machinery and surrounding factory infrastructure.
Insurance Coverage	Comprehensive coverage is essential. This includes Machinery & Equipment Insurance (for immobile assets) and full cargo insurance, which is often a mandatory contractual requirement for high-value goods.	Financial exposure to accidental loss, fire, or theft during transit.

Compliance becomes Your Competitive Advantage

For consignors of high-value cargo in Malaysia, compliance is no longer a cost center; it is a critical strategy for mitigating legal, financial, and operational risk.

At Jaberson Technology, we specialize in high-stakes equipment moving across high-demand industrial sectors. By prioritizing meticulous planning, adhering strictly to JPJ regulations, and executing with engineering precision, we act as the comprehensive liability hedge that protects your business continuity and ensures compliance with the new regulatory reality.

About Jaberson Technology

Jaberson Technology is a leading specialist in heavy machinery moving, equipment relocation, and lifting solutions across Malaysia and Singapore. Serving high-demand, downtime-sensitive industries such as semiconductors, oil & gas, and manufacturing, our operations are led by a team of engineers and rigging experts. We are committed to an “engineering mindset,” ensuring every project—from single-machine moves to full turnkey plant relocations—is executed with meticulous planning, specialised tools, and the highest safety standards to guarantee business continuity for our clients. Based in Malaysia, we are your strategic partner for complex industrial moves.