In response to a series of large-scale stalling of cars due to heavy snow this winter, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established a liaison system with industry groups nationwide to prevent trucks from being forced to transport in the event of heavy snow. , We are calling on shippers to cooperate in canceling transportation and changing routes.
Due to the record heavy snowfall, about 2,100 cars were stranded on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Niigata Prefecture last December, and about 1,600 cars were stuck on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture last month, both of which took two days to resolve. It took more than that.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, some carriers received strong requests from shippers to carry their luggage as planned even in heavy snow.
For this reason, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established a liaison system with more than 1,000 industry groups nationwide under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the shipper side through the group in accordance with the "urgent announcement" when heavy snow is expected in the future. We are calling for cooperation such as canceling transportation and changing routes.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Akabane said at a press conference on the 19th of this month, "I would like to make efforts to ensure safety by disseminating information so that the shippers can understand it."
We urge carriers to wear winter tires and carry chains, and if they get stuck without equipment, they will be subject to administrative sanctions as a violation of their safety obligations if they are malicious.