Photo Aptrindo Chairman Gemilang Tarigan (R) and Asdeki Chairman Mustafa Kamal Hamka
The Indonesian Trucking Companies’ Association (Aptrindo) has announced a planned halt in all operations on Thursday and Friday, March 20-21, 2025, in protest of the 16-day restriction on goods transportation during the 2025 Eid period.
Gemilang Tarigan, the General Chairperson of Aptrindo, expressed the association’s demands through the strike. “The strike will take place on March 20-21, 2025. Two days should be sufficient. Our goal is to demand a revision of the regulation that restricts truck operations,” Gemilang said during press conference on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Jakarta.
Gemilang further explained that Aptrindo chose to strike after failed attempts to engage in dialogue with the government.
Earlier, Aptrindo Jakarta confirmed that all operations would cease on Thursday and Friday, March 20-21, 2025. Dharmawan Witanto, Chairman of the Aptrindo Jakarta Regional Leadership Council, stated that around 500 freight transport entrepreneurs across Jakarta would participate in the strike.
“We, Aptrindo, strongly oppose and reject the excessive 16-day restriction on freight transport operations,” Dharmawan stated in a notification issued on Monday, March 17, 2025.
He emphasized that these restrictions have a severe impact on logistics business owners, especially drivers and stevedores who depend on daily income. In response, Aptrindo is calling for a revision of the duration of the freight transport restrictions during the 2025 Eid al-Fitr period.
The truck strike, outlined in Aptrindo’s Circular Letter Number 526/DPP APTRINDO/III/2025, has raised concerns across multiple sectors. Set to begin on March 20, 2025, the strike is a direct response to the Ministry of Transportation’s policy restricting trucks from crossing toll roads during the Eid homecoming period.
The government has implemented a policy to limit freight transport during the 2025 Eid homecoming and return flow periods to reduce traffic congestion.
This regulation, formalized in a joint decree from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the National Police Traffic Corps, and the Ministry of Public Works on March 6, 2025, affects vehicles with three or more axles, vehicles with attached trains or trailers, and vehicles used to transport excavated products such as soil, sand, stone, mining products, and building materials.
The restrictions will be enforced from Monday, March 24, 2025, at 00:00 local time, until Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 24:00 local time, covering both toll and non-toll roads.
Logistics Business Concerns
Mustafa Kamal Hamka, General Chairperson of the Indonesian Container Depot Association (ASDEKI), raised concerns about the potential negative impact of the truck strike on the already fragile logistics sector. According to Kamal, the combined effects of the long holiday and the strike could severely disrupt operations at container depots.
“Adding two more days of disruption due to the trucking strike will only worsen the situation,” Kamal explained. “Many activities will come to a halt, drastically affecting the flow of containers in and out of depots.”
ASDEKI reports that 7,000 to 10,000 containers move through each of the 53 container depots across Indonesia every month. If the strike proceeds, an estimated 300,000 containers could be affected by the extended holiday. Kamal emphasized that while ASDEKI understands and supports the truckers’ demands, the strike’s impact on container depots will further complicate logistics and have broader economic repercussions.
Kamal urged collaboration between the government, trucking companies, and logistics sector stakeholders to address the strike’s effects. He stressed the urgency of finding solutions to maintain smooth supply chains and prevent more significant losses in the logistics sector.
Adi Sugiri, Executive General Manager of Pelindo Regional 2 Tanjung Priok, expressed concerns about the potential for increased congestion at the port due to the truck strike. Tanjung Priok Port, Indonesia’s primary export-import hub, is already facing challenges in managing goods flow during the extended holiday period.
“We’re already worried about the long holiday,” Adi said. “If the strike adds to the disruptions, congestion at the port will intensify.”
Although truck activities are halted, loading and unloading of goods at Tanjung Priok Port continues. To alleviate congestion, Adi explained that containers would be moved to line 2 of the port. “This will help reduce congestion on line 1,” he added.
Pelindo Regional 2 Tanjung Priok is coordinating with various stakeholders to minimize the strike’s impact. Adi emphasized the importance of effective collaboration to ensure smooth goods distribution, which is vital for the nation’s economy.
Ministry of Industry Calls for Solutions
Faisol Riza, Deputy Minister of Industry, responded to the planned strike, stressing the potential negative impact on Indonesia’s industrial sector.
“This strike will certainly affect industrial performance,” Faisol said. “We need the opportunity to communicate and coordinate with those who can help ensure that transportation entrepreneurs can continue their operations.”
Faisol mentioned that he would also reach out to the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) to discuss the issue, hoping for a resolution that ensures smooth execution of the 2025 Eid homecoming process.