Great Net SACCO chairman Kennedy Karisa has commended the Kenya National Highways Authority for rolling out advanced weighing systems that reduce delays and accommodate real-world challenges faced by transporters.
Speaking at a Sensitization forum where he warned drivers about the dangers of overloading, Karisa praised the introduction of high-speed weigh-in-motion technology now deployed on major highways.
The system allows trucks to be weighed without stopping, cutting waiting time at traditional weighbridges from hours to seconds.
“This innovation has transformed the ease of doing business for genuine transporters,” Karisa told representatives from KeNHA, NTSA, insurance companies, and truck dealers.
“Trucks no longer queue for long periods, perishables reach markets faster, with a better turn-over, and operational costs have dropped significantly.”
He particularly welcomed the authority’s policy of issuing permits for slight weight variations caused by unavoidable factors such as rain soaking cargo on open trailers.
Transporters say sudden downpours along routes like Mombasa-Nairobi can add several hundred kilograms to loads of construction materials within minutes.
“KeNHA understands that weather is beyond our control, Instead of penalising drivers for a few extra kilograms caused by rain, the authority now issues leeways which have helped us alot. This flexibility shows they listen to the industry.”
The high-speed weigh-in-motion scales have been lauded across Kenya and the continent for their accuracy and tamper-proof, with results instantly relayed to control centres. The technology flags only serious offenders for physical checks, allowing compliant vehicles to proceed uninterrupted.
Transport operators present were said to have urged the authority to expand coverage of the new system to all busy corridors, a policy currently in the pipline.
They argued that combining smart technology with practical policies would encourage voluntary compliance and further protect road infrastructure while keeping goods moving efficiently across the country.
