Truck drivers and transport companies risk losing insurance compensation if involved in accidents while overloading vehicles, Great Net SACCO chairman Kennedy Karisa has warned.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Nairobi that brought together the National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya National Highways Authority, insurance firms and truck dealers, Karisa emphasised that breaches of axle load limits automatically invalidate insurance policies in the event of a crash.
“Your insurance will not help you if you get an accident while overloaded,” he told the Uzalendo News after the gathering.
The warning comes amid heightened enforcement along major corridors. Insurance industry representatives often say that overloading remains one of the leading reasons for declined claims following serious accidents involving the transport and logistics sector.
Kenya National Highways Authority officials used the forum to remind transporters that exceeding axle load limits not only damages road infrastructure but also triggers fines and prolonged delays at weighbridge stations.
They urged fleet owners to invest in regular vehicle maintenance and load planning to ensure compliance.
The National Transport and Safety Authority appealed for greater discipline on the roads, especially during the festive season when traffic volumes surge.
Stakeholders described the Nairobi meeting as part of an ongoing nationwide sensitisation drive aimed at protecting both road users and the expanding highway network.
Similar engagements have already taken place in Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Karisa further noted that transporters who consistently observe traffic laws and axle load regulations enjoy better relations with financial institutions.
“Banks prefer clients with clean compliance records,” he said. “Those who protect their vehicles and follow the law access favourable loan terms because they present lower risk.”
