TGA: Reliance on land transport in GCC ‘rising’, Saudi fleet exceeds 500,000 trucks

Logo of the Transport Public Authority (TGA)

Abdulmajeed Al-Tassan, Deputy Head of the Regulatory Sector at the Transport Public Authority (TGA), said that current conditions affecting air and maritime transport in the Gulf have led to increased reliance on land transport among GCC countries.

In an interview with Al Arabiya TV, he noted that Saudi Arabia’s land transport fleet exceeds 500,000 trucks, capable of handling various types of cargo to meet demand.

The land transport sector is highly flexible, as it relies on mobile assets that can adapt to changes in demand and destinations. It also serves as a key link between different transport modes, connecting airports, seaports, and logistics zones, said the official.

He added that the authority monitors cargo movement in real time through an electronic platform.

Al-Tassan also said that challenges in the Strait of Hormuz have increased reliance on Red Sea ports, where goods are received and then transported overland inside Saudi Arabia and to other GCC countries.

He added that the authority has launched a unified digital guide for carriers via the “Logisti” platform, outlining the types of cargo that can be transported, to facilitate access for private sector players in Saudi Arabia and the GCC based on shipment type.

Among the key measures are allowing empty refrigerated GCC trucks to enter and transport food and medicine arriving via Saudi ports and airports, extending the operational age of trucks permitted to enter by an additional two years on an exceptional basis, and prioritizing the transport of food and pharmaceuticals, according to the official.

He also noted coordination with the Ministry of Interior to reduce truck movement restrictions, improving supply chain efficiency, and allowing companies with private fleets to transport goods for third parties in response to rising demand.

Regarding passenger transport, he said an initiative was launched in cooperation with the private sector to transport stranded GCC citizens free of charge at the beginning of the crisis, in addition to providing shuttle services at some border crossings.