In a move set to reshape the delivery landscape, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, has issued a significant update to Article Eight of Ministerial Resolution No. 271/2020. The amendment focuses on regulating the issuance of new licenses for vehicles used by companies and institutions involved in the transportation and delivery of goods.
The updated guidelines outline that:
- Operational Branch Requirement: Companies must maintain at least one dedicated branch for transportation or delivery operations, situated in a location that adheres to Traffic Engineering Division standards.
- Vehicle Fleet Specifications: To qualify, businesses need a minimum of five light vehicles, each with a load capacity of up to one ton, and the total fleet must not exceed 30 vehicles. If the fleet includes the minimum number of vehicles, companies may also operate up to 15 motorbikes.
- Vehicle Age Limitations: Light vehicles must be no older than three years at the start of business and should be decommissioned seven years post-manufacture. Motorbikes must be at least two years old when business begins and retired after four years.
- Identification and Safety: Vehicles used in delivery must display a yellow metal plate number. Drivers are required to wear company-specific vests as defined by the Inspection Division at the General Traffic Department (GTD). Motorbikes need to be equipped with lighting on the attached boxes and reflective strips. Riders must wear fluorescent helmets.
- Operational Restrictions: Motorbikes are prohibited from ring roads and expressways.
- Vehicle Replacement and Modification: Companies currently operating in this sector can replace out-of-service vehicles and adjust their vehicle types in line with their commercial needs upon license renewal.
- Licensing and Approval: Firms looking to offer logistics services must secure approval from GTD to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
These updates aim to enhance safety, streamline operations, and better regulate the delivery vehicle sector in Kuwait.
