Background
Road transport regulation in Cambodia governs how vehicles use public road infrastructure, including technical limits intended to protect roads and support freight movement. Maximum vehicle weight rules are a legal mechanism for balancing logistics efficiency with the maintenance costs of public roads. The proposed amendment to the Law on Roads is connected to freight transport costs, road durability, and the management of overweight transport.
The Office of the Council of Ministers functions as a central coordination point for reviewing draft legal instruments before they move through cabinet-level decision-making. In Cambodia’s legislative process, draft laws prepared or supported by line ministries may be reviewed through inter-ministerial procedures before consideration by the Council of Ministers. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is the sector ministry linked to road infrastructure and transport administration.
The draft amendment was prepared following a request from the private sector at the 19th Government-Private Sector Forum to increase the maximum permitted load to 45 tonnes. The review focused on keeping the amendment within the scope of that decision while avoiding additional provisions that could create new implementation issues.
Scope of Application
The reviewed instrument is a draft law amending the existing Law on Roads. Based on the Office of the Council of Ministers’ statement, the amendment concerns the legal framework for road use and vehicle load limits, especially the proposed increase of the maximum transport load to 45 tonnes.
The discussion involved the Council of Jurists of the Office of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and other relevant ministries and institutions. The draft had not been described as adopted; it was being prepared for submission to a future plenary meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Key Provisions or Decisions
On 4 May 2026, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and Chair of the Council of Jurists, led a final review meeting on the draft amendment to the Law on Roads. Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea and representatives of relevant ministries and institutions attended the meeting.
The meeting noted that the amendment was being prepared in response to the Prime Minister’s decision following the private-sector request to increase the maximum loading weight to 45 tonnes. Vongsey Vissoth stated that the amendment should remain within the framework of that decision and should avoid adding new rules that could create further implementation problems.
The meeting also identified several policy considerations: reducing transport costs for the private sector, extending the useful life of roads, supporting public interest in road use, addressing overweight transport effectively, and avoiding additional burdens on the economy, the national budget, road users, and transport operators.
After discussion, the meeting decided that the Council of Jurists would continue working with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and relevant ministries to refine the draft amendment in line with the meeting’s conclusions. The revised draft is to be prepared for a future plenary session of the Council of Ministers.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The draft amendment is relevant to freight operators, logistics companies, construction-material transporters, manufacturers, agricultural exporters, and other businesses that rely on heavy road transport. A legal change to maximum vehicle load limits can affect transport planning, delivery costs, fleet use, and compliance obligations for road users.
The government’s stated approach links the proposed load increase with protection of road assets and control of overweight transport. Businesses affected by road transport regulation should monitor the draft law process because operational compliance requirements will depend on the final legal text adopted through the formal legislative procedure.
Official Source
The information was published by the Office of the Council of Ministers on 4 May 2026. Source: Office of the Council of Ministers Facebook post.
