1. Introduction: The Regulatory Framework of Road Transport
The Road Transport Proclamation No. 1274/2022 rigorously defines and delineates the extensive powers and duties incumbent upon the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. These responsibilities are crucial for the regulation of road transport services. They also facilitate strategic development and enhancement throughout the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Without prejudice to the pre-existing powers and duties vested in the Ministry under Proclamation No. 1263/2021, the subsequent sections meticulously detail its specific authorities and obligations pertaining to the national road transport sector.
2. Core Legislative and Oversight Functions
2.1. Policy and Legislative Formulation and Implementation
The Ministry has the primary responsibility to initiate policy frameworks. It also creates legislative instruments related to road transport. Subsequent to their formal approval, these frameworks and instruments are subject to the Ministry’s diligent implementation, followed by continuous monitoring and rigorous supervision of their practical execution across the national landscape.
2.2. Assuring Service Efficacy and Universal Accessibility
The Ministry is mandated to undertake, cause to be undertaken, and meticulously supervise activities. These activities are designed to ensure that all road transport services are rendered with paramount safety. They must also be delivered with optimal efficiency, unwavering reliability, equitable fairness, and universal accessibility. This expansive mandate expressly encompasses the assurance of the availability of secure and suitable road transport services for individuals presenting with special needs attributed to disability, concurrently monitoring the efficacy of its implementation.
2.3. Adherence to International Transport Accords
A critical duty of the Ministry involves the diligent follow-up on the national implementation of all International, Continental, or Regional Road Transport related Agreements to which Ethiopia has formally acceded as a signatory party. This ensures the harmonization of domestic practices with international standards and commitments.
3. Operational Administration and Strategic Expansion
3.1. Administration and Oversight of Inter-Regional and International Services
The Ministry is responsible for the comprehensive administration of road transport services on national highways. It meticulously supervises these services. The Ministry also ensures accessibility for services that interconnect two or more distinct administrative regions. Furthermore, it undertakes systematic studies and subsequently implements mechanisms aimed at the strategic expansion of international commercial road transport services, concurrently monitoring and supervising their successful execution.
3.2. Development of Integrated Transport Systems
Directives are promulgated by the Ministry for the holistic development of an integrated passenger and cargo transport system across the entire territorial expanse of Ethiopia. This encompasses the meticulous coordination of the transportation of passengers, goods, and postal services through commercial road transport modalities, with continuous monitoring ensuring the effective implementation of these directives.
3.3. Market Intervention and Scheduling Regulation
The Ministry has the authority to enforce appropriate remedial measures. This occurs in scenarios where commercial road transport enterprises encounter deficits in demand. It also applies when the general public experiences manifest shortages in supply. In addressing such imbalances, a market-based approach is to be judiciously employed where deemed necessary. Additionally, the Ministry is responsible for approving trip schedules submitted by public transport entities, ensuring their fairness and monitoring their implementation. In the absence of submitted schedules, the Ministry may itself develop and implement such schedules, applying relevant disciplinary directives to ensure adherence.
3.4. Emergency and Public Interest Mobilization
In exigencies arising from natural disasters, severe economic or social crises, or circumstances necessitating action in the overarching public interest, the Ministry is empowered to mobilize commercial road transport vehicles. They can strategically assign these vehicles to operate within specifically demanded areas and routes. The Ministry also oversees their deployment and operational efficacy.
3.5. Operator Competence and Licensing Regimen
The Ministry issues Directives governing the operation of transport services by both individuals and enterprises engaged in national and international commercial road transport. This includes the determination of requisite levels and stringent requirements for operator competence, alongside the issuance, renewal, or cancellation of operator permits. Furthermore, it is responsible for the issuance of cross-border permits for vehicles engaged in international transit.
4. Financial and Technical Standards
4.1. Tariff Regulation and Review
For national commercial public transport services, the Ministry undertakes periodic reviews of established tariffs and may, where deemed appropriate, determine and impose tariff caps. Such determinations are made with due consideration for both the equitable benefits of service providers and the economic capacity of consumers.
4.2. International Road Traffic Management
The Ministry is responsible for establishing the comprehensive registration system for drivers and vehicles actively engaged in international road traffic. This encompasses the issuance of requisite registration certificates or special permits, the determination of other necessary vehicle identifications, the issuance of licenses, and the overall administration of international road traffic within the sovereign territory of Ethiopia.
4.3. Non-Motorized Transport Development
A dedicated objective of the Ministry is the progressive development of non-motorized transport services across Ethiopia. This initiative aims for a manner that is optimally suitable to users and harmoniously integrated with the nation’s diverse geography and environmental considerations, involving the implementation of incentive mechanisms and continuous supervision of their application.
4.4. Vehicle Specifications and Standards
The Ministry is mandated to determine the permissible weight, dimensions, passenger capacity, and payload of motor vehicles, with such specifications being meticulously calibrated based on their intended transport services.
4.5. Vehicle Age Limits and Technical Compliance
The Ministry monitors and implements decisions pertaining to vehicle age limits for all categories of motor vehicles, encompassing imported, locally manufactured, assembled, semi-assembled, or currently in-use vehicles, concurrently issuing detailed technical specifications thereof. It also establishes stringent road safety standards and promulgates directives governing vehicle registration and inspection protocols.
4.6. Vehicle Maintenance and Disposal Procedures
Directives are issued by the Ministry concerning the technical competence, operational licensing, and categorization of vehicle garages, alongside the granting, renewal, or cancellation of competence certificates for these establishments. Furthermore, it determines the precise procedures for the manufacturing, dismantling, refurbishing, or alteration of the original purpose of vehicles, as well as for the lawful scrapping or environmentally sound disposal of damaged, worn-out, or age-limited vehicles.
5. Data, Technology, and Infrastructure Management
5.1. Data Utilization and Technology Platforms
The Ministry is responsible for monitoring commercial road transport movement through the deployment of technology-based platforms, for the consolidation of all related data, and for ensuring its proper and efficient utilization. It is additionally mandated to establish and organize a centralized information technology data center for nationwide data collection, systematic organization, and broad dissemination to facilitate the modernization of road transport services.
5.2. Infrastructure Standards and Development
The Ministry is tasked with setting rigorous standards for motor vehicle parking areas, public transport stations, cargo terminals, and bus depots, ensuring strict observance of these standards. Where deemed appropriate, it also undertakes the development and administration of such critical infrastructures.
5.3. Training Institutions and Driver Permit Standards
The Ministry determines standards for vehicle inspection and driver training institutions (encompassing both special and ordinary driver permit training programs). It issues, renews, or cancels competence certificates for these institutions and for individual driver trainers. Furthermore, it actively inspects and supervises the implementation of competence certification and operational licensing by other relevant regulatory bodies.
5.4. Driving Permit Classification and Issuance
The Ministry defines the various classes, designs, colors, and detailed contents of driving permits, alongside the precise requirements for their acquisition, and monitors the implementation of these regulations.
5.5. Vehicle Plates and Registration Oversight
Standards are set by the Ministry for, and it oversees, the manufacturing, distribution, and usage of license plates for all categories of vehicles registered at both federal and regional administrative levels. It also determines procedures for the discarding of worn-out plates and the disposal of abandoned vehicles, and issues single-trip passes for new vehicles operating without permanent plates.
6. Strategic Initiatives and External Engagements
6.1. Supervisory Assignments
To ensure the efficacious execution of its mandated duties, the Ministry is empowered to assign supervisors on either a permanent or temporary basis within any administrative region of Ethiopia.
6.2. Enforcement of Legal Measures
The Ministry ensures that appropriate legal measures are systematically undertaken against any entity found to be engaging in illegal acts that could potentially compromise the safety and integrity of the road transport sector and the broader public.
6.3. Environmental and Climate Impact Mitigation
The Ministry identifies and implements proactive strategies aimed at reducing the environmental and climate impact associated with road transport services. This involves collaborative efforts with relevant organizations and continuous monitoring of implementation efficacy.
6.4. Establishment of Advisory Council
An advisory council is established by the Ministry, comprising duly appointed representatives from individuals within the transport sector, relevant enterprises, governmental organs, and direct service users, thereby facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement.
6.5. Technology Standards for Vehicles
The Ministry, in collaboration with concerned organs, sets standards for technologies. These technologies include communication equipment that may be affixed to vehicles or operated by drivers. This is done to enhance the efficiency and safety of road transport services. It also issues, renews, or cancels competence certificates for institutions providing these specialized services.
6.6. Performance Ratings and Publicization
The Ministry identifies and publicizes annual performance ratings for transport bureaus and road transport service providers, benchmarking such assessments against recognized international rating standards.
6.7. Regulation of Special Purpose Vehicles
Detailed technical manuals are developed by the Ministry for, and it maintains a register of, vehicles specifically designed or repurposed for special purposes, concurrently monitoring their use to ensure strict adherence to only those specified purposes.
6.8. Incentives and Support Mechanisms
Where deemed necessary, the Ministry identifies and formally proposes to the government special assistance or incentive programs for individuals, enterprises, and institutions operating within the road transport sector, subsequently implementing such measures upon formal approval.
6.9. Expansion of Renewable Energy Vehicles
The Ministry conducts studies and implements mechanisms aimed at expanding the utilization of vehicles employing renewable energy sources throughout Ethiopia, collaborating with relevant bodies for the strategic development of requisite charging infrastructures.
6.10. Licensing of New Vehicle Manufacturers and Importers
The Ministry is responsible for the issuance, renewal, or cancellation of competency licenses for new vehicle manufacturers, assemblers of assembled and semi-assembled vehicles, and importers of new vehicles irrespective of their energy source.
6.11. Support for Domestic Manufacturing
The Ministry actively supports the expansion of the motorized and non-motorized vehicle manufacturing and assembling industry within Ethiopia, coordinating the establishment of a conducive investment environment and monitoring technical worthiness standards.
6.12. Rural and Urban Transport Linkages
Support and monitoring are extended by the Ministry to facilitate the expansion of commercial road transport services on roads establishing vital linkages between urban and rural areas.
6.13. Tripartite Program Participation
The Ministry formally represents Ethiopia in the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Program and executes all related duties emanating therefrom, concurrently monitoring their comprehensive national implementation.
7. Conclusion: The Comprehensive Mandate
The aforementioned powers and duties underscore the expansive and critical mandate vested in the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. This mandate is under Proclamation No. 1274/2022. Its comprehensive responsibilities include policy formulation, regulatory enforcement, and operational oversight. They also encompass infrastructure development, technological integration, and strategic international engagement. All these efforts are directed towards fostering a safe, efficient, and sustainable road transport sector within Ethiopia.