'Land transport sector's losses in 2015 estimated at JD550m'

AMMAN — The land transport sector's losses exceeded JD550 million at the end of 2015, a sector leader said Monday.

Iraq’s decision to close the border with Jordan until further notice, as of mid-2015 due to intensified fighting against Daesh, and the Kingdom’s decision to close borders with Syria, also last year, hit the sector the hardest, according to Mohammad Dawood, president of the Jordan Truck Owners Association.

“Last year was the worst year for the land transport sector. Many players in the sector went out of business due to the closure of borders and the turmoil in neighbouring countries,” he said in a phone interview with The Jordan Times.

Currently, more than 6,000 trucks are "almost idle" out of a 17,000-truck fleet, he said.

“The government should help in opening new markets for the land transport industry. The situation is intolerable and more losses are expected in 2016 if it does not improve,” said Dawood.

According to the industry leader, 300 trucks laden with commodities used to enter Iraq every day and around 250 a day went to Syria before the crisis.

“Those employed by the sector support more than 50,000 Jordanian families. There is a need for quick intervention to find suitable alternatives,” said Dawood.