Ho Chi Minh City is presently in dire need of more truck parking space, what with heavy demand coming from industrial zones, export processing zones and sea ports.
Parking pressure has risen for cargo transport companies as they are short of parking space when they transport commodities from sea ports to industrial zones (IZ’s) and export processing zones (EPZ’s).
As per the Department of Transport, by June 2011, the number of semi-trailer trucks had risen to about 8,500 while parking area for the entire road traffic was only 72 hectares, accounting to only four percent of the required space.
As a result, most of the transport companies have been compelled to rent vacant plots of land for makeshift parking.
Dang Tuc Tiep, Director of a transport company said that they have rented space in suburban areas of the city or in the neighboring province of Binh Duong at VND15-30 million a month. Because most sea ports are far from the truck parks, it has also become costly to transport cargo.
Another issue is that most container truck parking lots are now located in the midst of residential areas. Roads in the vicinity are taking a beating from the heavy trucks in Bac Rach Chiec residential area and Phuoc Long A in district 9 with hundreds of trucks plying daily.
This has affected the local people who have to bear more noise and dust pollution. Traffic safety has been threatened with container trucks occupying entire narrow roads.
People in Bac Rach Chiec residential area have submitted pleas to local authorities to relocate these truck parks, but in vain.
