Jordan’s truckers fear for livelihoods after S. Arabia truck restrictions

AMMAN — Many truckers in Jordan fear for their livelihoods after Saudi Arabia’s decision to prohibit trucks over 20 years old from entering the country came into effect on Tuesday.

Abu Odai, who drives a 23-year-old truck, told The Jordan Times that the ban makes Syria his only viable option. 

“There’s also Egypt, but I can’t afford it. It would cost me JD1,500 just to get there, including at least JD800 for ferry travel fees,” he added. 

Abu Odai also pointed out that his trips to Syria are “extremely difficult”, marked by long waiting periods at the border, which can last for up to seven days due to strict inspection procedures. 

The trucker added that replacing his truck with a newer model to be able to transport goods from and to Saudi Arabia, which is more profitable, isn’t an option. 

“It would cost me between JD30,000 to JD70,000 to buy a newer model. The majority of independent truckers, including myself, are burdened by debt and only make enough to cover their basic needs,” he said. 

Mahmoud Abu Judeh, who drives a truck that is over 20 years old, said that he fears being forced out of work due to the ban. 

“I sometimes transport goods inside Jordan, from Amman to Aqaba, but I prefer going to Gulf countries because it’s more profitable,” Abu Judeh told The Jordan Times. 

A trip from Amman to Aqaba would often costs a truckers up to JD390, and typically results in a profit of between JD60 and JD70, according to Abu Judeh. 

“I have considered purchasing a new truck, but I can’t afford it, especially since I currently don’t make a lot while transporting goods internally,” he noted. 

Abu Judeh explained that his 2002 truck would sell for no more than JD26,000, while a 2016 truck costs between JD55,000 and JD60,000. 

The average income for truckers who transport goods to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries ranges between JD600 and JD800 monthly, he added. 

“That’s what I’d make if I were to buy this truck. I’d have to pay JD1,200 to JD1,500 in monthly installments to pay for it. I’ll starve if I do and I’ll starve if I don’t… I have lost hope,” he said. 

In an interview The Jordan Times last December, head of the Jordan Truck Owners Association Mohammad Khair Dawood noted that the average age of Jordan’s truck fleet is roughly 15 years old.

Around 7,500 out of the 22,000 licensed trucks in Jordan were manufactured before 2002, making them over 20 years old, according to Dawood.