Virus crisis adds new hurdles to Jordans struggling trucking sector association

AMMAN — The losses of Jordan’s trucking sector incurred during the coronavirus have exceeded $70 million, on top of around $1.3 billion that had already been lost due to regional instability and border closures with Syria and Iraq, according to the Jordan Truck Owners Association.

The government’s stringent measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus have further exacerbated the troubles of the trucking industry, one of the most vital sectors in “this interconnected world”, said Mohammad Daoud, president of the Jordan Truck Owners Association.

The association president stated that at present, commercial exchange with Syria is at its “lowest level”, as only 70 freight exchanges are made on a daily basis in both directions.

With Iraq, between 150 and 180 trucks are exchanged at the trading zone established on the joint border between the two countries, he said.

The Kingdom’s commercial shipments to Europe have also “decreased dramatically” due to the preventative measures adopted by all countries to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Daoud said.

“Significant numbers of truck drivers are under severe financial hardships as they have suddenly found themselves with no jobs owing to commercial freight stoppage,” he said.

“Some truck owners had to sell their trucks and many trucks had been repossessed by banks after their owners fell behind on their loans,” the association president said.

The sector employs around 100,000 people in Jordan and includes some 21,000 trucks, according to Daoud.