Every year, in the lead-up to Lebaran, the government implements various traffic management measures to ensure smooth and safe travel. One routinely implemented policy is the restriction of freight transport.

In 2026, the government, through the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), has scheduled freight transport restrictions during the Lebaran homecoming and return periods from March 13 to March 29, 2026.

This policy is designed to regulate road traffic and ferry crossings during the 2026 Lebaran travel season. The restrictions will apply to both toll roads and major arterial roads across various regions of Indonesia.

Though restrictive, the policy is never intended to limit economic activity. The government aims to balance public mobility and logistics distribution activities so that both run smoothly and safely during these busy times.

Safety Factors as The Primary Consideration

One of the key reasons behind these freight restrictions is safety. The policy is based on evaluations of traffic density and accident trends observed during the Lebaran homecoming period in the previous years.

The government has also taken into account traffic modeling analyses conducted in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

Data from the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps shows 27,337 cases of accidents involving freight vehicles in 2024, which accounted for around 10.4% of total accidents nationwide.

During the same period, Over Dimension Over Load (ODOL) vehicles were recorded as the second-leading cause of accidents, contributing to 6,390 fatalities.

Given these figures, regulating the operations of heavy vehicles during the homecoming period is the right step to reduce the risk of road accidents.

That said, not all freight vehicles are subject to the restriction. Essential services are allowed to operate, particularly those transporting fuel or gas, livestock, fertilizer, disaster relief supplies, and basic necessities.

Maintaining Smooth Traffic During the Homecoming Period

Besides safety aspects, maintaining smooth traffic flow is another major objective of the policy.

During peak Lebaran travel periods, the growing number of heavy vehicles on the road can significantly reduce overall traffic speed.

Even a one percent increase in truck volume can lead to noticeable slowdowns.

Without proper traffic management, severe congestion might develop quickly, potentially causing even greater economic losses, such as delays in goods distribution.

This is why a temporary restriction on freight transport is a balanced approach that supports both public travel and logistics efficiency.

The government has also announced this policy well in advance, giving businesses ample time to adjust their operations.

Logistics companies are encouraged to plan shipments accordingly and complete deliveries before the restrictions take effect on March 13, 2026.

Logistics Solutions for Shipping Before Lebaran

If your company needs to ship goods around the Lebaran period, careful logistics planning is crucial to ensure a smooth run.

For the simplest solution, consider using the freight forwarding service from SELOG, a subsidiary of  PT Serasi Autoraya (SERA), also part of the Astra Group.

With more than 20 years of experience, SELOG is known for providing comprehensive logistics solutions, one of which is freight forwardingservices for domestic and international routes.

In addition to freight forwarding, SELOG offers other logistics services to provide solutions for all business needs, including Trucking, Shipping, Warehousing, and Project Cargo.

SELOG’s services bring greater convenience, effectiveness, and efficiency to your business by leveraging the latest digital technologies.

These include the Astra Fleet Management Solution (AstraFMS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS).

For more information about SELOG’s services and profile, visit SELOG’s official website at www.selog.astra.co.id and social media on Instagram @selog_astra and LinkedIn SELOG.