Bureaucratic Delays Sideline Hundreds of Fuel Tanker Drivers in Israel
Hundreds of Israeli fuel and gas tanker drivers are sidelined due to severe permit renewal delays, causing an estimated monthly loss of 18 million shekels and threatening the national supply chain.
Hundreds of fuel, gas, and oil tanker drivers in Israel are currently sidelined due to severe bureaucratic delays in renewing their hazardous materials permits. Industry estimates place the monthly loss at 18 million shekels, with sector representatives warning that the logistical bottleneck threatens the country's fuel supply chain ahead of the winter season.
The backlog began roughly three years ago following the tightening of permit procedures in the wake of the Iron Swords war. The Israel Transport Council heavily criticized the Ministry of Transport, accusing its freight division of administrative failure. David Cochva, CEO of the Israel Transport Council, stated that roughly 300 drivers are sitting at home while the industry faces a severe shortage of qualified personnel. According to Cochva, the monthly turnover for a hazardous materials truck is approximately 60,000 shekels, resulting in staggering industry-wide losses.
Business owners echo these concerns, noting they are forced to continue paying wages to drivers for months without valid permits simply to retain essential staff. Gilit Rubinstein, CEO of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, also called on the Ministry of Transport to intervene immediately, warning that the failure could soon impact consumers at the pump and disrupt gas supplies as winter demand peaks.
In response, the Ministry of Transport stated that the freight division works to ensure road safety while handling a significant surge in permit requests. The ministry added that delays stem partly from the processing time required by the Israel Police, and noted that temporary extensions are being issued to maintain operational continuity. Meanwhile, the Israel Police stated that application volumes have grown exponentially since the outbreak of the war, emphasizing that police have repeatedly urged the Ministry of Transport over the past several years to establish a computerized inter-ministerial interface to streamline approvals, though the requests remain unanswered.
