Israel Road Transport Council: New "Fine-Reward" Plan to Shift Freight to Night

The Israeli Ministry of Transport held an emergency meeting yesterday (Monday) to revitalize the "Laila Tov" (Good Night) project, a national initiative designed to alleviate traffic congestion by shifting freight transport to nighttime hours. During the discussion, attended by senior Ministry of Transport officials and the leadership of the Israel Road Transport Council, a demand was raised for a profound conceptual shift in Israel's supply chain management, acknowledging that the current situation fails to address growing road density.

Gabi Ben-Harush, Chairman of the Israel Road Transport Council, presented a firm stance, stating that without an enforcement mechanism and economic compensation, the project is destined to fail. "Without incentives and sanctions, it simply won't work," Ben-Harush clarified. He proposed implementing a "fine-reward" model: financial compensation for those who cooperate and transport at night, alongside sanctions on clients and terminals that refuse to receive or release cargo during late-night hours. "This works worldwide between 23:00 and 05:00. A client who chooses not to operate during these hours should pay for it," he added.

Sharp criticism was leveled during the meeting regarding the operating hours of inland terminals. Ben-Harush noted that the target is a reduction of at least 30% in truck traffic during peak hours, but this goal is unattainable when many terminals close as early as 17:00. He called on the Ministry of Transport to re-examine the tenders of terminals that refuse to extend their operating hours beyond this time, in order to ensure logistical continuity into the night.

As part of the proposals raised, the Road Transport Council requested that financial incentives be directed specifically to truck drivers rather than the haulage companies, to encourage professional personnel to prefer working night shifts. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that the next session would include port managers and the Israel Ports Company (IPC), aiming to create a unified front between the regulator, ports, and inland terminals to enable the implementation of this move in the near future.