The prefabricated housing sector confronts a severe operational crisis following the implementation of revised transportation regulations that restrict the movement of fully assembled modular homes on national highways. This regulatory shift has left numerous construction companies grappling with logistical gridlock, with multiple completed dwellings stranded and unable to reach their intended destinations.
Transport Ministry CEO Chester Williams convened emergency discussions with industry representatives to address the mounting predicament. During these critical talks, Williams acknowledged the compliance of transport operators with previous permit requirements, citing documented evidence that properly lit convoys with adequate warning systems and escort vehicles accompanied recent shipments.
Current regulations mandate that structures exceeding twenty feet in width must be disassembled before highway transport—a requirement that renders numerous already-constructed homes effectively immobile. Williams emphasized the impracticality of demanding deconstruction, noting this would essentially force builders to demolish finished properties and reconstruct them onsite, potentially doubling costs for consumers.
Proposed interim solutions include implementing police-escorted nighttime transport operations for existing inventory. However, Williams clarified that any permanent regulatory modifications would require Cabinet-level authorization. Simultaneously, homebuilders have committed to developing public awareness campaigns through informational commercials and notices regarding safe transport practices for oversized loads.
The regulatory review was prompted by recent highway incidents involving prefab home transports, though preliminary investigations suggest proper safety protocols were followed in both cases, indicating factors beyond transport procedures may have contributed to the accidents.