DKI Provincial Government Reorganizes Garbage Truck Operations for Driver Safety

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Environmental Service (DLH) has strengthened the safety aspects of garbage truck drivers. This step is carried out through routine health screening and reconfiguration of the operational pattern of garbage transportation.

This step follows the death of a garbage truck driver who was allegedly exhausted while queuing for garbage to be loaded into the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Plant (TPST) some time ago.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Environment Service (LH) Asep Kuswanto said that health screening is part of strengthening the protection of occupational safety and health for drivers working in the field. In addition, the DKI Provincial Government has also prepared a referral scheme if there is an emergency incident experienced by the driver.

"In addition to health checks, we have also prepared a referral mechanism for further treatment through health centers and hospitals. Including emergency referrals to hospitals in the Bekasi area if there are emergency conditions in TPST Bantargebang," Asep told reporters, Wednesday, December 24.

Health screening includes basic physical examinations, such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, heart conditions, and general fitness evaluations. This examination targets hundreds of drivers from various administrative areas in Jakarta, with priority given to drivers who regularly transport garbage to Bantargebang.

Apart from health checks, the LH Office also adjusted the work pattern by rearranging the schedule and shift for waste disposal to Bantargebang TPST.

This arrangement is intended to avoid the accumulation of truck arrivals at certain times which have often triggered long queues and increased the risk of driver fatigue.

This step is also related to the forecast of extreme weather in the next few days as conveyed by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Heavy rain is assessed as having the potential to hinder the waste disposal process and aggravate the working conditions of drivers.

"We have arranged our transportation mechanism to be more even. With better time distribution, the queue can be suppressed and the driver's working conditions become safer," explained Asep.

In addition to examinations, drivers also receive vitamins, medications according to complaints, as well as snacks and drinks. The Health Office prepares referrals to advanced health facilities if conditions are found that require further treatment.

As previously reported, a garbage truck driver named Wahyudi from the South Jakarta LH Sub-Directorate was reported to have died after queuing for too long to unload the garbage load to the Bantar Gebang TPST on Friday, December 5, 2025. Wahyudi was also known to have a history of heart disease.

Based on information from the driver's colleagues, the cargo unloading queue at Bantargebang can last a very long time, even up to 20 hours. The long queue process is suspected to be the cause of fatigue that resulted in the driver's death.

Asep Kuswanto admitted that the rainy condition could be an operational disruption at the Bantargebang TPST. This resulted in the working time of the garbage truck drivers who transported garbage from Jakarta to Bantargebang getting delayed.

"Every time it rains heavily, we have to stop the disposal temporarily for the safety of workers. The increasingly higher landfill conditions carry risks that we cannot ignore," Asep told reporters, Wednesday, December 10.

In normal situations, the waiting time for trucks in Bantargebang is in the range of three hours. However, the queue has increased drastically to six to eight hours in recent days.

After the rain stopped, officers needed additional time to rearrange the dumping point so that it could be used safely again. This is what hinders the smooth operation of management at TPST Bantargebang.

In addition, the work pressure increased because the path to the disposal site was submerged in water. This puddle was triggered by a landslide at the Sumur Batu landfill owned by the Bekasi City Government which closed the flow of Kali Asem so that truck mobility was disrupted.

"These conditions are what have made the truck queue lengthen in recent days," said Asep.