The latest ban that limits the daytime movement of heavy trucks in the capital has frustrated businesses that depend on the trucks.

The ban that became effective this week was announced by Addis Abeba City Administration last month and sets time limits in which heavy trucks that weigh more than 2.5tn can be operated on city streets. The City Administration mentioned decreasing traffic congestion as well as air pollution and accidents as the main aim of the prohibition.

Light freight trucks like the Isuzu NPR with a weight between 2.5tn and 3.5tn are not able to operate in the city between 6:30am to 10:00am and from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. The law also forbids trucks from being parked on city roads during the time in which the ban is in effect.

The heavier trucks that weigh more than 3.5tn will not be able to move around within the city from 6:30am to 8:00pm. The ban is in effect for all days except Sundays. It also sets a time limit on the mobility of construction machinery vehicles, sewage trucks and water trucks. However, the ban does not affect police, defence forces and other emergency service providers.

The ban has not been welcomed by the city’s businesses such as contractors and horticultural operators that use the heavy trucks in their day to day operations.

“The ban on trucks in the daytime will have social and economic impacts. Developers and contractors who haven't anticipated the ban are stopping their projects, cancelling their contracts and laying off their workers,” tweeted Kebet Eske Ketema, a weekly radio program presenter on architecture, engineering, construction and urban living on ShegerFm 102.

One such contractor affected by the ban is Bamacon Engineering Plc.

Contractors cannot always resort to working at night, as they sometimes work in residential areas and the contracts forbid them from doing so, according to Alexander Assefa, general manager of Bamacon.

"Our construction activities have almost stopped, and at one construction site we are paying 40 idle day labourers," said Alexander.

Yemisrach Berhanu, promotion and information service department head at Ethiopian Horticultural Producer Exporters Association, also says that the ban does not take into consideration the transportation of perishable goods.

"We are currently in talks with the City Administration, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Addis Abeba Transport Management Agency over the issue," said Yemisrach.

The directive, in addition to empowering the Addis Abeba Traffic Management Agency to administer the ban, gives it the mandate to issue special permits that will allow some trucks to operate outside of the restriction.

The Agency has the discretion to grant exemption permits whenever it deems necessary, according to Semere Jelalo, deputy director at Addis Abeba Traffic Management Agency.

If the heavier trucks want to move around between 10:00am to 4:00pm, they can obtain a permit for a price of 500 Br a day for up to two months. And if both lighter and heavier trucks want to move around 24 hours a day, they can get a permit for 1,000 Br a day.