The awaited standard to regulate freight transport services is put forth by the Ministry of Transport & Logistics delineating the duties of operators, requirements for licensing, and structural organizations.

Signed off by Alemu Sime (PhD), the directive puts transport associations as commercial entities indicating their physical and administrative framework. Commercializing the transport sector is one of the 10-year reform strategies ushered by the Ministry this year, rendering the categorization of freight operators under share and private limited companies and private businesses.

Officials hope to improve the sector's efficiency by expanding competitiveness and opening up domestic and foreign investment.

According to State Minister Denge Boru, the country has lagged behind in the sector, ranking 111th in the logistics performance index in 2022. He said that although transport service had existed for several decades it has borne little fruit to enhance the sector.

Ethiopia uses Djibouti ports as its main gateway for international trade approximating up to 95pc with most of its goods transported by truck. Rapid economic growth for over a decade coupled with the African Continental Free Trade Area and the growth of Ethiopian cities necessitated the enhancement of freight and public transport.

Transitioning to a commercial transport entity demands assets of the associations be audited and approved by members of the general assembly and transferred to the newly established company.

One of the recently transitioned share companies, Freedom Transport & Logistics S.C., has been incorporated as a share company, floating shares to its members and the public. It has garnered nearly 70 shareholders with a four million Birr paid-up capital.

The level-3 transport company formerly known as Idyor Cross Border Freight Owners Association, has already bought and registered one freight vehicle.

"We are hoping to reach the seven-vehicle ceiling in three years," said Yoseph Alemu, the general manager.

Yoseph who had served as the operational manager at the Association claimed that the transition to a commercial entity did not go as intended with the reinstatement of seven new board members.

"The association fell apart in the process of transitioning," he said.

Many believe despite the benefits of reestablishing transport associations as commercial entities, the execution has been rushed.

President of the Ethiopian Transport Employers’ Federation, Birhane Zeru said comprehensive transition guidelines had lacked for most of the associations with the directive taking too long to stipulate.

"The associations needed at least two years to transition to commercial entities properly," he told Fortune.