The Gendarmerie nationale has initiated a nationwide campaign to address the dangers of overloading heavy goods vehicles on roads throughout Algérie. Officers are enforcing weight restrictions to reduce accidents caused by excessive cargo that compromises vehicle stability and braking performance. Officials emphasized the necessity of these measures during the rollout of the initiative. Regarding the safety objectives of the operation, the Gendarmerie nationale stated: "Le respect des charges légales est un acte de prévention qui protège des vies et assure la sécurité de tous." Road safety updates and operational details regarding the inspection points are being shared via the digital platform Tariki and the official Facebook page of the organization.
New Enforcement and Penalties
Authorities have established a tiered penalty system based on the percentage of weight exceeded beyond authorized limits. A surcharge of less than 10% is punishable by a fine of 7,000 dinars. Drivers found with a surcharge between 10% and 20% of the authorized weight face a fine of 8,000 dinars, while those exceeding the limit by 20% to 30% are subject to a fine of 9,000 dinars.
Any surcharge exceeding 30% of the authorized weight is classified as a crime punishable by a fine ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 dinars. Abdelkader Djellaoui, ministre des Travaux publics, explained the necessity of these regulations by noting: "la surcharge constitue l’une des principales causes de la dégradation des routes, des ponts et des ouvrages d’art, réduisant leur durée de vie, outre sa contribution à la survenue d’accidents de la circulation entraînant des pertes humaines et matérielles." These measures aim to preserve public infrastructure while improving overall road safety conditions.
Infrastructure Protection and Safety
The Gendarmerie nationale has recorded specific instances of heavy goods vehicles operating with surcharges exceeding 80% of the authorized legal weight. These severe violations indicate a significant challenge for road safety officials working to maintain stability and performance standards on highways across Algérie.
To improve enforcement capabilities, the Gendarmerie nationale signed a convention with the Ministry of Public Works in July 2026. This agreement focuses on the procurement and deployment of mobile weighing stations for police units. These tools allow officers to conduct accurate, on-site measurements of cargo loads during routine traffic stops. By equipping mobile patrols with this technology, the authorities aim to detect non-compliant vehicles more effectively than through visual inspection alone. The integration of these weighing stations into daily operations represents a shift toward more technical oversight of freight transport. Personnel are now utilizing these mobile units to identify and penalize drivers whose vehicles pose a danger to the structural integrity of national road networks.
