At a press conference following a cabinet meeting on November 11, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasuyuki Kaneko stated that the recommendations of the "Study Group on Improving the Efficiency of Last-Mile Delivery," which were released on November 7, included a recommendation to add options such as unattended delivery to the standard courier service terms and conditions to promote the spread of diverse delivery methods. He added that "ensuring the security of residents is a prerequisite for implementing unattended delivery," and emphasized that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to organize information regarding the challenges and countermeasures for unattended delivery in order to ensure public trust.
<Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kaneko>
Source: Liberal Democratic Party website
He also explained, "Regarding the 2024 issue, it is extremely important that shippers and the transportation companies that undertake them properly implement standard and fair freight rates, and that truck inspectors and other monitoring personnel keep a close eye on things. By ensuring that drivers are paid the correct rates, it will be possible to improve their working conditions and raise their salaries. Since contactless delivery is inefficient because it requires two or three trips, deregulation must be implemented while ensuring the safety and security of residents."
In response to a reporter's observation that the cyberattack on Asahi Group Holdings has reduced the operation of contracted trucks transporting Asahi Group's products, resulting in a decrease in drivers' net income, the company stated, "It would be ideal if truck drivers could smoothly transition to other jobs when major clients are shut down, but that may be difficult due to business partnerships and other factors. I think this is a major challenge, so I would like to inquire with the relevant department (Logistics and Automobile Bureau)," indicating their intention to first assess the current situation.
