Overview

• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism enforced suspensions on Oct. 8 that sideline 188 light delivery vans across 111 post offices for 15 to 160 days under the Motor Truck Transportation Business Act.
• The action follows findings of improper driver roll-calls, including inadequate alcohol checks for delivery staff.
• Japan Post President Ichiyuki Negishi apologized and said there have been no reports of operational problems, with mail and parcel services continuing as usual.
• The company is relying on subcontracted carriers and reallocating unaffected in-house vehicles to sustain service levels.
• Nine small offices with only one light van are temporarily without their own vehicles, including Naoshima where the van is sidelined for 139 days, prompting a workaround that ferries an exempt vehicle from Takamatsu; reporting indicates sanctions could later extend to around 2,000 offices.