Logistics Efficiency Act Amendment and Relay Transport Certification Launch Nov 1

On the 21st, the government promulgated Cabinet Order No. 328, which sets the enforcement date of the Act for Partial Amendment of the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods (Act No. 21 of 2026) as November 1, 2026. This was enacted by the Cabinet based on Article 1 of the Supplementary Provisions of the said Act and signed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Consequently, the certification system for freight vehicle relay transport business plans and the delegation of authority from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) will come into operation on the same date.

The amended law modifies the Logistics Efficiency Act (Act No. 85 of 2005). In response to the “2024 Logistics Problem,” where shortages in transport capacity are feared due to the tightening of overtime work regulations for truck drivers, the law institutionally establishes relay transport, in which multiple operators handle trunk line transport in a relay format. The extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette dated the 21st (the same as the date of promulgation) collectively published the Cabinet Order on the enforcement date, the Cabinet Order amending the Enforcement Order (Cabinet Order No. 329), relevant ministerial ordinances, the order for hearing opinions from Public Safety Commissions, and MLIT Notifications No. 1289 and No. 1290.

Certification System for Relay Transport Business Plans to Start on November 1

Article 29-6, Paragraph 1 of the amended law establishes a framework requiring those intending to conduct a freight vehicle relay transport business to obtain certification for their freight vehicle relay transport implementation plan. MLIT Ordinance No. 84 (Ordinance concerning the improvement of ministerial ordinances related to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) stipulates the items to be described in the certification application as follows:

• Name or designation and address; in the case of a corporation, the name of the representative
• Items listed in each item of Article 29-6, Paragraph 2 of the amended law

Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 6 and the MLIT Ordinance have extended the procedure for hearing opinions from Prefectural Public Safety Commissions regarding certification applications to relay transport implementation plans. However, if the content of the relay transport business does not include a truck terminal business, a hearing of opinions is not required. The title of the order has also been changed to “Order regarding… the certification of comprehensive efficiency plans and freight vehicle relay transport implementation plans,” both of which will take effect from November 1.

Delegation of Authority of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to Directors of Regional Transport Bureaus

Article 14, Paragraph 5 of the Enforcement Order of the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods (Cabinet Order No. 298 of 2005), as amended by Cabinet Order No. 329, transfers a portion of the authority of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to regional branch offices. The target authorities are as follows:

• Article 29-6, Paragraph 1, and Paragraphs 5 through 8 of the same Article of the amended law (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under Article 29-7, Paragraph 3)
• Article 29-7, Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the amended law
• Article 29-13 of the amended law

The delegatee shall be the Director-General of the Regional Transport Bureau (including the Director of the Transport Administration Department) having jurisdiction over the relevant area. However, this is limited to matters pertaining to relay transport businesses implemented solely within the jurisdictional area of a single Regional Transport Bureau. Additionally, the citations of article numbers for Articles 1, 2, 5 through 7, and 12 of the Enforcement Order have been reorganized, and Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item (c) of the Enforcement Order of the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan (Cabinet Order No. 182 of 2004) has been amended from “Article 4, Item 17” to “Article 4, Item 5.”

Technical Standards for Displays and Basic Policy for Relay Transport Specified via Public Notice

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Public Notice No. 1289 establishes the standards for displays based on Article 4-4, Item 6 of the Enforcement Regulations, applicable from November 1. The requirements apply to displays with a maximum screen diameter of 38 centimeters or more, or portable displays used by persons engaged in work within specified motor truck relay transport facilities.

Public Notice No. 1290 published the “Basic Policy Regarding the Implementation of Relay Transport Between Motor Trucks” based on Article 29-5, Paragraph 1 of the amended Act. The policy acknowledges that motor trucks account for the vast majority of domestic freight transport on a tonnage basis and over half of the total on a ton-kilometer basis, placing the significance and goals of relay transport as the primary focus.

For logistics operators and shippers, the application for certification of relay transport plans and procedures at Regional Transport Bureaus will become a practical option starting November 1. Shippers reviewing the division between trunk lines and regional distribution, as well as operators planning the development of relay hubs, will be pressed to prepare applications and equipment responses starting from that date.

Sources

• Official Gazette, October 21, 2026 (Wednesday) Extra Edition
• Cabinet Order No. 328: “Cabinet Order Establishing the Enforcement Date of the Act to Partially Amend the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods”
• Cabinet Order No. 329: “Cabinet Order to Partially Amend the Enforcement Order of the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods and the Enforcement Order of the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan”
• Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 6 / MLIT Ordinance: “Order to Partially Amend the Order Concerning the Hearing of Opinions from Prefectural Public Safety Commissions Regarding the Certification of Comprehensive Efficiency Plans and Motor Truck Relay Transport Implementation Plans Based on the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods”
• MLIT Ordinance No. 84: “Ministerial Ordinance Concerning the Adjustment of MLIT-related Ministerial Ordinances Accompanying the Enforcement of the Act to Partially Amend the Act on the Efficiency of Distribution of Goods”
• MLIT Public Notice No. 1289 (Standards for Displays), MLIT Public Notice No. 1290 (Basic Policy Regarding the Implementation of Relay Transport Between Motor Trucks)