A complete guide to the Industry Code of Practice for Safety (ICOP) — what it is, what it requires, and how to comply.
Official ICOP Reference
ICOP (Industry Code of Practice for Safety) is the mandatory safety compliance framework issued by SPAD (now APAD) for all licensed goods vehicle operators in Malaysia. It was gazetted under Pekeliling SPAD Bil. 11 Tahun 2013 and has been enforceable since 1 November 2013. The legal basis is Section 57 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).
Any company or individual holding a Goods Vehicle Licence (GVL) — including lorries, trailers, tankers, and refrigerated vehicles — must comply with ICOP. A SHE Committee is mandatory if you operate 4 or more goods vehicles (excluding trailers) or have 40 or more employees.
Legal Consequences
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the ICOP shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM500,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
APAD may cancel or suspend the Goods Vehicle Licence (GVL) of any operator found to be non-compliant with ICOP requirements. This can halt all business operations immediately.
Real enforcement data — MIROS Report
Goods vehicle accident deaths rose from 197 (2002) to 247 (2011). Top contributing factors: dangerous driving (16.2%), overloading (13%), speeding (12.2%), driver fatigue (9.9%), SHE violations (9.6%). All are directly addressed by ICOP codes.
The 5 ICOP Pillars
| Code | Requirement | Nexhaul Safe |
|---|---|---|
| KOD 1 | ICOP safety training attendance Simple meaning: keep attendance proof that your team completed required ICOP safety training. | Governance |
| KOD 2 | SHE Committee (≥4 vehicles or ≥40 staff) Simple meaning: if your fleet or staff reaches the threshold, you must set up a formal SHE committee. | Governance |
| KOD 3 | Written Safety Policy (e-signature) Simple meaning: write a safety policy and get official top-management approval. | Governance |
| KOD 4 | SHO/SHS appointment letter Simple meaning: appoint a qualified safety person (SHO or SHS) and keep the appointment record. | Governance |
ⓘ Key requirements
SHE Committee must hold monthly meetings — all minutes and resolutions kept for 7 years. Safety Policy must be signed by the highest authority and displayed prominently. Training attendance records must include trainer name, date, schedule, and certificates.
| Code | Requirement | Nexhaul Safe |
|---|---|---|
| KOD 5 | Driver recruitment (PDRM, JPJ, KEJARA, medical) Simple meaning: verify every driver background and legal documents before onboarding. | Drivers |
| KOD 6 | Annual driver training & renewal Simple meaning: run annual driver training and keep certificates or attendance records. | Drivers |
| KOD 7 | Driver relief after 4 consecutive hours Simple meaning: no driver should continue beyond 4 hours continuously without relief. | GPS |
| KOD 8 | Sleeper cabin for 2nd driver Simple meaning: provide a proper sleeper facility when a second driver is required. | Drivers |
| KOD 9 | Journey Plan for driver rotation Simple meaning: prepare journey and driver rotation plans before each trip. | Drivers |
| KOD 10 | Hours: max 4hr continuous, 8hr/day drive, 10hr work Simple meaning: follow legal limits for continuous driving hours and total work hours. | GPS |
| KOD 11 | Driving log book per trip Simple meaning: keep a complete logbook for each trip and driver activity. | Drivers |
| KOD 12 | Daily driver inspection (Lampiran A2) Simple meaning: drivers must complete a daily pre-trip safety checklist (Lampiran A2). | Inspections |
ⓘ Key requirements
KOD 5 hiring checklist: PDRM criminal check · 3-year JPJ traffic record · KEJARA demerit check · medical exam every 6 months. KOD 6 annual training must cover: basic skills, professional driving, hill driving, emergency handling. KOD 7/10 driving limits: max 4 hr continuous · 30 min rest per journey · max 8 hr/day driving · max 10 hr/day total work · 1 rest day per 7 working days.
| Code | Requirement | Nexhaul Safe |
|---|---|---|
| KOD 13 | GPS installed on every vehicle Simple meaning: every goods vehicle must have an active GPS device. | GPS |
| KOD 14 | Daily GPS monitoring & speed enforcement Simple meaning: monitor GPS daily and investigate and record violations. | GPS |
| KOD 15 | Daily vehicle inspection (Lampiran B) Simple meaning: complete vehicle checks before departure and after return (Lampiran B). | Inspections |
| KOD 16 | Safe load per JPJ guidelines Simple meaning: load goods within safe JPJ limits to avoid overload risks. | Fleet |
| KOD 17 | Vehicle maintenance manual & procedures Simple meaning: use a maintenance SOP and track servicing consistently. | Maintenance |
| KOD 18 | 7 mandatory safety equipment items Simple meaning: all 7 mandatory safety tools must be present in every vehicle. | Inspections |
ⓘ Key requirements
KOD 13/14: GPS must record speed and location on every vehicle — daily monitoring required; all violations investigated and documented. KOD 18 mandatory equipment (with Malaysian standards): flashlight · safety triangle (MS 2294:2010) · first aid box · 5 safety cones (MS 1216) · reflective delineators (MS 1216) · 9 kg fire extinguisher (MS 1539:Part 1:2002) · safety vest (MS 1731:2004 Class 2).
| Code | Requirement | Nexhaul Safe |
|---|---|---|
| KOD 19 | Internal audit every 6 months Simple meaning: run internal safety audits at least every 6 months. | Reports |
| KOD 20 | External audit cooperation & reporting Simple meaning: cooperate during external audits and submit required reports. | Reports |
| KOD 21 | HIRARC risk assessment Simple meaning: document hazard and risk assessments using HIRARC. | Governance |
| KOD 22 | Emergency Response Plan Simple meaning: prepare and maintain a usable emergency response plan. | Incidents |
| KOD 23 | Accident reporting: 2hr hotline, 72hr written Simple meaning: report accidents fast - hotline in 2 hours and written report in 72 hours. | Incidents |
ⓘ Key requirements
KOD 19: Internal audit every 6 months using official Lampiran C format — all findings documented, corrective actions tracked. KOD 23: Call APAD hotline 1800-88-7723 within 2 hours of accident. Submit full written report within 72 hours. Failure to report is a separate legal offence.
| Code | Requirement | Nexhaul Safe |
|---|---|---|
| KOD 24 | Complaint management (7-day resolution) Simple meaning: track and resolve complaints within the required timeline. | Alerts |
| KOD 25 | Record management — 7 years, 26 record types Simple meaning: keep required compliance records for at least 7 years. | All Modules |
| KOD 26 | Traffic law compliance Simple meaning: enforce day-to-day compliance with traffic laws and driver behavior. | GPS |
26 mandatory record categories include:
Driver files · Training certificates · Medical records · Driving logbooks · Journey plans · Lampiran A2 & B forms · GPS records · Incident reports · Maintenance logs · Fuel records · Audit reports · HIRARC · Emergency plans · Complaint records · and more
ⓘ Key requirements
KOD 24: All complaints must be resolved within 7 days and resolution documented. KOD 26: Full compliance with all applicable traffic laws. KOD 25: All 26 record categories must be kept for minimum 7 years in physical or digital form, available for APAD inspection at any time.
Common Questions
Getting Started
Ensure your Goods Vehicle Licence is current and all vehicles are registered.
If you have ≥4 vehicles or ≥40 employees, appoint an SHO/SHS and form the committee (ICOP Codes 2, 4).
Draft and sign a written Safety Policy covering all ICOP pillars (Code 3).
Collect all driver documents: PDRM clearance, JPJ license, KEJARA, medical cert. Schedule annual training (Codes 5, 6).
Deploy Lampiran A2 (driver self-check) and Lampiran B (vehicle check) for every trip (Codes 12, 15).
Ensure all vehicles have GPS. Monitor daily, log trips, enforce driving hours (Codes 7, 10, 13, 14).
Conduct internal audits every 6 months. Keep all records for minimum 7 years (Codes 19, 25).
Platform Coverage
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