APAD Records 64,561 Operator Licences as Lorries Top List

The Land Public Transport Agency (Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat, APAD) is the statutory body regulating land public transport and commercial vehicles in Peninsular Malaysia. APAD administers operator licences (lesen pengendali) and vehicle permits (permit kenderaan) to regulate commercial transport safety, logistics capacity, and passenger services. As of 30 September 2026, APAD recorded 64,561 active commercial operator licences across Peninsular Malaysia, serving logistics firms, school transport providers, and public transport operators.

Key Facts

What Is the Difference Between Operator Licences and Vehicle Permits Under APAD?

An operator licence grants regulatory permission to an enterprise or individual to operate a commercial transport business, whereas a vehicle permit authorises an individual vehicle to provide that service. APAD recorded 64,561 active operator licences and 330,690 active vehicle permits as of 30 September 2026, confirming they measure separate operational metrics.

According to official statistics shared by Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat on 8 October 2026, operator licences are catalogued by licence class and state. The distinction confirms that a single licensed commercial operator may hold permits for multiple registered commercial vehicles.

"Kedua-dua angka tersebut merujuk kepada perkara berbeza, iaitu lesen pengendali dan permit kenderaan, dengan infografik yang disiarkan memperincikan pecahan lesen pengendali mengikut kelas lesen dan negeri."

Careta, 12 October 2026

As of 30 September 2026, APAD registered 64,561 active operator licences compared to 330,690 active vehicle permits in Peninsular Malaysia.

Which Commercial Vehicle Category Holds the Most APAD Operator Licences?

The lorry category holds the largest share of active operator licences in Peninsular Malaysia, accounting for 39,520 licences as of 30 September 2026. This total comprises 29,218 Carrier A (Pembawa A) licences for commercial haulage for hire and 10,302 Carrier C (Pembawa C) licences for private own-account carriage.

Geographically, Selangor registered the highest numbers for both haulage classes, recording 7,722 Pembawa A licences and 2,604 Pembawa C licences, reaching a state total of 10,326 licences. Johor recorded the second-highest tally with 7,002 licences, followed by Perak with 4,422 licences in the same category.

The lorry sector accounts for 39,520 active APAD operator licences, with Selangor leading at 10,326 licences.

How Are Bus, Taxi, and Tourism Licences Distributed Across Malaysia?

Non-haulage categories comprise 13,847 taxi licences, 9,847 bus licences, and 1,347 tourism licences as of 30 September 2026. School buses lead the bus sector with 5,826 licences, while hire cars form the largest sub-class in the taxi category with 7,895 licences across Peninsular Malaysian states.

The sub-class distribution recorded by APAD comprises:

• Bus category (9,847 licences): Bas sekolah (5,826), bas pekerja (3,737), bas ekspres (183), bas berhenti-henti (65), bas catar (22), and bas pengantara (14).
• Taxi category (13,847 licences): Kereta sewa (7,895), teksi (5,576), teksi mewah limosin (208), teksi lapangan terbang (108), and kereta sewa pandu (60).
• Tourism category (1,347 licences): Bas persiaran (941) and kereta sewa pandu pelancongan (406).

For school buses, Selangor recorded 1,915 licences and Johor recorded 1,483 licences. For factory worker buses (bas pekerja), Johor led with 1,116 licences, Selangor followed with 776 licences, and Pulau Pinang recorded 608 licences. In the taxi class specifically, Selangor registered 1,867 licences, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur registered 1,805 licences, and Johor registered 1,704 licences. In tourism, Selangor led both classes with 213 bas persiaran licences and 109 kereta sewa pandu pelancongan licences, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 184 bas persiaran licences and 99 kereta sewa pandu pelancongan licences.

School buses represent 5,826 of the 9,847 total bus operator licences recorded by APAD.

How It Compares for Malaysian Users

The distribution of APAD operator licences reflects the transport and logistics requirements across urban centres, industrial hubs, and intercity routes in Peninsular Malaysia. Industrial and commercial corridors in Selangor and Johor demand extensive fleet capacities to manage supply chains, daily commutes, and school transport.

Selangor and Johor consistently record the highest concentrations of commercial vehicle operator licences across haulage, passenger, and industrial transit sectors.

Common Questions

How many total vehicle permits are active under APAD in Malaysia?

APAD recorded 330,690 active commercial vehicle permits as of 30 September 2026. This metric counts authorised vehicles and is distinct from the 64,561 active operator licences recorded on the same date.

Which state in Malaysia has the most factory bus operator licences?

Johor holds the highest number of factory worker bus (bas pekerja) operator licences with 1,116 licences, followed by Selangor with 776 licences and Pulau Pinang with 608 licences.

What is the breakdown of taxi category licences under APAD?

The 13,847 taxi category licences comprise 7,895 kereta sewa, 5,576 teksi, 208 teksi mewah limosin, 108 teksi lapangan terbang, and 60 kereta sewa pandu licences.

Sources and Methodology

This report is based on official administrative statistics published by Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) on Facebook on 8 October 2026, as reported by Careta on 12 October 2026. All statistics represent data valid as of 30 September 2026. No currency figures were reported in the source data. Original statutory and licence classifications (such as Pembawa A, Pembawa C, bas persiaran, and bas pekerja) have been preserved alongside standard English translations. This article was last updated on 12 October 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) records published via Careta.