By Hirofumi Morita and Shinichi Sano / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

Japan's transport ministry on Wednesday revoked Japan Post Co.'s license to operate its general freight vehicle transport business because the company failed to properly conduct roll calls on delivery drivers.

The roll calls are meant to check the drivers' health, whether they have alcohol in their system and other conditions.

With the administrative measure taken by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, Japan Post has become unable to operate about 2,500 vehicles at 330 post offices nationwide. The vehicles include trucks that collect postal items from major customers and deliver items to smaller post offices.

"We deeply apologize for causing this serious incident. We will take thorough measures to ensure that our customers are not inconvenienced in any way," Japan Post President Tetsuya Senda said with a bow as he received the notice of license revocation from Reiko Fujita, the head of the Kanto District Transport Bureau in Yokohama, a regional organ of the ministry, on the day.

The revocation of the license is the most severe penalty under the Motor Truck Transportation Business Law, and it is extremely rare for a major operator to be subject to the punitive measure. Japan Post will be unable to reobtain the license for the next five years.

The ministry also issued a safety assurance order for Japan Post regarding its light vehicle transportation services using light vans and other vehicles, as well as an order for Japan Post Transport Co., a Japan Post subsidiary, to submit reports on its relevant operations.

Regarding the loss of the transport capabilities of its 2,500 vehicles (equivalent to 118,200 trips per month) due to the revocation, Japan Post said it could make up for it through the following measures: outsourcing to external companies such as Yamato Transport Co. and Sagawa Express Co.; outsourcing to its subsidiary Japan Post Transport (including re-outsourcing to external companies); and using its own light vans and other vehicles as substitutes.

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June 25, 2025 09:18 ET (13:18 GMT)

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