Three ports in eastern China's Shandong province – Qingdao, Yantai and Rizhao – announced to ban coal trucking effective January 1, 2019, said the Shandong Department of Transportation.
Instead, railway and waterway delivery would be the main methods of shipping coal to these ports, and relevant companies should not sign contracts on coal transport by trucks, it said.
Authorities will adopt access control system and step up efforts in publicity in order to inform enterprises of the new rule.
They will also strive to ensure rail transport capacity and draft proper shipping schemes, in a bid to make sure timely cargo transfer to rail and water shipment.
From January 1, more efforts will be made in surprise checks and random supervision on any violations, the department said.