Speaking Sunday at a ceremony marking Transportation Week at the Oil Ministry, Mostafa Eslami said transportation holds a defined legal status in the oil industry. Under a 1979 decree of the Revolutionary Council, the oil minister is responsible for the overall coordination, consolidation and supervision of the industry’s transport fleet. With a strategic approach by the minister, those authorities have been delegated to the deputy minister for management development and human capital, with the Transportation Coordination Office serving as the executive and specialized arm.

Eslami said transportation is the primary backbone supporting the entire value chain of exploration, development, drilling, production, sales and distribution of petroleum products and therefore requires a strategic and focused approach.

He noted that the sector encompasses tens of thousands of light, heavy and super-heavy vehicles and machinery, as well as tens of thousands of specialized workers across oil industry subsidiaries. He praised the reform-oriented support of the deputy minister for management development and human capital, adding that revisions to the organizational structure, pay and benefits, and an upgrade of the office’s organizational standing are on the agenda and under review across main and subsidiary companies.

Outlining key initiatives this year, Eslami said authorities have revised Article 10 of the automotive industry organization law—pursued up to the government and parliament levels—to prevent the premature retirement of strategic oil-industry vehicles. Other measures include securing off-budget resources for bulk fleet purchases and assessing domestic automakers’ capabilities in cooperation with the Industry Ministry. He said joint meetings and field visits are underway to modernize this vital artery without reliance on any single brand.

Eslami said the transportation transformation roadmap targets, in the short term, resolving the status of aging fleets and finalizing a new structure; in the midterm, integrating management of owned and contractor fleets and launching the first phase of smart fleet management systems; and in the long term, establishing an AI-based smart logistics command center and fully renewing the fleet.

Heavy Transport’s Overlooked Role in Oil Operations

Nasser Molaei, acting head of the Oil Ministry’s Office for Organization, Methods and Organizational Excellence, said transportation in the oil industry extends far beyond light vehicles. It includes heavy industrial transport in drilling and oilfields, maritime and air transport, and the movement of gas, products and equipment through pipelines, telecommunications networks and complex structures.

Transportation personnel—on land, in the air and at sea—keep the industry’s arteries flowing, Molaei said, playing an irreplaceable role in moving heavy and sensitive cargo such as drilling rigs under harsh conditions.

Despite the wide range of job categories, Molaei said transportation roles have often been undervalued, even though they generate significant added value for the oil industry. He said it has been agreed to hold specialized meetings in January to conduct a serious review of transportation job families. A three-by-four matrix is needed to organize this diversity, with attention to operators’ professional standing, specialized certifications, compensation systems and human capital retention.

He added that the Oil Ministry plays a sovereign role in policymaking and regulation in transportation, making a revision of the transportation charter a priority under the leadership of the Transportation Coordination Office. The review is particularly important for oversight, heavy transport and construction machinery, and the office is ready to design and implement a structure commensurate with transportation’s strategic importance.

Revisiting Hard and Hazardous Jobs

Alireza Torabi, director general for drafting and coordinating administrative and employment regulations at the Oil Ministry, cited the country’s critical conditions during the 12-day war and stressed the need for strong support for drivers who continued service. Drivers risk both their lives and property and face constant hazards, he said, calling the oil industry’s support for this vital group essential.

Torabi said the classification of driving as a hard and hazardous job must be seriously pursued with the Social Security Organization. Drivers often face new challenges after retirement, and failing to address their problems now will exacerbate future issues. He said transportation officials must accurately reflect these realities so each profession is recognized for its specialization.

Drawing on personal driving experience, including accidents, Torabi described driving as a true specialty and recalled wartime memories of tanker drivers who worked courageously at oil depots and even took responsibility for other vehicles. He expressed hope that drivers’ efforts and sacrifices will be more tangibly recognized.

Aging Fleet Challenges

Salman Khazaei, deputy CEO of the Iranian Oil Pipelines and Telecommunications Co., said designated days serve only as reminders and that every day should honor transportation, mothers and fathers. He said Iran’s oil industry once benefited from the most durable heavy and semi-heavy vehicles across oilfields, exploration and distribution, but economic constraints have led to excessive fleet diversity.

That diversity has created problems in maintenance, quality and climate suitability, Khazaei said, noting that some vehicles perform well in hot regions but struggle in cold climates. He called for the unified procurement of standardized, purpose-built vehicles for all operating companies.

Khazaei said about 800 billion rials were allocated this year to his company for fleet purchases, enough to buy only 11 firefighting trucks despite far broader needs. He said requirements for passenger cars, SUVs, semi-heavy vehicles and trucks have been compiled and shared with authorities, expressing hope that procurement will be centralized, as the continuity of oil industry operations depends on such integration.