Determining the exact payload of a vehicle, especially a truck, is crucial for ensuring traffic safety and complying with legal regulations. This article will guide you on how to identify your vehicle’s payload in detail and provide related safe driving tips.
A person pointing to vehicle registration papers, likely showing payload information for car insurance purposes.
I. What is Vehicle Payload? Consequences of Overloading?
1. Definition of Vehicle Payload
Vehicle payload is the maximum weight of goods, materials, or people that a vehicle is permitted to carry safely and efficiently. This figure is determined based on the vehicle’s structure, power, braking system, safety factors, and legal regulations. In vehicle documents, payload is usually recorded as “permissible cargo mass for traffic participation”.
2. Dangers of Overloading
Overloading poses many hazards, including:
- Danger to traffic safety: Overloaded vehicles are difficult to control, brake in time, and are prone to accidents, especially when going downhill or cornering.
- Vehicle damage: Overloading damages the braking system, suspension, and engine due to excessive operation of components.
- Increased fuel consumption: Overloaded vehicles consume more fuel than normal.
- Legal violations and heavy fines: Overloading is a violation of the law and is subject to fines ranging from VND 800,000 to VND 12,000,000 depending on the excess percentage (10% to 150%), vehicle type, traffic conditions, etc. Drivers can be fined up to VND 20 million, individual vehicle owners VND 40 million, and organizational vehicle owners even higher. Other penalties include license revocation, traffic bans, or vehicle confiscation. In addition, violators must also remedy the consequences, such as restoring roads and bridges if damage is caused.
II. Distinguishing Between Payload and Actual Load
Payload is the maximum weight a vehicle is allowed to carry, based on the manufacturer’s specifications, and is recorded on the Certificate of Technical Safety and Environmental Protection Inspection for road motor vehicles (vehicle registration certificate).
Actual load is the total weight of goods actually being transported. Actual load only calculates the weight of goods, excluding the vehicle’s own weight and people on board.
Difference:
- Payload indicates the maximum carrying capacity of the vehicle, recorded on the registration certificate and does not change.
- Actual load is the weight of goods actually on the vehicle, which varies depending on the time.
For example: A truck with a permissible payload of 4 tons but carrying 5 tons of goods has an actual load of 5 tons and has violated regulations.
III. How to Determine Vehicle Payload
1. Where to Find Payload Information?
You can find the vehicle’s payload at:
-
Vehicle registration certificate
-
Ex-factory quality inspection certificate
-
Payload logo on the truck door
Close-up of a truck door logo displaying payload and vehicle weight information.
Detailed view of a truck door logo highlighting payload, unladen weight, and maximum gross weight.
2. Guide to Reading Payload on Truck Logos
a. What is a Truck Logo?
A truck logo is a combination of numbers and letters on the vehicle door, providing information about payload and vehicle weight, helping drivers ensure safety.
According to Circular No. 63/2014/TT-BGTVT, truck logos must include:
- Name of transport unit and phone number
- Payload (permissible cargo mass)
- Unladen weight (weight of the empty vehicle)
- Maximum gross weight allowed for traffic participation (payload + unladen weight). When checking payload, the entire vehicle will be weighed, and if it exceeds this number, the driver will be fined.
Example of a complete truck door logo including transport company name, phone number, payload, unladen weight, and maximum gross weight.
b. How to Understand Truck Logos
The specifications on truck logos are usually recorded in the following order:
- 3N: Vehicle is allowed to carry a maximum of 3 people.
- 3 numbers (kg): From top to bottom, left to right respectively: payload, unladen weight, and maximum gross weight allowed for traffic participation.
Knowing the payload helps avoid overloading, reduce the risk of accidents, and traffic violations. This information is also useful for vehicle maintenance and purchasing vehicle insurance.
IV. Conclusion
Understanding your vehicle’s payload is very important to ensure traffic safety and legal compliance. By checking vehicle documents and logos on the vehicle, you can easily determine the permissible payload of your vehicle. This information is also essential when purchasing vehicle insurance. Always comply with payload regulations to ensure safety for yourself and the community.
