Regulations regarding the issuance of “Truck” badges for trucks under 3.5 tons have been in effect since July 1, 2018, yet many vehicle owners are still unclear about the details and procedures. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will provide a detailed guide, helping you understand whether your vehicle needs a badge and how to apply for one.
According to Decree 86/2014/ND-CP on business and conditions for automobile transport business, trucks with a designed tonnage of under 3.5 tons engaged in commercial freight transport must have a business license for transportation, install a vehicle tracking device (VTD), and be issued a “Truck” badge. However, the distinction between commercial and non-commercial transportation vehicles confuses many owners.
Who Needs a Truck Badge for Under 3.5 Ton Trucks?
To determine if your truck under 3.5 tons requires a badge, it’s crucial to distinguish between commercial and non-commercial freight transportation activities.
Trucks under 3.5 tons require a badge if:
- Engaged in commercial freight transportation: This applies when the truck is used to transport goods for customers for direct freight charges. Commercial freight transportation takes various forms, including:
- Chartered freight transport: Trucks carrying goods for individuals or businesses under a transport contract.
- Taxi-truck freight transport: Providing small-scale freight transport services, express delivery within urban areas.
- Freight transport for e-commerce platforms: Participating in the logistics supply chain, transporting goods from warehouses to buyers.
Trucks under 3.5 tons do not require a badge if:
- Not engaged in commercial freight transportation: This applies when the truck is used for personal, family purposes, or internal transport of goods for a business without direct freight charges. For example:
- Trucks carrying goods for household production and business, stores: Trucks transporting raw materials or finished goods between business locations of a family or store, not for external hire.
- Trucks of a company transporting internal goods: Trucks carrying goods from warehouses to company stores or branches without charging freight fees to external customers.
According to Clause 1, Article 50, Circular 63/2014/TT-BGTVT, transport business units not directly charging fees (such as internal transport) using vehicles under 10 tons and with fewer than 5 vehicles are not required to obtain a transport business license, truck badges, or install VTDs. However, this regulation applies to transport business units, not individuals using trucks for non-commercial purposes.
Procedures for Obtaining a Truck Badge for Under 3.5 Ton Trucks
If your truck under 3.5 tons requires a badge, you need to prepare a dossier and complete the procedures at the Department of Transport (DOT) where the vehicle is registered.
Required documents:
- Application form for a truck badge (according to the DOT’s form).
- Copy of Vehicle Registration Certificate or copy of the Appointment Letter for Vehicle Registration Certificate from the competent authority.
- Copy of valid Certificate of Technical Safety and Environmental Protection Inspection (Vehicle Inspection Certificate).
- Copy of Certificate of VTD installation compliant with regulations.
- Login account to the VTD system that is active and connected to the Vietnam Road Administration.
Procedure steps:
- Submit dossier: Submit the dossier directly to the dossier receiving department of the DOT or submit online (if the DOT offers this service).
- Dossier receipt and inspection: The DOT receives and checks the completeness and validity of the dossier.
- Badge issuance: If the dossier is valid, the DOT will issue a “Truck” badge for your vehicle within 3-5 working days.
Why are Truck Badges Necessary?
Issuing truck badges, especially for trucks under 3.5 tons, provides several benefits in state management and transport operations:
- Management of commercial transport activities: Badges help authorities easily identify and manage vehicles engaged in commercial transport, ensuring transport activities comply with legal regulations.
- Traffic organization and routing: Badges serve as a basis for authorities to organize traffic and route vehicles, especially on roads with vehicle restrictions.
- Journey monitoring and traffic safety: VTDs installed on vehicles and connected to the authorities’ management system help monitor journeys, speed, and driving time, thereby enhancing traffic safety and reducing violations.
Penalties for Not Having a Badge
According to current regulations, trucks under 3.5 tons that are required to have a badge but do not have one or use an invalid badge will be subject to administrative penalties according to Decree No. 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP). The fine for this violation can range from VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 for individuals and from VND 6,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 for organizations.
Conclusion
Obtaining a truck badge for trucks under 3.5 tons is a mandatory regulation for vehicles engaged in commercial freight transportation. Vehicle owners need to understand the regulations, correctly identify the対象 and follow the badge application procedures to comply with the law and ensure smooth transport operations. If you have any questions, please contact Xe Tải Mỹ Đình for detailed advice and support.
