Effective August 1, 2023, new regulations from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City regarding operating hours and permits for cargo trucks and trucks circulating in the inner city of HCMC officially took effect. These regulations directly impact the Saigon truck community, posing both challenges and new opportunities.
Image of a 2.5-ton truck
Accordingly, small trucks (under 2,500 kg) are not allowed to circulate in the inner city area from 6 AM to 9 AM and from 4 PM to 8 PM daily. These are peak hours, significantly affecting the freight transport activities of the Saigon truck community, especially small businesses and individual transport operators.
Traffic Corridors and Restricted Areas for Trucks in Saigon
Heavy trucks are not allowed to circulate in the inner city area from 6 AM to 10 PM daily, except for some designated traffic corridor routes. Clearly identifying these corridor routes is crucial for the Saigon truck community to avoid violating regulations.
The restricted area includes traffic corridor routes for trucks on the outskirts of the inner city:
- North and West: National Highway 1, section from Ha Noi Highway to Nguyen Van Linh Street.
- East: Ha Noi Highway, section from National Highway 1 to Cat Lai intersection, Mai Chi Tho Street – section from Dong Van Cong Street to Vo Chi Cong Street.
- South: Vo Chi Cong Street (from Dong Van Cong Street to Phu My Bridge, Phu My Bridge to elevated road, from Phu My Bridge to Area A South Saigon intersection), Nguyen Van Linh Street (section from Area A South Saigon intersection to National Highway 1).
Map of HCMC inner city and truck traffic corridors
Reasons for Limiting Truck Operations in the Inner City
The rapid increase in the number of trucks in HCMC, coupled with their unrestricted operation hours within the city, is one of the reasons for traffic congestion on many routes. Traffic congestion seriously impacts the city’s life and economy. Therefore, the Department of Transport has introduced regulations restricting small trucks from operating during the day to reduce pressure on the traffic system.
Solutions for the Saigon Truck Community
Previously, at the preliminary meeting on traffic safety for the first 6 months of 2017 in the city, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCMC, requested the Department of Transport to take the lead in coordinating with departments and sectors to research plans to prohibit small trucks from operating during the day, shifting entirely to nighttime operations on major corridors that are frequently congested. This is a suggestion for the Saigon truck community to find ways to adapt to the new regulations, possibly considering switching to nighttime operations.
These new regulations will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Saigon truck community. Understanding the regulations, carefully studying the permitted traffic corridor routes, and adjusting operations accordingly are essential to ensure smooth and efficient transportation activities.
