Road safety is always a top priority, especially in the field of cargo transportation by trucks. Among the common violations, over height trucking emerges as a potential hazard, directly threatening the safety of road users and causing damage to road infrastructure. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will delve into this violation, providing detailed information on how to measure truck height, causes, current legal regulations, and the latest penalties, helping drivers and vehicle owners understand and comply to ensure safety on every journey.
How to Accurately Measure Truck Height
To proactively prevent over height trucking, it is crucial to understand how to accurately measure the height of the vehicle. There are several measurement methods, depending on the available conditions and equipment. Here are two of the most common and effective methods:
1. Using ordinary measuring tools:
This is a simple and easy-to-implement method using familiar tools such as rulers, measuring tapes, or handheld laser measures.
- Step 1: Park the truck on a flat, solid, and stable surface. This ensures the most accurate measurement results, avoiding deviations due to uneven terrain.
- Step 2: Identify the highest point of the vehicle. This point can be the cabin roof, vehicle roof, or the cargo loaded on the vehicle.
- Step 3: Place the measuring tool perpendicular to the ground, with one end touching the highest point identified, and the other end touching the ground.
- Step 4: Read the measurement result on the tool. Note the exact measurement mark and unit of measurement (meters or centimeters).
2. Using a specialized laser measuring device:
Laser measuring devices are modern tools that provide fast and highly accurate measurement results, especially useful when frequent truck height measurements are needed or in low-light conditions.
- Step 1: Park the truck as in the method above, ensuring the measuring surface is flat and stable.
- Step 2: Place the laser measuring device on the ground, pointing the laser beam to the highest point of the vehicle.
- Step 3: Turn on the measuring device and wait for the device to display the result on the screen. The measurement result will show the height from the ground to the highest point of the vehicle.
Important notes when measuring truck height:
- Measure on a flat surface: Always measure on a flat surface to avoid errors.
- Check measuring tools: Ensure the measuring tools are functioning correctly and are not damaged.
- Measure multiple times: It is recommended to measure at least twice and take the average value to increase accuracy.
- Measure with cargo: If the vehicle is carrying cargo, measure the height after the cargo has been loaded onto the vehicle, as the cargo may increase the overall height of the vehicle.
Common Causes Leading to Over Height Trucking
Over height trucking can stem from various causes, both subjective and objective. Understanding these causes helps drivers and vehicle owners proactively prevent and minimize the risk of violations.
1. Truck design not in accordance with standards:
In some cases, trucks are manufactured or modified without adhering to regulations on dimensions, especially height. This leads to the fact that even when the vehicle is not carrying cargo, the inherent height of the vehicle already exceeds the allowable limit.
2. Carrying overloaded cargo and improper cargo loading:
This is the most common cause leading to over height trucking. When a vehicle carries more than the prescribed load, the suspension system of the vehicle sags, increasing the height of the cargo loaded on the truck bed. In addition, loading bulky cargo, not neatly or not carefully secured also increases the overall height of the vehicle.
3. Subjectivity and lack of caution from the driver:
Some drivers are subjective, do not check the vehicle height after loading cargo, or do not pay attention to height limit signs on the road. This lack of caution leads to inadvertently driving the vehicle into areas with height limits, causing collisions and traffic violations.
4. Road and weather conditions:
In rare cases, poor road conditions, rough surfaces, or adverse weather (such as strong winds) can change the actual height of the vehicle during transit, leading to the risk of collision with overhead structures.
Truck Height Regulations According to Vietnamese Traffic Law
To ensure traffic safety and protect road infrastructure, the Law on Road Traffic of Vietnam and related legal documents clearly stipulate the height limits of trucks and other motor vehicles participating in traffic.
Main legal basis:
- Circular 46/2015/TT-BGTVT: Regulations on tonnage, road limit size; transporting oversized and overweight goods; limiting the arrangement of goods on vehicles when participating in road traffic.
Specific regulations on truck height (measured from the road surface):
- Closed-body trucks (with hoods): The height of the cargo must not exceed the height limit of the truck body according to the manufacturer’s design or the modified design approved by the competent authority.
- Open-body trucks (without hoods): The cargo loaded on the vehicle must not exceed the height of the truck body (according to the design). The goods must be securely fastened, ensuring safety.
- Height limit for loading goods (measured from the road surface) for ordinary trucks:
- Vehicles with a designed load capacity of 5 tons or more: not exceeding 4.2 meters.
- Vehicles with a designed load capacity of 2.5 tons to less than 5 tons: not exceeding 3.5 meters.
- Vehicles with a designed load capacity of less than 2.5 tons: not exceeding 2.8 meters.
- Special-purpose vehicles and container trucks: The height of the cargo must not exceed 4.35 meters.
Note: The above regulations apply to the entire height of the vehicle, including the truck body and the cargo loaded on the vehicle.
Latest Penalties for Over Height Trucking (2024)
The act of carrying goods exceeding the truck height is a violation of the law and will be penalized according to current regulations. The penalty is specified in detail in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP) on handling administrative violations in the field of road and rail traffic.
Penalties for vehicle operators (drivers):
- A fine of VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for driving a vehicle carrying goods exceeding the prescribed height.
- Revocation of the right to use a driver’s license from 01 to 03 months.
Penalties for vehicle owners (individuals and organizations):
- For individuals: A fine of VND 4,000,000 to VND 6,000,000.
- For organizations: A fine of VND 8,000,000 to VND 12,000,000.
In addition to being fined, if the act of over height trucking causes damage to bridges and roads, the vehicle owner is also responsible for restoring the original condition of the structure.
Conclusion:
Over height trucking is a dangerous violation, not only causing traffic unsafety but also leading to significant legal and economic consequences. Understanding the regulations on vehicle height, how to accurately measure height, and the causes of violations is essential for every driver and vehicle owner. Xe Tải Mỹ Đình hopes that this article has provided useful information to help you raise awareness of compliance with traffic laws, ensuring safety for yourself and the community on every road.
