Overloaded trucks seriously impact traffic safety and road infrastructure. Therefore, penalties for overweight vehicles are constantly being tightened. This article provides detailed information on penalties for trucks overloaded by more than 50% according to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, effective from January 1, 2025.
Overloaded Trucks: Definition and Regulations
An overloaded truck is defined as a vehicle carrying goods exceeding its permissible weight limit. According to Article 21 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, a truck is considered overloaded if it exceeds its allowed weight by 10% (20% for tanker trucks carrying liquids). For example, a JAC N900S Plus truck has a permissible weight of 9.1 tons. If the truck carries more than 10.01 tons, it will be considered overloaded.
Penalties for Trucks Overloaded by More Than 50% Under New Decree
Decree 168/2024/ND-CP specifies penalties for overloading violations, effective from January 1, 2025, including fines and suspension of vehicle badges. Below are the detailed penalties for trucks overloaded by more than 50%:
- Overload from 50% to 100%: Fine from VND 5,000,000 to VND 7,000,000.
- Overload from 100% to 150%: Fine from VND 7,000,000 to VND 8,000,000.
- Overload over 150%: Fine from VND 8,000,000 to VND 12,000,000.
Additionally, vehicle owners are also penalized under Article 32 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP with fines many times higher than those for drivers. Specifically, the penalties for vehicle owners when trucks are overloaded by more than 50% are as follows:
- Overload from 50% to 100%: Fine from VND 40,000,000 to VND 52,000,000.
- Overload from 100% to 150%: Fine from VND 60,000,000 to VND 80,000,000.
- Overload over 150%: Fine from VND 130,000,000 to VND 150,000,000.
Suspension of Vehicle Badges for Overloaded Trucks
According to regulations in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, commercial transport vehicles overloaded by more than 10% (regular trucks) or more than 20% (tanker trucks) will have their vehicle badges suspended for 1 to 3 months. The suspension of badges aims to increase deterrence, prevent overloading violations, and ensure traffic safety.
How to Calculate Overload Percentage
To determine the overload percentage, you need to know the overload weight, the vehicle’s tare weight, and the permissible weight. The calculation formula is as follows:
- Overload weight = Total weight measured – Tare weight – Permissible weight.
- % Overload = (Overload weight / Permissible weight) x 100%.
Conclusion
Penalties for trucks overloaded by more than 50% under Decree 168/2024/ND-CP are quite severe, accompanied by the additional penalty of vehicle badge suspension. Vehicle owners and drivers need to understand the regulations and strictly comply to avoid penalties and ensure traffic safety.
