With the deadline for mandatory truck ID (phù hiệu xe tải) regulations for vehicles under 3.5 tons fast approaching, many vehicle owners remain unclear about the requirements and procedures. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình aims to clarify any confusion, providing comprehensive information to ensure accurate legal compliance.
Trucks under 3.5 tons not engaged in commercial transportation are not required to display a truck ID or install a vehicle tracking device (GSHT) under current regulations.
Truck ID Regulations for Vehicles Under 3.5 Tons (Effective 7/1/2018)
According to Decree 86/2014/NĐ-CP concerning business and conditions for motor vehicle transportation, effective July 1, 2018, businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses transporting goods by vehicles with a designed load capacity of under 3.5 tons must possess a motor vehicle transportation business license, install a vehicle tracking device (GSHT), and obtain a “Truck” ID (phù hiệu “Xe tải”).
However, since the regulation came into effect, various opinions and misunderstandings have persisted, causing concerns for vehicle owners.
Who Needs a Truck ID for Vehicles Under 3.5 Tons?
To clarify this issue, it is crucial to understand the purpose of the truck ID for vehicles under 3.5 tons. The primary goal of issuing truck IDs is to enable authorities to easily manage and identify vehicles belonging to specific transportation businesses, especially in the event of an incident. It also serves as a basis for managing the number of vehicles operated by transportation businesses.
According to Mr. Dao Viet Long, Head of Transportation Management Division, Hanoi Department of Transport, many vehicle owners who are not engaged in commercial transportation have applied for truck IDs due to a lack of understanding of the regulations.
So, who actually needs to display a truck ID for vehicles under 3.5 tons?
Based on Clause 1, Article 50, Circular 63/2014/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport, it clearly defines the categories not required to obtain a transportation business license, truck ID, and vehicle tracking device (GSHT). Specifically, for transportation businesses not directly collecting fees (e.g., transporting internal goods from factory to warehouse) using vehicles under 10 tons and with a fleet size of fewer than 5 vehicles, they are not required to have the aforementioned documents and devices.
The purpose of displaying a truck ID (phù hiệu xe tải) is to strictly control transportation business activities, facilitating traffic management and traffic flow on restricted routes. Additionally, the vehicle tracking device (GSHT) helps monitor vehicle operations.
Which Trucks Don’t Need an ID?
Ms. Phan Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, further clarified the categories of transportation businesses not directly collecting fees that are required to obtain a transportation business license, truck ID, and vehicle tracking device (GSHT). Accordingly, Clause 1, Article 50 of Circular 63/2014/TT-BGTVT stipulates that:
Goods transportation businesses not directly collecting fees must obtain a motor vehicle transportation business license if they fall into the following categories:
- Using vehicles to transport dangerous goods as regulated by the Government.
- Using vehicles to transport oversized or overweight goods as stipulated in regulations on road load capacity and dimensions.
- Having 5 or more vehicles.
- Using vehicles with a permissible payload of 10 tons or more for transporting goods.
Based on the above regulations, it can be concluded that:
Goods transportation businesses not directly collecting fees (including manufacturing facilities or business stores that are not transportation businesses, only transporting their own goods, not transporting goods for hire) using vehicles with a permissible payload of under 10 tons for transporting goods and with a fleet size of fewer than 5 vehicles are not required to obtain a motor vehicle transportation business license, truck ID, and install a vehicle tracking device (GSHT).
Consequences of Non-Compliance
According to the roadmap outlined in Decree 86, from July 1, 2018, vehicles engaged in commercial transportation with a payload of 3.5 tons or less must install a vehicle tracking device (GSHT) and have a truck ID. After this date, if businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses engaged in goods transportation, and drivers of vehicles engaged in goods transportation with a payload of under 3.5 tons, fail to comply with the above regulations, they will be subject to administrative penalties according to Decree No. 46/2016/NĐ-CP of the Government, with fines ranging from 3-5 million VND.
Conclusion
Understanding the regulations on truck IDs for vehicles under 3.5 tons is crucial for vehicle owners and transportation businesses to avoid legal issues and ensure smooth transportation operations. If you own a truck under 3.5 tons and engage in commercial goods transportation, ensure that you understand the regulations and complete all necessary procedures to obtain a truck ID in accordance with the law.
