Overloading trucks, despite its inherent risks, remains a persistent issue in the transportation industry. Many drivers and vehicle owners, driven by short-term profits, disregard the long-term consequences and intentionally overload their trucks to maximize cargo volume. However, this practice not only endangers themselves and others but also violates the law, damages road infrastructure, and reduces the lifespan of the vehicles. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình, as truck experts, will provide the most detailed and comprehensive information on truck payload capacity, helping you understand the regulations, how to determine payload, and the serious consequences of overloading.
1. What is Truck Payload Capacity?
Truck payload capacity is the maximum weight of cargo that a truck is permitted to carry when operating on roads. This crucial specification is meticulously calculated by the manufacturer and verified by regulatory authorities, clearly stated in the Vehicle Safety and Environmental Inspection Certificate. It is a key factor that truck buyers need to pay close attention to, as it directly determines the economic efficiency and legal compliance during operation.
2. Gross Vehicle Weight and Its Relation to Payload Capacity
To better understand payload capacity, we need to differentiate it from gross vehicle weight, also known as total weight. Gross vehicle weight is the sum of the truck’s own weight plus the maximum weight of cargo it is allowed to carry. This is a constant value, determined during the design phase and remains unchanged throughout the vehicle’s lifespan.
Truck manufacturers must base their calculations and designs for other technical aspects of the truck, such as wheelbase, suspension system, and brakes, on this gross vehicle weight. Accurate calculation of gross vehicle weight and load distribution across axles is extremely important to ensure safe and stable vehicle operation and compliance with weight regulations. From the gross vehicle weight, we can determine the payload capacity, which is the portion of weight for cargo that the truck is allowed to carry without violating regulations.
3. Where to Find Truck Payload Capacity Information?
Determining the payload capacity of a truck is quite straightforward. Drivers can easily find this information in the following locations:
- Payload sticker on the door: Most trucks, especially newer models, have a technical specification sticker affixed by the manufacturer directly on the door panel. On this sticker, payload capacity information is usually clearly and visibly stated.
- Vehicle registration certificate: This is the most official and comprehensive source of information about vehicle weight. In the Vehicle Safety and Environmental Inspection Certificate, the section “Permitted Cargo Weight” is precisely the truck’s payload capacity.
- Payload logo (for older trucks): For some older truck models, especially imported ones, payload may be indicated by a logo or special symbol on the door panel. However, to be certain, you should still verify the information in the vehicle registration certificate.
Understanding the payload capacity helps drivers proactively manage cargo loading, avoiding overloading, which can lead to danger and legal violations.
4. Current Legal Regulations on Truck Payload Capacity in Vietnam
Vietnamese law currently has very specific and strict regulations on truck payload capacity. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure traffic safety, protect road infrastructure, and minimize negative environmental impacts.
According to regulations from the Ministry of Transport, all cargo trucks must strictly adhere to the payload capacity stated in their registration certificate. However, the law also provides certain allowances to facilitate transportation activities, specifically:
- For trucks with a payload capacity under 5 tons: The cargo weight on the truck must not exceed 10% of the permitted payload.
- For trucks with a payload capacity over 5 tons: The cargo weight on the truck must not exceed 5% of the permitted payload.
Exceeding these limits will result in the truck being considered overloaded and subject to penalties according to the law. Therefore, calculating and controlling truck payload before each trip is extremely necessary.
Penalties for violations related to truck payload are detailed in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP). Below are some typical penalties cited from Article 28 and Article 33 of Decree 171/2013/ND-CP (still relevant for reference regarding violations):
Article 28. Penalties for violations of regulations on road transport and road transport support services
| Violation | Individual | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Loading goods onto a car exceeding the designed load capacity recorded in the Vehicle Registration Certificate or Vehicle Safety and Environmental Inspection Certificate. | VND 500,000 – VND 1,000,000 | VND 1,000,000 – VND 2,000,000 |
| Loading goods onto a car without signing confirmation of cargo loading in the Waybill as prescribed. | VND 500,000 – VND 1,000,000 | VND 1,000,000 – VND 2,000,000 |
| Failure to post the name and phone number of the transport business unit, the tare weight of the vehicle, and the permissible payload of the vehicle on the outside of both sides of the driver’s cabin door as prescribed for trucks. | VND 1,000,000 – VND 2,000,000 | VND 2,000,000 – VND 4,000,000 |
Article 33. Penalties for drivers of tracked vehicles, overloaded vehicles, vehicles exceeding bridge and road limits (including passenger cars)
| Violation | Individual | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Driving a vehicle where the total weight of the vehicle or axle load (including goods loaded on the vehicle, people carried on the vehicle) exceeds the permissible load of the bridge or road by 10% to 20%, except in cases where there is a valid Circulation Permit. | VND 2,000,000 – VND 3,000,000 | VND 2,000,000 – VND 3,000,000 |
| Driving a vehicle with a valid Circulation Permit but the total weight of the vehicle or axle load (including goods loaded on the vehicle if any) exceeds the regulations in the Circulation Permit; | VND 3,000,000 – VND 5,000,000 | VND 3,000,000 – VND 5,000,000 |
| Failure to post the name and phone number of the transport business unit, the tare weight of the vehicle, and the permissible payload of the vehicle on the outside of both sides of the driver’s cabin door as prescribed for trucks. | VND 1,000,000 – VND 2,000,000 | VND 2,000,000 – VND 4,000,000 |
5. Regulations on Overload Circulation Permits
In some special cases, trucks carrying overloaded cargo may be granted an Overload Circulation Permit for road use. However, the issuance of this permit is very limited and is only considered when no other feasible transportation options exist or no other suitable motor vehicle type is available for transportation.
Overload Circulation Permits will not be issued if the transported goods exceed the cargo weight capacity designed by the manufacturer, even if the vehicle has been modified and the redesigned specifications have been approved.
If overloading affects and exceeds the operational capacity of the road, individuals or organizations requiring vehicle circulation must be responsible for paying the costs associated with road surveys and inspections. The competent authority will only issue a Circulation Permit after these financial obligations are fulfilled.
Conclusion:
Understanding and complying with truck payload capacity is not only a legal responsibility but also a key factor in ensuring safety for yourself, the community, and protecting your own assets. Xe Tải Mỹ Đình hopes that the detailed information in this article will provide drivers and transportation businesses with useful knowledge for operating trucks efficiently and safely on every journey.
