Viet Saigon trucks are facing numerous challenges due to the new traffic regulations that took effect at the beginning of 2025. The Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association (VATA) has sent an official letter to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and departments to consider and resolve these difficulties.
Traffic congestion at An Phu intersection, a common issue affecting truck drivers in Vietnam.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of VATA, many inadequacies have arisen since the new regulations were implemented, causing serious difficulties for transport businesses. Many drivers have resigned, and numerous businesses have had to temporarily suspend operations, especially on long-distance routes and in major cities, leading to significant economic losses.
Issues with License Plate and Vehicle Registration Certificate Renewal
One of the biggest obstacles is the regulation regarding the renewal of license plates and vehicle registration certificates. Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA stipulates that vehicle owners only need to change license plates, not the registration certificate. However, the new Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety mandates the renewal of both the registration certificate when changing license plates. This has resulted in many Viet Saigon trucks being rejected for inspection because they had changed license plates but had not yet renewed their registration certificates. Consequently, they are forced to stop operating, seriously affecting business activities, especially during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. VATA proposes that the Traffic Police Department implement online vehicle registration certificate renewal to shorten processing times and reduce administrative procedures for businesses.
Pressure on Driving Time Limits
Limited driving time has led to the resignation of many truck drivers.
The regulations on driving time limits are also causing difficulties for Viet Saigon truck drivers. Due to frequent traffic congestion, complying with these regulations is very challenging. In many cases, drivers are forced to violate the regulations to ensure work progress. VATA recommends that the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and departments consider adjusting the regulations in the direction of relaxing and extending the regulated driving time in the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, specifically increasing the maximum driving time per week to 60 hours and clarifying the penalties.
Issues with Vehicle Tracking Devices
The lack of clear regulations for vehicle tracking devices in legal documents is also causing many inconsistencies. These devices are not periodically inspected, leading to discrepancies between the data on time, speed, and distance recorded by the device and the actual data from the vehicle.
Proposed Solutions
To alleviate the difficulties, VATA proposes the need to improve the transportation infrastructure system, especially rest stops, to create favorable conditions for drivers. Simultaneously, clear regulations on vehicle tracking devices are needed, along with increased inspection and strict handling of violations. Adjusting driving time regulations should also be considered to align with the actual traffic conditions in Vietnam, helping Viet Saigon trucks operate more efficiently.
