Key Points in Regulations for Tractor-Trailers and Containers

Currently, it is not difficult to encounter container trucks in cities with seaports, on national highways, or near export processing zones. Container trucks have become very common to meet the needs of the transportation industry in general and the import-export industry in particular. For businesses looking to enter the transportation field, this article will provide general information and regulations about this type of vehicle.

I. Some things you need to know about tractors and containers

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First, businesses need to understand the structure of a tractor truck before considering choosing suitable brands:

• Semi-trailer tractor trucks are specialized vehicles for transporting goods or people, consisting of two separate parts: the semi-trailer box and the tractor truck.
  

• A tractor truck is a car without a cargo compartment and is specifically designed to tow a semi-trailer. When these two parts are connected, the weight of the semi-trailer will be significantly transferred to the tractor, allowing this system to operate smoothly.
  

• For tractor trucks, the permissible load is regulated depending on the number of axles. An axle is understood as 2 opposite wheels connected. For example, a 6x2 and 6x4 wheel configuration will have 3 axles, each side having 2 and 4 wheels, respectively, accompanied by trailers also having 3 axles but only serving the purpose of movement.
  

Dimensions of tractor trucks, semi-trailers

Dimensions and load of international standard containers

According to ISO 668:1995(E), the standard dimensions and weight of 20’ and 40’ containers are as follows:

Depending on the manufacturer and different types of containers, containers also come in various sizes. However, due to the need for standardization to be used globally, container dimensions are usually applied according to ISO standards. According to ISO 668:1995(E), ISO containers all have a width of 2.438m (8ft).

• The height of containers mainly comes in two types: standard containers (8 feet 6 inches (8’6”)) and high containers (9 feet 6 inches (9’6”)).
  

• The length of containers uses the 40’ container as a standard. Shorter containers have lengths calculated to be stacked under the 40’ container while still ensuring a 3-inch gap between them.
  

II. Regulations on axles and loads according to Circular 46/2015/TT-BGTVT

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Article 9. Regulations on overweight vehicles, oversized vehicles circulating on roads

1. Overweight vehicles are road motor vehicles with a total weight of the vehicle or axle load exceeding the load capacity of the road.

2. Oversized vehicles are road motor vehicles with one of the overall dimensions, including goods loaded on the vehicle (if any), exceeding the maximum permissible dimensions for vehicles when participating in road traffic, specifically:

a) Length greater than 20 meters or greater than 1.1 times the total length of the vehicle;

b) Width greater than 2.5 meters;

c) Height from the road surface upwards greater than 4.2 meters (except for container trucks).

3.  Specialized vehicles with a total weight of the vehicle, axle load exceeding the load capacity of the road or the overall dimensions exceeding the maximum permissible dimensions specified in clause 2 of this Article when participating in road traffic are considered overweight, oversized vehicles.

Article 16. Axle load limits

1. Single axle: axle load ≤ 10 tons.

2.  Double axle group, depending on the distance (d) of the two axle centers:

a) If d < 1.0 meters, axle load group ≤ 11 tons;

b) If 1.0 meters ≤ d < 1.3 meters, axle load group ≤ 16 tons;

c) If d ≥ 1.3 meters, axle load group ≤ 18 tons.

3. Triple axle group, depending on the distance (d) of the two adjacent axle centers:

a) If d ≤ 1.3 meters, axle load group ≤ 21 tons;

b) If d > 1.3 meters, axle load group ≤ 24 tons.

Article 17. Total weight limits of vehicle

1. For rigid-body vehicles with a total number of axles:

a) With two axles, total vehicle weight ≤ 16 tons;

b) With three axles, total vehicle weight ≤ 24 tons;

c) With four axles, total vehicle weight ≤ 30 tons;

d) With five or more axles and the distance from the center of the first axle to the center of the last axle:

- Less than or equal to 7 meters, total vehicle weight ≤ 32 tons;

- Greater than 7 meters, total vehicle weight ≤ 34 tons.

2.  For tractor-trailer combinations with a total number of axles:

a) With three axles, total combination weight ≤ 26 tons;

b) With four axles, total combination weight ≤ 34 tons;

c) With five axles and the distance from the center of the kingpin to the center of the first axle of the semi-trailer:

- From 3.2 meters to 4.5 meters, total combination weight ≤ 38 tons;

- Greater than 4.5 meters, total combination weight ≤ 42 tons.

d) With six or more axles and the distance from the center of the kingpin to the center of the first axle of the semi-trailer:

- From 3.2 meters to 4.5 meters, total combination weight ≤ 40 tons; in the case of carrying one container, total combination weight ≤ 42 tons;

- Greater than 4.5 meters to 6.5 meters, total combination weight ≤ 44 tons;

- Greater than 6.5 meters, total combination weight ≤ 48 tons.

3. For rigid-body vehicles towing trailers: the total combination weight is the total weight of the rigid-body vehicle (corresponding to the total vehicle weight specified in clause 1 of this Article) and the total axle load of the towed trailer (corresponding to the axle load specified in Article 16), specifically:

a) In the case of a rigid-body vehicle towing a trailer with one axle group with the distance from the center of the drawbar hitch pin to the middle of the trailer axle group measured on the horizontal plane of the drawbar greater than or equal to 3.7 meters, total combination weight ≤ 45 tons;

b) In the case of a rigid-body vehicle towing a trailer with multiple axle groups with the distance from the center of the drawbar hitch pin to the center of the first axle or the middle of the first axle group of the trailer measured on the horizontal plane of the drawbar greater than or equal to 3.0 meters, total combination weight ≤ 45 tons.

4. For tractor-trailer combinations (specified in clause 2 of this Article) but with the distance from the center of the kingpin to the center of the first axle of the semi-trailer < 3.2 meters or a rigid-body vehicle towing a trailer with one axle group but with the distance from the center of the drawbar hitch pin to the middle of the trailer axle group less than 3.7 meters or a rigid-body vehicle towing a trailer with multiple axle groups but with the distance from the center of the drawbar hitch pin to the center of the first axle or the middle of the first axle group of the trailer less than 3.0 meters, the total combination weight must be reduced by 2 tons per meter shorter length.

5. For vehicles or vehicle combinations with auxiliary axles (having mechanisms to lift or lower the auxiliary axles), the total weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination is determined according to the provisions of Article 16 and clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Article corresponding to the actual number of axles acting directly on the road surface when circulating on roads.

III. Notes on the weight limit of tractor trucks allowed to circulate on roads

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Currently, businesses are still concerned about the situation where vehicles carrying goods according to international standards, as permitted by inspection agencies, still exceed the load limit on most roads in Vietnam.

First, it is an issue of road load capacity. Most road sections in Vietnam still have low load capacities, making it difficult to transport goods. For example, on National Highway 52 (Hanoi Highway) entering Cat Lai Port (the largest cargo handling port in the country), Suoi Cai Bridge near the intersection of the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park has a sign indicating a bridge load of 20 tons, while Saigon Bridge has a sign indicating a bridge load of 25 tons, causing difficulties for transport businesses.

Most road sections still have signs indicating a total weight of the vehicle and goods not exceeding 30 tons without considering the number of axles transporting the container, as stipulated in Circular 46/2015/TT-BGTVT by the Ministry of Transport. Some special places, as in the example above, even allow a lower load limit of 25 tons, including the load of the transported goods. Therefore, almost 100% of container truck combinations are in violation of the bridge load limit. This further confuses transport companies when arranging goods and choosing the best transportation route while complying with traffic laws. In these cases, even if the vehicles meet international standards, carrying goods according to international standards, permitted by the Vietnamese inspection agency, they still may not be allowed to circulate normally on the upgraded road system according to the most advanced standards in Vietnam.

Nguồn ảnh

Not only do they face difficulties when moving, but arranging goods to comply with regulations also causes many troubles for businesses.

A fully loaded semi-trailer can weigh between 35-45 tons (depending on the type of container, number of axles, and quantity of transported goods). Based on the international standard table above, containers have a maximum load of about 30 tons. After being loaded onto tractor trucks, these trucks will certainly have a load over 40 tons.

According to Circular 46/2015/TT-BGTVT, the more axles a semi-trailer combination has, the greater the total load. The maximum permissible total load for both goods and vehicles is 45 tons for combinations with 6 axles or more. For example, a tractor with a load of about 12 tons + a 40’ container with a load of about 32.7 tons still meets the circulation conditions as the maximum regulation is 40 tons but within the allowable range to exceed 1.1 times, which is just enough to be permitted for circulation. This calculation method is different from the general calculation with a 4-axle rigid-body vehicle with a maximum limit of 30 tons. By clarifying this load calculation method, container trucks or tractor trucks towing semi-trailers or trailers, if loaded according to regulations, can still circulate normally without violating the load limit and without needing a permit for oversized, overweight vehicles. However, businesses cannot always apply this method. The reason lies in the inconsistency of the regulations. Some places have signs about axle load limits, but others have regulations on bridge load, i.e., the total load of the vehicle and goods.

Therefore, transport managers need to clearly understand the load limits of the routes before determining a reasonable route. Some bridges and small roads do not allow large load vehicles to pass, so reasonable redirection measures are needed to avoid overload violations and reduce additional costs when choosing a longer route.

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