New Trucks Can Now Carry More Weight; Centre Increases Load Capacity By 25 Per Cent

Trucks can now carry more freight with the Centre increasing the official maximum load carrying capacity by 20 to 25 per cent while also scrapping the annual requirement of getting the fitness certificate renewed, reports The Economic Times. Fitness certificates for trucks will now have to be renewed every two years instead of every year.

While truck manufacturers have argued that this move would affect the demand for newer vehicles, the Government has refuted these claims, saying that the new norms would be applicable only to newer trucks and not those already on the roads.

The gross vehicle weight of a two-axle truck – four wheels in the rear – has been increased by little over 20 per cent from 16.2 tonne to 18.5 tonne while for a three-axle truck it has gone up from 25 tonne to 28.5 tonne. Five-axle trucks can now carry 43.5 tonne instead of 37 tonne, an increase of 25 per cent. Tractor-trailers can now carry 36 per cent more load.

The statutory order was issued on Monday (16 July) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) after a 30 year gap. Weight limits were last set in 1988 after the passage of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Vehicles registered prior to the order would continue carrying weight as per the existing limits.