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Government increases freight loads for trucks

The Government of India has revised the axle weights for commercial vehicles for the first time in 35 years.

According to a notification, the gross vehicle weight (GVW) for rigid trucks has been fixed at 49 tonnes and 55 tonnes for semi-articulated trailers and truck-trailers, with a permissible tolerance of 5%. Vehicles with pneumatic suspension are allowed to carry an additional load of 1 tonne for each axle.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also defined the maximum axle loads for different types of commercial vehicles. The maximum permissible load for single axle vehicles with a single tyre, two tyres and four tyres are 3 tonnes, 7.5 tonnes and 11.5 tonnes respectively. 

For tandem or two axle configuration where the distance between the two axles is less than 1.8 meters, the permissible limits are 21 tonnes in case of rigid trucks, trailers and semi-trailers and 28.5 tonnes for puller tractors for hydraulic and pneumatic trailers.

The axle load for tri-axle rigid vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers where the distance between the outer axles is less than 3 meters is 27 tonnes, while modular hydraulic trailers with two axles and four tyres each can carry a maximum of 18 tonnes.

The revised limits are applicable for new vehicles. The government is yet to clarify its stand on older vehicles.

Source: Bloomberg

 
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