Overloaded Truck Penalties in Vietnam (Updated 2026) – A Detailed Guide for Vehicle Owners and Drivers
How much is the fine for overloaded vehicles? This guide provides the latest 2026 updates on penalties for overloaded trucks under Vietnamese law, including detailed thresholds (10%, 30%, 50%) and key compliance notes for drivers and transport businesses.
What Is an Overloaded Vehicle?
To determine whether a vehicle is overloaded, the following parameters must be considered:
- Vehicle curb weight
- Permissible cargo load
- Maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) as per design
Based on these figures, inspection authorities and drivers can determine whether the vehicle is operating within legal limits or exceeding them.
Overloading is commonly categorized into three types:
- Cargo overload: Carrying goods exceeding the permitted load capacity
- Axle overload: Excessive weight concentrated on one or more axles beyond technical limits
- Gross weight overload: Total vehicle weight (vehicle + cargo) exceeding the allowable limit
Who Is Responsible for Overloading Violations?
The latest penalty regulations are applied under Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP, effective from January 1, 2025.
Responsible parties include:
- Driver: The person directly operating the overloaded vehicle
- Individual vehicle owner: If allowing the violation to occur
- Corporate owner: Transport companies or organizations owning the vehicle
This means both drivers and businesses share legal responsibility for overload violations.
How to Calculate Overload Percentage
The overload percentage is calculated using the following formula:
- Overload Percentage = (Actual Load − Permitted Load) / Permitted Load × 100%
Or
- Overload Percentage = (Actual Gross Weight−Permitted Gross Weight) / Perrmitted Gross Weight × 100%
Example:
A truck is permitted to carry 5 tons but is actually carrying 6 tons:
=> The overload percentage is 20%.
Latest Overload Penalties (2026 Update)
According to Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP (Articles 21, 32, and 34), penalties are categorized based on overload percentages and applied to drivers, individual owners, and corporate owners.
| Violations | For drivers | For individual | For Organization | Additional penalties |
10% – 30% overload and 20% – 30% for tank | 800.000 – 1.000.000 | 4.000.000 – 6.000.000 | 8.000.000 – 12.000.000 | |
| 30% – 50% overload | 3.000.000 – 5.000.000 | 10.000.000 – 12.000.000 | 20.000.000 – 24.000.000 | |
50% – 100% overload | 5.000.000 – 7.000.000 | 20.000.000 – 26.000.000 | 40.000.000 – 52.000.000 | |
| 100% – 150% overload | 7.000.000 – 8.000.000 | 30.000.000 – 40.000.000 | 60.000.000 – 80.000.000 | Additional: Deduction of 4 license points |
Over 150% overload | 8.000.000 – 12.000.000 | 65.000.000 – 75.000.000 | 130.000.000 – 150.000.000 | Additional: Deduction of 4 license points |
| 10% – 20% overload (road limit) | 4.000.000 – 6.000.000 | 10.000.000 – 12.000.000 | 20.000.000 – 24.000.000 | Mandatory damage remediation (if any) |
| 20% – 50% overload (road limit) | 13.000.000 – 15.000.000 | 28.000.000 – 30.000.000 | 56.000.000 – 60.000.000 | Additional: Deduct 2 license points + remediation |
| Over 50% overload (road limit) | 40.000.000 – 50.000.000 | 65.000.000 – 75.000.000 | 130.000.000 – 150.000.000 | Additional: Deduct 4 license points + remediation |
| Refusal to Comply with Weight Inspection | 40.000.000 – 50.000.000 | Deduction of 10 license points + mandatory corrective measures |
Key Takeaways
- Maximum fine for drivers: up to 50,000,000 VND
- Maximum fine for businesses: up to 150,000,000 VND
- Additional penalties: license point deductions and mandatory remediation
Overloading is a high-risk violation with serious financial and legal consequences.
Practical Advice for Drivers and Transport Businesses
To avoid overload penalties and ensure safe operations:
- Always check cargo weight before departure
- Ensure compliance with permitted load stated in inspection documents
- Distribute cargo evenly to avoid axle overload
- Stay updated with the latest traffic regulations
- Implement internal control processes (for companies) to prevent violations
Conclusion
Understanding overloaded vehicle penalties helps drivers and businesses proactively manage transport operations, minimize legal risks, and ensure road safety.
Always verify cargo weight before each trip. Compliance not only protects your finances but also contributes to safer roads and more sustainable infrastructure.
