VietNamNet Bridge – Transport firms delivering goods to partners have complained about long waits at ports because of a new regulation that requires verification of the loading capacity of vehicles.

Trinh Chau Khanh, director of Kim Loi Minh Transport Company, told Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon on September 25 that he had been at Cat Lai port for two days, but still could not get get goods cleared because of the new regulation on vehicle-loading capacity.

Under the new regulation, the port authorities’ officers supervise the cargo handling process to be sure that the total loading capacity of vehicles does not exceed the tonnage listed in the vehicle registration certificates.

Khanh said that his vehicles were not overloaded under regulations in Circulars 03 and 07. However, as there exists differences in the definition about loading capacity in the circulars and the vehicle registration certificates, his vehicles are seen to be violating regulations.

Thai Van Chung, Secretary General of the Vietnam Goods Transportation Association, said he has received many complaints from member companies about the delays at the Cat Lai port, though he still has not reckoned how many companies have suffered from this.

Chung noted that in the past, enterprises used semi-trailers which did not fit bridge and road loading capacity. Therefore, many semi-trailers manufactured in the past have been found violating the regulation on maximum loading capacity.

The Ministry of Transport recently allowed renovation of semi-trailer imports, but not domestically made products. As a result, there are many old semi-trailers still in use.

Chung said the association is going to ask the Vietnam Register to allow upgrade of locally made products to satisfy transport demand and ensure transportation safety.

The Tan Cang Sai Gon on September 24 sent a notice to shipping firms and transport companies about the application of the new regulation under which the vehicle load will be verified at the port.

If the vehicle load exceeds the allowed loading capacity in the registration certificates, the port authorities will not let the goods be cleared until the transport firms reduce the load.

Analysts commented that the Ministry of Transport has never taken such drastic measures to control vehicle-loading capacity.

Four months ago, the ministry informed transport firms that it will apply all necessary measures to be sure that overloaded vehicles cannot circulate on roads.

The ministry also warned that it would ask the government to impose heavy sanctions on port authorities and enterprises involved in transportation companies’ overloaded vehicle circulation.

On September 16, the authorities of 29 ports in HCM City signed commitments with the Ministry of Transport to strictly observe regulations on verifying vehicle loads at ports.

The ports will be required to stop operation for one to three months if they allow overloaded vehicles to travel on roads a second time or more.

Thanh Mai