Joint Action by Three Departments to Regulate Vehicle Transport Operations

Recently, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly formulated the 'Special Governance Action Plan for Vehicle Transport Operations' (referred to as the 'Plan'). This initiative focuses on illegal activities such as overloading of vehicle transporters and aims to strictly manage market access for new vehicles, enhance supervision of loading at the source, strengthen road enforcement inspections, and increase joint punitive measures. The goal is to firmly prohibit overloaded vehicles from operating on roads and to curb the resurgence of illegal operations in the vehicle transport sector, promoting the healthy and sustainable development of the complete vehicle logistics industry. According to the Plan, local public security traffic management departments and transport authorities are required to further enhance oversight of vehicle registration and market access, ensuring that new vehicle transporters meet national standards before registration. Vehicles exceeding the loading limits—such as flathead articulated vehicles transporting more than 6 units, longhead articulated vehicles transporting more than 7 units, and mid-axle vehicle transporters transporting more than 9 units—will be classified as illegal and prohibited from entering highways. The Plan also calls for strengthened management of car manufacturers' loading points and supervision of complete vehicle logistics companies in local jurisdictions, ensuring that vehicles not meeting loading requirements do not leave production facilities. Local public security traffic management departments and transport authorities are to enhance road enforcement, particularly around production facilities, loading points, and logistics sites, and strictly prohibit the use of temporary license plates for transporting passenger vehicles. Vehicles that have been illegally modified will be penalized and required to restore their original state. The Plan proposes strict penalties for repeat offenders, including the revocation of transport permits for vehicles that exceed loading limits more than three times within a year, and for drivers who repeatedly violate these regulations. Logistics companies whose vehicles exceed loading limits beyond 10% of their total fleet will face business suspension; serious cases may lead to the revocation of operating licenses and public announcements. This special governance action will last for six months, with local transport, public security, and industrial departments enhancing supervision and conducting a mix of regular and surprise inspections to ensure effective outcomes.