No.

RT11028/1112017-MVL
Government of India
Ministry of Road Transport 8.: Highways
(Transport Division)
Transport Bhawan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001

Dated, the 18th of July, 2018

To
(i) The Chief Secretaries of All States and Administrators of L)Ts;
(ii) Director Generals Police of all States/Union Territories;
(iii) Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries (Transport) of all States/ UTs;
(iv) Transport Commissioners of all States/ UTs.

Subject: Revision of Safe Axle Weights for Transport Vehicles and enforcement thereof.

Sir,

The permissible safe axle weights of goods vehicles were last notified in the year 1983. Over the
years, significant improvements have taken place in tyre technology, vehicle design, pavement design etc.
The global axle weight norms are higher as compared to the existing Indian norms. The lower axle weight
has often been cited as one of the major factors responsible for high logistics cost in India and incidence of
overloading. The issue of revision of axle weight was also raised in the Meeting of the Group of Transport
Ministers of the States, who recommended to increase the permissible axle weight of transport vehicles.
2. The issue has been examined in the Ministry and the revised maximum safe permissible axle
weight for Transport vehicles have been notified by the Ministry vide S.O. 3467E on 16th July, 2018. A copy
of the notification is enclosed at Annexure 'A'. This notification supersedes the earlier notification dated
S.O. 728(E) dated 18th October, 1996.
3. The above notification specifies the maximum permissible weight for different configurations of the
axles. In order to clarify its impact on the gross vehicle weight (GVW) on vehicles with different axle
combinations, an illustrative table has been prepared as a guideline for enforcement agencies. This is
enclosed as Annexure '8' for ready reference. It may be noted that any combination of axles in trucks,
tractors and trailers would be permissible subject to overall GVW limits and approval process as per CMVR.
No separate notification would be required for individual axle combination.
4. It may further be noted that the modular hydraulic trailers may be permitted to carry single
indivisible loads of higher values (in terms of dimensions and weight) provided appropriate number of axle
row modules are provided and route permissions are taken from the authorities having jurisdiction over area
of movement.
5. With the revised permissible weight for the transport vehicles, the state enforcement Authorities
are requested to rigorously enforce the regulations and take strict action against overloading by goods
vehicles on roads and ensure that such vehicles are stopped and made to unload the excess load before
being allowed to proceed further, in addition to levy of penalties under section 194 of the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988.
Yours faithfully

\ Page 1 of 4
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[1{lT.~. 3llX.it.-11028/11/2017-"CfI1.cfi.~.l
Wf<1"~,~~

MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th July, 2018
S.O. 3467(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 58 of the Motor Vehicles Act,
1988 (59 of 1988), and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of
Surface Transport (Transport Wing), number S,O, 728(E) dated the is" October, 1996, the Central Government hereby
notifies the maximum safe axle weight of each axle type in relation to the transport vehicles (other than motor cabs),
having regard to the size, nature and number of tyres, as under :-
Maximum Safe Axle Weight
SI. Axle Type Maximum Safe Axle
No. Weight
1. Single Axle
1.1 Single Axle with single Tyre 3.0 tonnes
1.2 Single Axle with two Tyres 7.5 tonnes
1.3 Single Axle with four Tyres 11.5 tonnes*
2. Tandem Axles (Two axles) (where the distance between two axles is less than
1.8 Mtr.)
2.1 Tandem axle for rigid vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 21 tonnes*
2.2 Tandem axle for Puller tractors for hydraulic and pneumatic trailers 28.5 tonnes
3. Tri-axles (Three axles) (where the distance between outer axles is less than
3 Mtr.)
3.1 Tri-axle for rigid vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 27 tonnes*
4. Axle Row (two axles with four tyres each) in Modular Hydraulic trailers 18 tonnes
(9 tonnes load shall be permissible for single axle)
* Note: If the vehicle is fitted with pneumatic suspension, I tonne extra load is permitted for each axle.
2. The gross vehicle weight (GVW) shall not exceed the total permissible safe axle weight as above and in no case
shall exceed-
(i) 49 tonnes in case of rigid vehicles; and
(ii) 55 tonnes in case of semi-articulated trailers and truck-trailers except modular hydraulic trailers.
3. Modular hydraulic trailers can carry goods of indivisible nature of any load subject to the regulatory approvals
as may be required.
Explanation .- For the purposes of this notification, tolerance upto five per cent. in the gross vehicle weight shall be
allowed for the purpose of compliance to sub-section (3) of section 113of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988).
IF, No, RT-II028/11/2017-MVLJ
ABHAY DAMLE, 11. Secy.

Uploadedby Dte.of Printingat Governmentof IndiaPress,RingRoad,Mayapuri,NewDelhi-I10064

and Publishedby theController01" Publications,Delhi-II0054. Digitolliy ~igned by RAKESH
RAKESH SUKUl
Date; 1018.07.1622:49:08
SUKUL +05'30'
 .'
.' No. RT110281 11/2017 -MVL Annexure- "B'
/
Government of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(Transport Division)
Transport Bhawan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001

Revised Safe Axle Load limits for Transport Vehicles

Sr Type of Axle Combination on Axle Combination No of Single Tande Dual Tridem Permissible
No Vehicle Tractor Remarks
on Trailer Axles Axles mAxie Axles Axle GVW

Two tyres on front axle

Two Axle Rigid
1 and four tyres on rear - 2 1 0 1 0 19
Truck
axle
wo tyres on front axle
Three Axle 28.5
2 and eight tyres on rear - 3 1 1 0 0
Rigid Truck
andem (two) axle
wo lyres each on two
Four Axle 36
3 axles and eig ht tyres on - 4 2 1 0 0
Rigid Truck
kJnetandem (twQl axle
[Iwo tyres each on three
Five Axle Rigid 43.5
4 axles and eight lyres on - 5 3 1 0 0
Truck
one tandem(two) axle
[Iwo lyres each on two
Five Axle Rigid axles, four tyres on one 47.5
5 - 5 2 1 1 0
Truck axle and eight tyres on
one tandem ltwo)_ axle
wo tyres each on four To be
Six Axle Rigid 49
6 axles and eig ht tyres on - 6 4 1 0 0 capped at
Truck
one tandem (two) axle 49 tonnes.
Tractor - semi wo tyres on front axle
our tyres on 30.5
7 articulated and four tyres on rear 3 1 0 2 0
r:>ingleaxle
trailers ~xle
Tractor - semi [Iwo lyres on front axle
ight tyres on 40
8 articulated and four tyres on rear 4 1 1 1 0
andem (two) axle
trailers axle
Tractor - semi ITwo tyres on front axle welve tyres on a
9 articulated and four tyres on rear 5 1 0 1 1 46
ridem (three) axle
trailers axle
Tractor - semi wo lyres on front axle
our tyres on 40
10 articulated and eight tyres on rear 4 1 1 1 0
~ingle axle
trailers andem (two) axle
--
Tractor - semi wo tyres on front axle
ight tyres on 49.5
11 articulated and eight tyres on rear 5 1 2 0 0
andem (two) axle
trailers andem(two) axle
Tractor - semi ~ wo tyres on front axle To be
welve lyres on a 55
12 articulated and eight tyres on rear 6 1 1 0 1 capped at
ridem (three) axle
trailers andem(_two) axle ._-_--- 55tonnes
[Iwo lyres on front axle
ight tyres on two 42
13 Tractor Trailer and four tyres on rear 4 1 0 3 0
axles
axle
!Two tyres on front axle
ight tyres on two 51.5
14 Tractor Trailer and eight tyres on rear 5 1 1 2 0
axles
andem ltwQ)_ axle
our tyres on
wo lyres on front axle
15 Tractor Trailer and four tyres on rear
~ingle axle & Eight I 5 1 1 2 0
51.5
yres on tandem
axle
two) axle
our tyres on
wo tyres on front axle To be
r:>ingleaxle & Eight 55
16 Tractor Trailer and eight tyres on rear
yres on tandem
6 1 2 1 0 capped at
andem (two) axle 55 tonnes
two) axle I ---

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