The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has extended until early next year the suspension of enforcement of the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) for certain types of trucks/trailers.
The extension, from August 1 until January 31, 2015, is pursuant to revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on overloading under Republic Act No. 8794 (An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge on Owners of All Types of Motor Vehicles and Other Purposes). It was approved following request of haulers and truckers who asked for “more time to acquire additional transport equipment to conform with the latest GVW” requirement. The order covers trucks/trailers with Code 12-2 and 12-3 configurations.
The suspension was originally supposed to have been lifted on July 31.
Code 12-2 trucks are semi-trailers with three axles on the towing truck and two axles on the trailer for a total of 18 wheels. These are the most commonly used trucks in the Philippines, according to an official of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines in an earlier interview with PortCalls.
On the other hand, trucks with a 12-3 configuration are semi-trailers with three axles on the towing vehicle and three axles on the trailer for a total of 22 wheels.
Under the revised IRR of RA 8794, Code 12-2 and 12-3 trucks and trailers whose loads exceed the prescribed GVW of 41,500 kilograms and 42,000 kilograms, respectively, and load per axle of 13,500 kilograms are considered to be overloaded and prohibited from traveling.
Trucks apprehended for overloading will be fined the equivalent of 25% of their motor vehicle user’s charge in the motor vehicle registration filed with the Land Transportation Office. — Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Keerati at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
