On the Ministry of Construction's Information Portal, reader N.D said that he owns a pickup truck and reflected that information appeared on social networks that pickup trucks will be counted as trucks according to the new law.
According to readers' understanding in the past, pickup trucks with a tonnage of less than 950 kg are counted as cars, over 950 kg is counted as trucks, and when participating in traffic, they will be subject to prohibitions on hours and lanes like trucks.
Citizens request to clarify the new regulations, especially for vehicles with a tonnage of less than 950 kg when participating in traffic, are they prohibited from hours and lanes or not?
With the same content, reader N.D. V reflected that Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT guides the classification of pickup trucks.
Accordingly, many opinions believe that pickup trucks with a tonnage of less than 950 kg that were previously classified as cars now become trucks, leading to the application of traffic regulations like trucks, including going in the same lane, being prohibited from entering the inner city area and speed regulations.
Answering the opinions, the Vietnam Register said: based on Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT dated November 15, 2024 of the Minister of Transport regulating the classification of road vehicles, the classification of pickup trucks (picks) is carried out according to the purpose of use and structural characteristics of the vehicle, based on inheriting the National Standard TCVN 7271:2003 and Amended 2:2010 TCVN 7271:2003.
Accordingly, pickup trucks (piggy trucks) are classified into the group of trucks (cargo trucks) if they meet the criteria of being vehicles with separate cargo box structures.
Regarding previous regulations in traffic organization, pickup trucks with a permitted cargo volume of less than 950 kg are considered passenger cars according to the National Technical Regulation on Road Signage QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT.
However, in QCVN 41:2024/BGTVT effective from January 1, 2025, replacing QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT, this provision no longer exists.
The Vietnam Register Department affirmed that traffic organization regulations such as lane separation, road bans, and time bans are not regulated by Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT but are under the authority of traffic management agencies and People's Committees of localities according to road traffic laws. These agencies base on vehicle classification to organize traffic in accordance with actual conditions.
Regarding vehicle classification, the Vietnam Register clearly stated:
The classification of pickup trucks belonging to the group of trucks (cargo trucks) in Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT is not a new regulation.
Since 2003, this content has been regulated in the National Standard TCVN 7271:2003 and is cited in legal normative documents of the Ministry of Transport in the work of certifying technical safety quality and environmental protection for automobiles.
In 2010, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Amended 2:2010 TCVN 7271:2003, which changed the criteria for determining between pickup cars and pickup trucks, but pickup trucks are still classified into the group of trucks (cargo trucks).
In summary, the classification of pickup trucks into the group of trucks in Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT is inherited from the National Standard TCVN 7271:2003 and has been maintained, unchanged from 2003 to present. The classification criteria between pickup cars and pickup trucks are inherited from the Amended 2:2010 TCVN 7271:2003 and also unchanged from 2010 to present.
Regarding traffic diversion and restrictions when participating in road traffic, in principle, road management agencies and localities will base on vehicle classification of Circular No. 53/2024/TT-BGTVT to organize traffic diversion, limit circulation time, and limit circulation areas for pickup trucks and other types of cars, in accordance with economic, social and people's needs. This is under the authority of traffic management agencies and localities.
