NEW DELHI: The government on Monday increased the axle load of trucks and trailers, which will allow the goods vehicles to carry extra load of about 16 per cent to 37 per cent. However, for the rigid trucks the gross vehicle weight, which includes the self weight, has been capped at 49 tonnes and for tractor trailers at 55 tonnes.

TOI on June 8 had first reported this government move. The transport ministry said it will give a big boost to logistics and trucking industry and is likely to reduce the transport cost of cargo. The notification comes just before the truckers announced their intention to go on strike.

"It's perfectly fine for the government to increase the axle load. But once it's fixed, the enforcement agencies must have zero tolerance for overloading. Vehicle caught overloading must be impounded and their permits should be suspended. Doubling or increasing the toll charges for such violations is not the remedy. If we don't stop overloaded vehicles, we will just keep repeating the same mistake," said SP Singh of IRTFT.

According to the government notification, only up to 5 per cent of more load than the fixed norm won't attract any penalty.

In fact, overloading is one of the main causes of road accidents and fatalities in India. Even road transport secretary YS Malik had raised this issue last week at a conference of International Road Federation .

