【Car Tips】Cargo Vehicle Weight Limits and Penalties
🚚 Editor's opening remarks
Drivers of commercial vehicles and trucks (light, medium, and heavy) in Hong Kong 🚛 often dread hearing the word " overweight ." Don't assume overweight is just a matter of "just carrying a few hundred kilograms." Hong Kong has strict regulations on cargo weights, as overweight directly impacts braking distances, vehicle frame structure, bridge load capacity, and road life .
I've seen many cases where vehicles that were overweight by hundreds of kilograms rose to several tons, and were immediately fined upon passing the weighing station. Some company drivers even received bad driving records due to being overweight several times, and were unable to keep their jobs.
📜 1. Legal Background – Why does Hong Kong have weight limits?
All weight restrictions are from the **Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374)** and its subsidiary legislation. The Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations specify the weight restrictions for different types of vehicles:
- Maximum permitted gross vehicle weight (GVW)
- Single shaft/dual bearing weight limit
- Road/bridge specific restrictions
Purpose of legislation:
- Safety : Excess weight increases braking distance and the risk of rollover.
- Infrastructure protection : Excessive weight damages bridges and roads.
- Fair enforcement : Regulate industry standards to avoid unhealthy competition (using overloading to reduce costs).
⚖️ 2. Weight restriction categories
(A) Vehicle Structural Weight Limit
When a vehicle is registered, the manufacturer and the Transport Department have set:
- Kerb Weight : The unladen weight of the vehicle.
- Maximum Payload : The weight of cargo that can be safely carried.
- Maximum permissible gross weight (GVW) : net weight + cargo weight.
✅ Example:
- Vehicle registration shows GVW: 16,000 kg
- If the empty truck weighs 8,000 kg → Maximum payload = 8,000 kg
(B) Axle Weight Limit
Each axle has a maximum load on the road, for example:
- Single axle : up to 10,000 kg
- Two-axle : Typically 16,500–19,000 kg (depending on model)
(C) Specific road/bridge restrictions
Some roads have temporary weight limits that are lower than the vehicle registration limit, for example:
- Narrow bridges, elevated sections, and village roads → 5-ton or heavier vehicles prohibited from entering
- Height limit + weight limit combination, such as 3.5 meters high and 5 tons weight
⚖️ 3. Weight Testing and Enforcement in Hong Kong
(1) Weighbridge/Inspection Station
- Fixed weighbridges: entrances and exits of major roads in Tuen Mun, Tsing Yi and Yuen Long
- Mobile weighbridges: Temporary weighbridges set up by the police or the Transport Department on the roadside.
(2) Law enforcement agencies
- Traffic Wing of the Hong Kong Police Force
- Transport Department
- Highways Department (bridges, construction site sections)
(3) Testing process
- Stop → Check documents (license plate, cargo list)
- Drive the vehicle onto the scale → measure the gross weight and axle weight
- Comparison with the maximum permitted gross vehicle weight
- Issue inspection record sheet → Issue fine/prosecution
📏 4. Overweight calculation method
Overweight percentage (%) =
example:
- Maximum permissible gross weight = 16,000 kg
- Actual weight = 17,600 kg
- Overweight = 1,600 kg
- Overweight percentage = 1,600 / 16,000 × 100% = 10%
🚨 5. Overweight Penalties (Current in Hong Kong)
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance (Schedule 8A):
| Overweight percentage | Maximum fine (first conviction) | Imprisonment | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 5% | $450 | none | 3 points |
| > 5% – 10% | $1,000 | none | 5 points |
| > 10% – 15% | $2,000 | none | 5 points |
| > 15% – 30% | $3,000 | none | 5–7 points |
| > 30% | $5,000 | 3 months | 5–7 points |
⚠️ Repeat offenders: Fines may be doubled and the driver’s license may be temporarily revoked.
🪤 6. Common ambush scenarios I've seen
-
Wrong weight estimation at loading point
- The customer complained that the weight was less, but the driver did not check the weight again.
-
Overweight container and chassis
- The empty weight of the container is several tons, and when filled it exceeds the standard by several tons.
-
GVW not updated after adding water tank/equipment
- The vehicle itself is heavier than when it was registered, so the weight left for cargo is naturally reduced.
-
Bridge weight limit is not equivalent to vehicle license plate GVW
- Even if the license plate is qualified, it is still illegal to drive on a village road with a weight limit of 5 tons.
-
The company is urging the goods to be delivered quickly
- "Carrying one more turn" becomes "a few more tons" → You're trapped once you pass the weighing station.
📌 7. Editor's Tips for Avoiding Scams (Legal Methods)
To the driver
- Always confirm the weight of the cargo before going on the road (require bill of lading/weighing slip)
- Familiarize yourself with weight restrictions on frequently traveled roads
- If you use a GPS route, turn on "Truck Mode" to avoid weight-restricted roads.
- Cargo distribution should be evenly distributed to avoid excessive axle loads
For companies/fleet
- Equipped with an on-board weighing system
- Train managers/dispatchers on weight regulations
- Use a low-bed trailer to reduce empty weight and increase legal cargo capacity
- Establish a policy of refusing to load overweight cargo to protect drivers from liability
📊 8. Lazy Man’s Cheat Sheet – Consequences of Being Overweight
| Overweight | as a result of |
|---|---|
| ≤5% | $450 fine + 3 points |
| 5–10% | $1,000 fine + 5 points |
| 10–15% | $2,000 fine + 5 points |
| 15–30% | $3,000 fine + 5–7 points |
| >30% | $5,000 fine + imprisonment + 5–7 points |
🎯 Editor's Conclusion
Hong Kong's transport industry is highly competitive. While overloading can seem like a shortcut, it's actually a risky path. Not only can a single ticket cost thousands of dollars and demerit points, but it can also hinder business, affect a driver's license, and even put their job at risk.
The editor recommends that both drivers and trucking companies adhere to the rules : Trucking companies shouldn't pressure drivers into overloading, and drivers themselves should be vigilant about checking weights. Ultimately, you'll be the one behind the wheel when facing prosecution, penalties, and penalties. Following the rules helps you stay healthy and prospers your business.
