Heavy Vehicle Rules in India — Trucks, Buses, Trailers
Speed governors, fitness certificates, driver rest rules, overloading laws, and safety requirements for heavy motor vehicles.
Heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) — trucks, buses, tankers, and trailers — are involved in 40% of India's fatal road accidents despite being only 5% of registered vehicles. This guide covers every rule that HMV operators and drivers must follow.
Quick Facts
- ●HMV licence: age 20+, 1 year LTV experience
- ●Speed governor: mandatory, tamper-proof
- ●Overloading penalty: ₹20,000 + ₹2,000/tonne (2019 amendment)
- ●Max driving: 8 hours continuous, 9 hours daily
- ●RUPD: mandatory rear under-run protection
- ●Reflective tape: mandatory on all sides
Licence Requirements
Driving a heavy vehicle requires specific qualifications:
- ›HMV/HTV licence: minimum age 20 years, with at least 1 year of LTV driving experience.
- ›Education: minimum Class 8 passed.
- ›Medical fitness: Class D medical certificate (annual eye test mandatory above age 40).
- ›Training: many states now require formal HMV driver training certification.
- ›Penalty for driving HMV without proper licence: ₹5,000 (Sec. 181).
- ›Employer who allows unlicensed driver: ₹1,00,000 (Sec. 180).
Speed Governors
All heavy commercial vehicles must have a functioning, tamper-proof speed governor:
- ›Multi-axle truck: max 60 km/h.
- ›Light goods vehicle: max 80 km/h.
- ›Highway bus: max 80 km/h.
- ›City bus: max 60 km/h.
- ›School bus: max 40 km/h.
- ›Tampering or removing: ₹5,000 fine, vehicle impounded.
Overloading Rules
Overloading is one of the most widespread and dangerous violations on Indian highways:
- ›Never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) registered on the RC.
- ›Penalty: ₹20,000 base + ₹2,000 per extra tonne (Sec. 194, as amended 2019).
- ›Overloaded vehicle may be impounded until excess load is removed.
- ›Overloading destroys roads, bridges, and increases braking distance by 30–50%.
- ›Overloaded trucks are prone to rollover on curves.
- ›Weigh bridges: mandatory at many state borders — fines issued automatically.
Driver Rest and Fatigue Rules
Long-haul truck and bus drivers are subject to driving hour limitations:
- ›Maximum continuous driving: 8 hours (CMVR Rule 84).
- ›Mandatory rest: 30 minutes after every 4 hours of continuous driving.
- ›Daily maximum: 9 hours of driving.
- ›Weekly maximum: 48 hours of driving.
- ›Night driving: many states ban heavy goods vehicles from urban roads between 10 PM and 6 AM.
- ›Reality: these rules are widely violated — driver fatigue causes an estimated 40% of highway truck crashes.
Mandatory Safety Equipment
Heavy vehicles must carry and display:
- ›Fire extinguisher (2 kg minimum for passenger vehicles).
- ›First aid kit (specified contents per CMVR Rule 116).
- ›2 reflective warning triangles.
- ›Retro-reflective tape: red/yellow on rear, yellow on sides.
- ›Reverse horn/buzzer (for trucks).
- ›Rear under-run protection device (RUPD) — steel bar preventing cars from going under the truck in a rear collision.
- ›Side under-run protection on trucks above 3.5 tonnes (CMVR amendment).
Dangerous Goods Transport
Vehicles carrying hazardous materials have additional requirements:
- ›Hazchem board: displayed on front and rear — shows UN number, hazard class, and emergency contact.
- ›Trem card (Transport Emergency Card): inside the cabin — instructions for emergency responders.
- ›Driver must be trained in handling the specific hazard class.
- ›Vehicle must have additional fire extinguishers and spill containment equipment.
- ›Parking restrictions: cannot park near residential areas, water bodies, or populated zones.
- ›Route restrictions: many cities designate specific routes for dangerous goods vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age for HMV licence?
What is a speed governor?
What is the penalty for overloading?
How many hours can a truck driver drive continuously?
Found This Guide Useful?
Share it with your family and friends. Awareness saves lives.
More in Vehicle-Specific Rules
Complete Guide for Two-Wheeler Riders in India
Helmet rules, pillion laws, lane positioning, modification rules, and safety tips — everything a two-wheeler rider needs to know.
Complete Guide for Car Owners in India
Seatbelt laws, child seats, tint rules, parking, insurance, and maintenance — everything a car owner needs to know.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Rules in India
Registration, insurance, charging, green number plates, and subsidies — everything EV owners need to know.