The Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association (VATA) has proposed the Ministry of Transport (MoT) continue granting licenses to specialized vehicles transporting super-heavy and oversized cargo, to transport automobiles or motorbikes and help businesses stabilize operations.

Demand for transporting super-heavy and oversized cargo is high, VATA said. For many years, the transportation of automobiles and motorbikes from production or manufacturing plants to ports or agents has been conducted by specialized vehicles.

Ending the licensing of such vehicles would lead to disruptions in supply chains, according to VATA.

Many transport companies have invested in buying thousands of specialized vehicles to transport super-heavy and oversized cargo following international standards and these vehicles have operated for many years. However, the Department for Roads of Vietnam said super-heavy and oversized products such as automobiles and motorbikes can be transported by normal vehicles.

This is unreasonable, as it would increase transportation costs and environmental pollution because normal vehicles are able to transport one or two cars while specialized vehicles can transport up to six cars, VATA said.

The suspension of licensing for these vehicles from mid-March has presented many difficulties for the transportation of super-heavy and oversized products, and many transport businesses are at risk of being fined for breaking contracts, according to VATA.

It therefore suggested that MoT continue to grant licenses to such vehicles.