Vietnam is set to implement strict new regulations for truck drivers beginning January 1, 2025, aimed at enhancing road safety and ensuring compliance within the growing trucking industry. The updated laws, part of the revised Law on Traffic Order and Safety from 2024, will limit drivers to no more than 48 hours of driving per week, no more than 10 hours per day, and prohibit continuous driving for over 4 hours at any stretch.
These measures were introduced to safeguard against fatigue-related accidents, calling for mandatory rest breaks after four consecutive hours of driving. Each pause, lasting at least 15 minutes, allows drivers to recuperate before continuing their journeys. The broader objective is to reduce the risk of accidents and promote safer driving conditions for transport workers on Vietnamese roads.
Besides time restrictions, the laws also mandate the installation of real-time vehicle monitoring systems for commercial vehicles, including both passenger and freight transport options with eight or more seats, as well as tow trucks and ambulances. Under these regulations, the monitoring devices are not merely for corporate convenience; they serve to collect data for state oversight and to administer compliance checks.
According to the guidelines set forth, drivers violating the stipulated working hours face fines ranging from 3 million VND to 5 million VND (approximately 130 to 225 USD), alongside potential penalties such as losing 2 points from their driving licenses. Owners who let their drivers exceed the regulated hours will also receive hefty fines, ranging from 4 to 6 million VND for individuals and from 8 to 12 million VND for organizations.
The move is seen as part of Vietnam’s conformance with international road safety standards, including obligations outlined by the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. It aligns with the country's 2019 Labour Code, which dictates regular working hours cannot exceed 8 hours daily and 48 hours weekly.
Concerns have been raised among drivers and transportation organizations about the practicality and potential for unjust penalties connected to these regulations. Frequently transitioning from driving to other necessary vehicle operations (like refueling, loading, and dealing with bureaucratic hurdles) may inadvertently lead drivers to exceed the continuous driving limit, inviting penalties under the new regulations.
The Vietnam Automobile Transport Association (VATA) has voiced worries over the reliance on the new monitoring systems, indicating potential inconsistencies and inaccuracies related to data collection. The association has cautioned authorities about possible errors arising from factors like equipment quality, weather conditions, and road logistics, which can misrepresent the actual working hours of truck drivers.
VATA responded by urging government bodies to delay imposing penalties derived from these monitoring systems until the systems are fully vetted and established. They emphasized the need for careful consideration of time spent preparing for trips—activities like vehicle start-up, fueling, and other logistical delays should be considered time not accounted for when evaluating continuous driving limits.
Road safety advocates stress the update is long overdue for top-tier road management reflective of Vietnam's economic growth and the increase of freight transport activity. Ensuring driver well-being through structured hours is assumed to improve overall highway conditions and diminish the high rates of traffic incidents connected to commercial transport.
Authorities will be tasked with ensuring drivers and companies are aware of these new regulations, with the Ministry of Transport promising training sessions and information campaigns leading up to the January 2025 launch. While the objective is clear—promoting safety and ensuring road order—successful implementation depends largely on collaboration between government regulators, transport companies, and the drivers who will be directly affected by these stipulations.
The forthcoming regulations mark a pivotal shift for the trucking industry, aiming to balance efficiency and safety as Vietnam continues to modernize its transportation infrastructure. With the expressed concerns of stakeholders, the government faces the challenge of ensuring these policies can be implemented effectively without unfair penalties crippling the very drivers they intend to protect.