File photo: Facebook

 

The issue of overloaded trucks in Thailand has been as plain as the nose on the drivers faces for years.

 

So much so that many news media - ASEAN NOW included - enjoy publishing pictures of the latest ridiculous and dangerous infractions.

 

It seems that the loads get heavier, higher and more precarious - despite the omni-presence of "weighing stations" on main roads and laws on the books. 

 

Those laws are being routinely flouted and enforcement of the rules - Article 84  in particular - ignored by the authorities who take backhanders.

 

Consequently haulage companies are allowed to get away with heavy loads and the effect can be seen on main roads in particular - whole inside lanes carved up by trucks who then move to the outside lanes to ruin those and avoid the bumps and damage they created in the first place.

 

Adding to the frustration of other road users who have to undertake dangerously.

 

INN reported that the National Anti-Corruption Commission presented a damning report to the Thai cabinet. 

 

Picture: INN 

 

Deputy spokeswoman Traisuree said that the Transport Ministry has been ordered to act to crack down on companies sending out overladen trucks and conniving officials signing off on their misdemeanors. 

 

Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements

 

 

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Another "gunna":-

We're ganna do this!

We're gunna do that!

And we're gunna make motor cyclists wear helmets!

 

I'm gunna have to stop reading this <deleted>.

Why should a minor traffic infringement  be a cabinet matter?

Yer, its sugarcane time here in Issan---- very few lights on the country roads, and what small lights the old sugarcane trucks have, are usually covered by the cane overload. Sometimes the driver just parks at the side of the road to get some sleep,  and your on them before you realize. Some hang old CD's from the cane to reflect.

 

Drivers paid by the weight at the mill.

The only way to do anything is let the police enforce the law, instead of getting money and drive on...

Every day on the road overloaded pick up's with fruit, furniture, or other things that should already be to much for 2 cars and trucks with too much hay,or overloaded with everything, Sometimes they are stopped by the traffic police, they pay something and drive on, but mostly nothing happens. 

I should say don't warn them anymore and keep the car unload it till what is allowed and drive on, or they have to arrange something else. Not once a month but every day. If you keep it checking for several months they will learn.

Endemic corruption in all levels of society.. A police force whose primary income is from being paid to tolerate law breaking.. 

 

..and surprise surprise.. We have overloaded trucks on the road.. How did this happen I see them ask themselves ?? 

It's an old game, drivers overload knowing full well that they will have to pay the boys in brown, and so a win-win situation continue except for the poor sod, unlucky one who got in an accident with such truck, what can be done? nothing really, it's bigger than any politician to stop it.....

Sitting in a bar at the end of Beach Road (Pattaya) I noticed a policeman pull up on the other side of the road. Then another one joined him then another until there were 6 sitting talking.. What they were doing there I have no idea'

Traffic was flowing normally and as Beach Road has a 90 degree corner there nobody was speeding. It wasn't due to a helmet check as most locals tend not to ride down Beach Road without a helmet due to heavy police presence.

But this of course means that other areas don't have a  police presence. At the traffic lights near where I live I would think that 40% of riders don't wear helmets.

"widespread corruption and law breaking" 

 

PM and former NCPO Chief Prayut has been the Head of Government continously since May 2014, as well as direct supervision of the RTP and DSI. And now his Cabinet acts? After several times over the years to be directed by Prayut to act against corruption?

Is there a pattern here?

11 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

"widespread corruption and law breaking" 

 

PM and former NCPO Chief Prayut has been the Head of Government continously since May 2014, as well as direct supervision of the RTP and DSI. And now his Cabinet acts? After several times over the years to be directed by Prayut to act against corruption?

Is there a pattern here?

He also made a speech telling all of Thailand that he would be in charge of the Covid  crisis, thinking it would soon go away and he would take all take credit ! Well, that idea was well <deleted>**ed too ! Not a word from him any more about controlling Covid.  He is only in it for the money,

Utter boll*cks. It'll never stop. It's a way of life here. Live with it! 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

It seems that the loads get heavier, higher and more precarious - despite the omni-presence of "weighing stations" on main roads and laws on the books. 

Weigh stations are pay stations, then go on your way.

3 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Why should a minor traffic infringement  be a cabinet matter?

If you think an overweight lorry is considered a minor infringement then I take it you have never been involved with goods vehicles.  If overloaded it causes:-

The front wheels to be in less contact with the road therefore making the front brakes less inefficient and the steering to have less of a feel.

Overheating brakes and tyres. causing blowouts and in some cases loss of wheels.

Greater braking distances required causing brakes to overheat.

Suspension bottoming out so the chassis is sitting on the axle.

Loads that are to high cause vehicles to tip over when turning.

 

Basically if the vehicle is overloaded then its doing something its not designed for and thats why trucks have max axle and gross vehicle weights

What a load of ball cocks, just more jaw followed by no action.

If there is any action it will be a small just for show exercise with the relevant government does everything fantastically need organs reporting.

4 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

Yer, its sugarcane time here in Issan---- very few lights on the country roads, and what small lights the old sugarcane trucks have, are usually covered by the cane overload. Sometimes the driver just parks at the side of the road to get some sleep,  and your on them before you realize. Some hang old CD's from the cane to reflect.

 

Drivers paid by the weight at the mill.

Yep, as the extended family have many rai of sugar (converted rice fields) I see the olde Isuzu trucks leaving and so overloaded they straddle the crest of the road. I also know they stop about an hour from the refinery and hose the load down to increase the weight.

 

Oh, well this is Isaan -ya gotta luv em.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The issue of overloaded trucks in Thailand

Yes indeed, a common sight below I used to witness during the sugar cane season when living in Isaan!!

 

My case in point!

Quote

I can't see a problem here, officer! Just plastic barrels, all empty. Weight station says gross vehicle weight less than 7.5to, so no overload  ☺️????

31 minutes ago, jackinthebox said:

I can't see a problem here, officer! Just plastic barrels, all empty. Weight station says gross vehicle weight less than 7.5to, so no overload  ☺️????

As a bonus, the steering becomes much lighter and front tyre wear reduced......????

“Widespread corruption and law breaking”

 

Nooooo!,! Not in Thailand, surely? Anyone want to hazard a guess to the outcome of this? My money is on this: maybe (just maybe) a few violators will be slapped with a fine, and then things will go back to ‘normal’, i.e. the trucks will be continued to be ridiculously overloaded. 

Many years ago a boss of a Thai construction company who was standing for local elections said to me that he wanted to become an MP, so he could try to get the weight limit raised for his trucks and so to not have to keep paying the police off. When I pointed out that overloaded lorries churn up the roads and have a designated load weight limit that their brakes and power units can handle safely, he looked at me as if I was mad. Nothing much has changed. Lorries are still over loaded and the BB are on nice little earners.????

On 12/29/2021 at 8:17 AM, Asquith Production said:

If you think an overweight lorry is considered a minor infringement then I take it you have never been involved with goods vehicles.  If overloaded it causes:-

The front wheels to be in less contact with the road therefore making the front brakes less inefficient and the steering to have less of a feel.

Overheating brakes and tyres. causing blowouts and in some cases loss of wheels.

Greater braking distances required causing brakes to overheat.

Suspension bottoming out so the chassis is sitting on the axle.

Loads that are to high cause vehicles to tip over when turning.

 

Basically if the vehicle is overloaded then its doing something its not designed for and thats why trucks have max axle and gross vehicle weights

I've always thought that the poor state of the left hand lane is partly to do with it taking all the heavy vehicles whether they're overloaded or not and partly because that might be where the "commission" comes from.

 

You do see a lot of delaminated tyres on the roads. Not hat surprising really.

 

 

17 hours ago, Gandtee said:

Many years ago a boss of a Thai construction company who was standing for local elections said to me that he wanted to become an MP, so he could try to get the weight limit raised for his trucks and so to not have to keep paying the police off. When I pointed out that overloaded lorries churn up the roads and have a designated load weight limit that their brakes and power units can handle safely, he looked at me as if I was mad. Nothing much has changed. Lorries are still over loaded and the BB are on nice little earners.????

 There's a sequel to this story, politicians get appointed to the position of minister for roads etc.

 

Guess what  industry he came from? He owned the biggest fleet of trucks and buses in the country at the time.

 

Day 1 on the job he tabled an amendment to massively increase maximum weight allowed for trucks and buses. All passed.

 

Same man very involved in selling temple land.

What about overloaded gravy trains.....