Do Blue License Plate Refrigerated Trucks Need to Apply for an Operating Permit?
3 Answers
Blue license plate refrigerated trucks do not need to apply for an operating permit. On September 20, 2017, the Ministry of Transport and 13 other departments issued the "Action Plan for Promoting the Healthy and Stable Development of the Road Freight Industry (2017-2020)" (Document No. Jiao Yun Fa [2017] 141), which mentioned the promotion of canceling some licensing and approval items. Below is additional information: Introduction: Blue license plate vehicles refer to cars with blue license plates, typically featuring white characters and white borders on a blue background. Overview: Small vehicle license plates have white characters and white borders on a blue background. Vehicles with a total mass of less than 4,500 kg (excluding), seating capacity (excluding the driver) of fewer than 20 people (excluding), and a body length of less than 6 meters (excluding) are required to install this type of license plate.
I just bought a blue-plate refrigerated truck last month and specifically inquired at the vehicle management office. The policy has changed now - all blue-plate trucks with a total mass under 4.5 tons, whether refrigerated or not, no longer require operating permits. I remember back in 2019 when the new regulations came out, all us transport drivers applauded the change. Although the operating permit is waived, refrigerated trucks still need to install BeiDou GPS and temperature recorders to ensure full temperature traceability when transporting fresh goods. I suggest you keep the purchase invoice and vehicle certification documents handy in case of random inspections. Honestly, doing short-haul cold chain transport is much less hassle now compared to previous years - the time saved on permits means I can squeeze in two extra trips, which makes better business sense.
Having driven a refrigerated truck for five years, the most annoying part was the days spent running around for the operating permit. Now, blue-plate refrigerated trucks indeed don’t require an operating permit, as the policy clearly states: light trucks under 4.5 tons are exempt from operating permits. But don’t celebrate too soon—cold chain transportation has more requirements than ordinary trucks. Last time I delivered goods, I was checked for the refrigerated equipment operation records, and was fined 500 yuan for incomplete temperature records. My advice is to print the vehicle registration and the operating permit exemption documents and keep them in the truck. If you encounter a strict traffic officer, just show them directly. Also, remember to buy sufficient commercial insurance—repairing a broken refrigeration unit can cost half a year’s fuel expenses.
