How high can a 13-meter trailer be loaded without exceeding height limits?
2 Answers
For a 3-meter tractor, according to national regulations, the cargo height of a truck should not exceed 4.5 meters from the ground. Therefore, the general loading height is only about 3.0 meters. Freight vehicles are generally called trucks or lorries, referring to vehicles mainly used for transporting goods, and sometimes also referring to vehicles that can tow other vehicles, belonging to the category of commercial vehicles. The following are the definitions of various types of trucks: Mini trucks: Mini trucks are a type of truck. According to Chinese motor vehicle specifications, 'mini' is defined as: vehicle length ≤ 3.5m, total mass ≤ 1800kg. Light trucks: Light trucks refer to N1 category vehicles in the N class of trucks with a maximum design total mass not exceeding 3.5 tons. Dump trucks: Dump trucks are vehicles that unload goods by hydraulic or mechanical lifting. Also known as tipper trucks. They consist of components such as the vehicle chassis, hydraulic lifting mechanism, cargo compartment, and power take-off device. Heavy trucks: Heavy trucks are the abbreviation for heavy-duty trucks. This is an authentic, traditional, and informal term for heavy-duty trucks and semi-trailer tractors, including various specialized vehicles seen on the road (water tankers, fire trucks, road sweepers, tank trucks, mixers, etc.), dump trucks (earth-moving trucks, all equipped with lifters), trucks (for transporting goods, including livestock), and some less common off-road vehicles (mostly military).
I've been driving long-haul tractor-trailers for over a decade, and loading height for 13-meter trailers requires strict control. Most roads have height limits around 4 meters, while highway entrances or underpasses may be lower, with 4.2 meters being a common threshold. Before loading, measure the vehicle's base height carefully - semi-trailer chassis typically stand 1.2 to 1.5 meters tall, then add cargo stacking height. I recommend keeping cargo below 2.8 meters to stay safely within the 4-meter total limit. Exceeding height not only risks hefty police fines but worse - bridge collisions. I've seen rookie drivers overload height-wise, damaging cargo boxes and facing compensation. Always use distance meters or mirror checks for clearance, safety first. On national highways, watch for height limit signs, especially on rural roads where some restrictions drop to 3.5 meters - never take chances.
