Will points be deducted if the rear door of a pickup truck is left down when carrying cargo?
2 Answers
Leaving the rear door of a pickup truck down is not considered illegal, but it becomes illegal if it obstructs the license plate. If you must open the tailgate when carrying cargo, you can make an enlarged license plate number using cardboard or wood and hang it up, ensuring the characters are clearly written. Small trucks like pickups are subject to weight checks on highways, and overloading will prevent them from entering the highway. According to Article 54 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law": "The load carried by a motor vehicle must not exceed the approved load capacity specified in the vehicle's registration certificate, and the length and width of the load must not exceed the dimensions of the cargo compartment." According to the "Interim Regulations on Highway Transportation Management" issued in 1986, highway transportation is divided into two types: commercial and non-commercial. 1. Commercial transportation refers to highway transportation that provides services to society and involves various forms of fee settlement (i.e., you transport goods for others and earn money from it). 2. Non-commercial transportation refers to highway transportation that serves the production and daily life of one's own unit and does not involve fee settlement (i.e., you transport your own goods and do not earn money from it; generally, company vehicles are non-commercial). If your vehicle has all the necessary documents and is legal, you cannot transport goods for others for profit—you can only transport your own goods.
To be honest, as a seasoned pickup truck driver with over a decade of experience, I can tell you that lowering the tailgate while hauling stuff can definitely get you penalized. The main issue is that it often blocks the license plate, making it hard for traffic cameras to capture clearly. If caught by traffic police, they'll treat it as obstructing the license plate – and that's no minor offense. Apart from losing points on your license, you could also face a fine of 100-200 yuan. Not to mention the safety hazards: unsecured cargo can fly out during strong winds or sudden braking, potentially causing serious accidents if it hits vehicles behind you. My advice? Use a cargo net when hauling, or simply keep the tailgate up and secure your load properly. Safety should always come first – don't cut corners to save a little time. Remember, the points deducted from one violation could take months of clean driving to recover – hardly worth the risk! These details matter most to experienced drivers, so never take chances.
