Shanghai traffic police started a one-year campaign yesterday to crack down on overloaded trucks and those breaking height limits.
On the first day of the crackdown yesterday, three of the 14 trucks checked at the Xupu Bridge check station were found to be overloaded.
A driver surnamed Liu, whose truck was carrying about 40 percent excess load than allowed, said he had warned his boss not to load too much because he heard about the crackdown. He said his suggestion was ignored.
He was fined 500 yuan ($80) and got six demerit points in his license. If he commits the same offense over three times within a year, he will have his license annulled.
Police said if over 10 percent of trucks from a company are caught for offenses within a year, the company will lose its freight transportation business.
Also, operators of the facilities where the trucks involved in the offenses are loaded could also be punished.
Chen Xun, an official of the traffic police in Minhang District, said such crackdown will be organized every week.
Traffic police have also been asked to look out for overloaded trucks in daily work.
"Overloaded trucks have a higher risk of causing traffic accidents and damages to our road infrastructure," Chen said.
In May, an overloaded truck illegally used the Middle Ring Road at midnight. It was involved in an accident that damaged part of the road.
