Joint Circular No. 223-TT/LB stipulates principles and guidelines for procedures regarding the replacement of chassis of passenger vehicles, specialized vehicle chassis, trailers, semi-trailers; replacing vehicle assemblies with different brand and technical specifications for road motor vehicles.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on principles and guidelines for procedures concerning the installation of chassis for passenger buses, specialized vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers; replacementof

the

assemblies of vehicles with different brands and technical specifications for motor vehicles on roads.

Using automobiles for transportation and other types of automobiles, or using vehicle assemblies to install passenger bus chassis, specialized vehicle chassis, trailers, semi-trailers, and replacing vehicle assemblies with different brands and technical specifications for motor vehicles on roads requires scientific and technical calculations based on solid grounds. Therefore, there is a need for unified regulations on principles and procedures to ensure quality and technical safety, while utilizing vehicle assemblies that meet usage standards, contributing to cost savings for the State, meeting transportation requirements, and ensuring traffic safety.

However, during the past period, due to the lack of unified and specific regulations for the above cases, the quality and technical safety of newly installed or replaced vehicles with different brand assemblies have not been guaranteed, affecting the lifespan of vehicles, transportation safety, and causing difficulties in the overall management by the State in this aspect.

I. OBJECTS

The objects within the scope of regulation under this circular include:

1.1. Motor vehicles on roads:

- Passenger cars (sedans)

- Freight trucks

- Vehicles for transporting passengers, picking up and dropping off officials and workers within agencies, factories, plants, etc.

- Specialized vehicles such as mobile repair vehicles, communication vehicles, cranes, tanker trucks, refrigerated trucks, ambulances, fire trucks...

- Trailers, semi-trailers,

- Two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles (excluding bicycles).

1.2. Vehicle assemblies when replaced with different brands and technical specifications include:

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

2.1. The use of freight automobiles, other types of automobiles, or the use of vehicle assemblies to install passenger bus chassis, specialized vehicle chassis, trailers, and semi-trailers is regulated as follows:

a) For various types of automobiles and vehicle assemblies that have not been used, the agencies owning vehicles, new manufacturing plants, and repair enterprises are only permitted to proceed according to the national plan indicators already assigned.

b) For various types of automobiles and vehicle assemblies that have been used and are under central management institutions, decisions are made by the respective ministries or equivalent levels, while for localities, decisions are made by the People's Committees of provinces or centrally-administered cities.

2.2. For vehicles specified in Article 2.1 and those replacing assemblies specified in Article 1.2, technical files must be reviewed and approved by transportation authorities; upon factory release, they must have a technical inspection report from the inspection board or a quality inspection report at the time of release from the production facility authorized by the inspection board, then the public security agency will confirm that the vehicle meets technical safety standards to issue operating documents.

In cases where vehicles have been registered and managed by the public security agency, before undergoing modifications that change their intended use, the vehicle owner agency must declare to the public security agency managing the vehicle for approval of certification.

When vehicles are modified to change their intended use and those replacing engine or frame assemblies with different brands and technical specifications, the vehicle owner agency must submit the technical inspection report mentioned in Article 2.10 below to the public security agency managing the vehicle.

When vehicles replace engine or frame assemblies of the same type, the vehicle owner agency must provide proof of ownership of the assembly to the public security agency managing the vehicle. If there is no proof, a written statement detailing the origin of the assembly and a commitment that it is their property must be provided.

2.3. When vehicles have been decided to be liquidated, usable assemblies can be selected to replace other vehicles.

2.4. For vehicles specified in Article 2.1 and those replacing assemblies specified in Article 1.2, the vehicle owner agency must prepare a file including:

- Overall drawings.

- Detailed drawings,

- Calculation explanations,

- Decisions on policy by competent authorities as stipulated in Article 2.1.

The file should be submitted in four copies to the reviewing authorities as specified in Article 2.5.

2.5. Regulations on the level of design technical review are as follows:

a) The Transport Traction Research Institute under the Ministry of Transportation reviews designs for new passenger bus chassis, specialized vehicle chassis, trailers, and semi-trailers, and reviews designs for vehicle modifications (changing the original shape, structure, and intended use of the vehicle).

b) The Road Transport Department under the Ministry of Transportation reviews cases of replacing vehicle assemblies with different brands and technical specifications.

c) In cases where the vehicle owner agency needs to modify the vehicle and simultaneously replace assemblies with different brands and technical specifications, the design will be reviewed by the Transport Traction Research Institute under the Ministry of Transportation.

d) Provincial and Municipal Transportation Departments review modifications of two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles and motorized rickshaws managed locally.

e) The Ministry of Transportation may issue a decision delegating the authority to review designs as stipulated in points a, b, and c of Article 2.5 to provincial and municipal transportation departments with sufficient capacity to undertake such tasks.

2.6. The time limit for technical design review shall not exceed 30 days from the date of receipt of the file. In cases requiring additional research to extend the time, the reviewing authority must report in writing to the authority submitting the design.

If the technical design needs to be redone, the review time for the next round shall not exceed 15 days from the date of resubmission of the file.

2.7. Production facilities are only allowed to construct according to designs with approval documents from the levels as stipulated in Article 2.5, and for vehicles already managed by the public security agency, an additional confirmation letter from the public security agency managing the vehicle is required.

2.8. In case there are no raw materials according to the design, the production facility must report to the competent authority to proceed with design changes as appropriate. These changes must be approved by the reviewing authority before construction begins.

2.9. The product quality control department (PQC) of the production facility is responsible for monitoring and inspecting the quality of vehicle components and parts from the start of construction until the vehicle is ready for shipment. Inspection results must be clearly recorded in the minutes.

2.10. Technical inspection organization:

a) After completing the first vehicle, in addition to the inspections carried out by the PQC of the production facility, a technical inspection must be organized to comprehensively evaluate the quality before putting the vehicle into use and deciding to proceed with mass production.

The technical inspection organization is conducted:

- For new series of passenger vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, and modified vehicles that change their initial usage characteristics.

- For two-wheeled, three-wheeled motorcycles, and bicycle trailers that have been overhauled.

b) The members of the technical inspection board include representatives from the following authorities:

- The Department of Technology, the Institute of Transport Traction Research, and the Motor Transport Administration under the Ministry of Transport;

- The Traffic Police Corps under the Ministry of Public Security.

- The Transport Departments and Bureaus where the production facilities are located;

- The Public Security Departments and Bureaus where the production facilities are located;

- Representatives of the production facility.

The chairman of the board is the representative of the Department of Technology under the Ministry of Transport.

The board operates on the principle of democratic discussion to reach consensus, and in cases of differing opinions, the chairman's opinion is decisive.

c) For technical inspections of vehicles with replaced assemblies and two-wheeled, three-wheeled motorcycles, and bicycle trailers, the local inspection board is responsible. The composition of the local inspection board includes representatives:

- Local Transport Departments and Bureaus.

- Local Public Security Departments and Bureaus.

- The production facility.

The chairman of the board is the representative of the local Transport Department or Bureau. The board operates according to the principles stipulated in point b, Article 2.10.

d) The production facility must prepare a report for the board regarding the construction process according to the approved design, submit inspection records and related documents for the board's review.

e) The chairman is responsible for convening members to conduct the inspection work at the request of the production facility. The production facility is responsible for organizing and providing all favorable conditions for the board to work. The costs of the inspection work are calculated separately and allocated into the production cost of the facility.

2.11. The production facility is responsible for delivering the inspection board's minutes to the competent authority for the authority to handle procedures with the public security agency to obtain appropriate documentation for the vehicle's usage characteristics.

2.12. Public Security Departments and Bureaus base on the inspection minutes and the authorized decision to allow mass production, conduct routine safety inspections to issue documentation for the vehicle to operate.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS.

3.1. The Department of Technology, the Institute of Transport Traction Research, the Motor Transport Administration under the Ministry of Transport, the Traffic Police Corps under the Ministry of Public Security, and the Transport Departments and Bureaus, and Public Security Departments and Bureaus, based on their functions and responsibilities and the provisions of this circular, are responsible for guiding, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of this circular.

3.2. Any new construction, modification, or replacement of vehicle assemblies not carried out in accordance with the provisions of this circular shall not be issued documentation by the responsible authorities for operation; if using such vehicles causes accidents resulting in loss of life and property of citizens and the State, the vehicle owner will be strictly dealt with by law.

3.3. This circular does not apply to vehicles of the Vietnam People's Army and armed public security forces currently managed and used.

3.4. This circular takes effect from the date of issuance. Previous regulations of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Security concerning new construction, modification, and replacement of vehicle assemblies that conflict with this circular are hereby abolished./.