Recently, in the owners' forum, a card friend asked whether it was illegal for a skeleton car to pull containers. The following answers can be said to be varied. Some said it was illegal to refit, some said it would depend on the operating qualification certificate, and some said it would depend on the model. So, can the skeleton semi-trailer pull the container on the road?

In fact, it is absolutely possible, because the skeleton semi-trailer is a model specially used to transport containers.

The frame of the skeleton semi-trailer is composed of longitudinal beam, cross beam and front and rear end beams. The bottom is exposed and hollow. It is similar to the semi-trailer in appearance, except that there is no bottom plate and upper mounting. The vehicle chassis can be directly seen from above the body.

According to the relevant provisions of GB1589-2016, the outline limit of skeleton semi-trailer is 13.95m long, 2.55m wide and 4m high. In terms of length, the skeleton truck is 0.95m more than the conventional three axle semi-trailer, and 0.2m more than the 13.75m low platform semi-trailer. This is to adapt to the size of standard containers on the market. According to GB/T 1413-2008, the maximum size limit of a 45 foot container is 13.716m long, 2.438m wide and 2.896m high.

However, the skeleton vehicle is a special vehicle for container transportation, which does not mean that the skeleton vehicle can be used to transport containers on the road in compliance. In other words, if the skeleton semi-trailer pulls containers in violation of regulations, there are some preconditions. For example, the container for transportation must be a standard container on the market, and the size must meet the regulations, not a self-made container.

Due to the special structure of the skeleton car, the frame and the container above belong to two parts respectively. In order to be able to load more goods, some car owners have changed the container into a high, wide and long container, or even directly used self-made super large containers, resulting in the left and right sides of the box and the rear beyond the scope of the car frame, causing great risk factors for transportation. In this case, it is definitely not in line with the regulations. If the traffic control department investigates and deals with it, it is inevitable to impose a fine and deduct points.

In addition, during the annual review of the skeleton car, only the frame needs to be reviewed, but the container is not within the scope of the annual review, which leads to those owners who use non-standard containers can unload the container at the time of vehicle registration, license plate registration, and annual inspection, and only submit the frame for review. If the chassis is qualified in the annual review, they will be able to conduct illegal transportation without fear. These super long, super wide and super high containers are either customized by the container factory or refitted by ourselves later.

It is worth noting that the skeleton vehicle can only be used to transport containers and cannot be modified into other models without permission. After getting the skeleton car, some car owners privately install the bottom plate and top plate, the barn bar or fence, etc., which are usually used as the barn bar car or fence car. During the annual review, the skeleton will be removed and submitted for approval. In this way, the installation cost of disc brake and suspension can be avoided, and more goods can be loaded.

This kind of operation is also harmful without benefit. Not to mention the punishment that the relevant departments will receive if they find it, just from the perspective of safety, this kind of refitting that can be disassembled at any time is incomparable with the upper mounting that is welded and fixed on the frame. Its stability and strength do not take advantage at all. Once problems occur under the condition of full load, it is very harmful to itself and other traffic participants, and the gains and losses are completely outweighed, In addition, it will also occupy the business space of compliant carriers, which is not conducive to the good development of freight and freight markets. Such behavior at the expense of others should be jointly supervised and resisted by the society.