Existing Safety Regulations

Under the Road Traffic Act, an owner or hirer of a goods vehicle (i.e. lorry, pick-up or van) is allowed to use his vehicle to transport his workers to and from their lodgings and places of work, or between their places of work, subject to the following requirements:

Maximum Passenger Capacity Label (MPC label)

With effect from 1 April 2003, all goods vehicles carrying workers on their cargo decks will be required to display a Maximum Passenger Capacity (MPC) label. The MPC label indicates the maximum number of workers that can be carried on the cargo deck when empty. If goods, cargo or equipment are also being transported, the number of workers that can be carried on the cargo deck is reduced according to the remaining floor area available.

This safety regulation will improve the safety of workers carried on goods vehicle by helping to remind vehicle owners, hirers and drivers of the maximum number of workers that they can carry on the decks of their vehicles.

It is a serious offence to convey excess workers as it compromises their safety. In addition, the insurance policy for the vehicle may not cover the excess workers. Victims of an accident involving such vehicles may therefore be denied compensation in the event of an accident.

Please note that it will be an offence if the vehicle owner, hirer or driver fails to display an MPC label, or displays an incorrect MPC label when carrying workers on the vehicle's cargo deck. The penalty is a maximum Court fine of $1,000 or 3 months' imprisonment upon conviction in Court.

How to calculate maximum passenger capacity

The number of workers allowed in a vehicle's cargo deck is calculated based on the total unoccupied deck area and an area of 0.372 square metres per seated passenger. When determining the maximum passenger capacity of a vehicle's cargo deck, the usable deck area should not include the area occupied by any permanent fixtures on the cargo deck such as cranes and toolboxes.

Example

A vehicle with a permanent toolbox secured on the cargo deck has the following dimensions:

Total Deck Area = 3.1 m (Length) x 1.6m (Width) = 4.96 m²

Area occupied by permanent toolbox = 1.6 m x 0.65 m = 1.04 m²

The maximum passenger capacity will be:

4.96 - 1.04
----------- = 10 [Note: Round down to the nearest whole number]
0.372

Buying and affixing your label

The MPC label must be prominently and indelibly affixed to the right side of the vehicle's tailboard. The labels can be purchased at vehicle accessories shops or at all LTA authorised vehicle inspection centres.

It will be an offence for the vehicle owner, hirer or driver not to display an MPC label, or to display an incorrect or defaced MPC label when carrying workers on the vehicle's cargo deck.

Owners who are unsure about the maximum passenger capacity of their vehicle's cargo deck can send their vehicles to any LTA authorised vehicle inspection centre for measurement.

For enquiries

Members of the public can call LTA at 1800-CALL LTA (1800-2255 582) for enquiries about this regulation.