Article 36

Vehicle Loading

1. The mass of the loaded vehicle shall not exceed the maximum permissible mass of the loaded vehicle as specified by applicable law for the vehicle class or combination of vehicles.

2. The axle loads of loaded vehicles shall not exceed:

(a) the maximum technically permissible loads specified by the manufacturer based on the technical configuration of the vehicles, and

(b) the maximum permissible loads specified in accordance with Presidential Decree 1161/1977 (A’ 380) for domestic transport vehicles and Presidential Decree 77/1998 (A’ 71) for international transport vehicles, and in accordance with the vehicle category.

3. The dimensions of the loaded vehicle do not exceed the maximum permitted dimensions specified by applicable law for each vehicle category or combination of vehicles.

4. The vehicle’s cargo is prepared for loading, arranged, and stowed in such a way that:

(a) To ensure that no persons or animals are endangered and that no damage is caused to public property or the property of third parties,

(b) not to obstruct the movement of other vehicles, particularly by leaking, falling, or scattering onto the road,

(d) the driver’s visibility must not be restricted or obstructed, the operation of the vehicle must not be impeded, and the vehicle’s stability must not be compromised,

(e) to avoid causing unnecessary disturbances, such as noise and dust,

(f) the parking lights, running lights, and brake lights, the turn signals, the reflective elements, (g) license plates, the distinguishing mark of the vehicle’s country of registration, and hand signals, in accordance with this regulation and

(g) not to be dragged along the ground or the road surface.

5. Depending on the type of cargo, appropriate equipment—such as cables, ropes, chains, straps, covers, and packaging materials, which must be in good condition with no visible damage, tied tightly, and securely fastened. The rear doors of the vehicle, if they must remain open for loading purposes, shall not be used to support the load while the vehicle is in motion. Moving parts, such as chains, straps, cranes, and rear doors, must be secured so that they do not protrude beyond the vehicle’s outline when swinging due to the vehicle’s motion, and so that they do not drag on the ground or the road surface.

6. To transport containers, special latches built into the vehicle are used to secure and lock all the corresponding points on the container.

7. A load on an open-bed vehicle consisting of materials that pose a risk of escaping from the bed or being blown away by the wind during transport (such as aggregates), shall be covered with a flexible cover suitable for the nature of the materials, securely fastened to the body. The cover and its fastening devices may protrude beyond the body:

(a) up to twenty (20) millimeters, provided they are no more than two (2) meters above ground level; or

(b) up to fifty (50) millimeters, if they are more than two (2) meters above ground level.

The above restrictions apply in all cases where a cover is installed on a vehicle.

8. In vehicles intended for the simultaneous transport of cargo, passengers, or animals, the cargo must be securely fastened.

9. The load must not protrude from the front of the vehicle. By way of exception, the load may extend beyond the side or rear of the vehicle, subject to paragraph 3, as follows:

a) In general:

(aa) symmetrically on the side of the vehicle, up to thirty (30) centimeters on each side,

(ab) from the rear of the vehicle, up to thirty percent (30%) of its length or that of the trailer in a vehicle combination (truck-trailer or articulated vehicle), (b) specifically, for mopeds, motorcycles, and three-wheeled vehicles:

(ba) symmetrically up to forty (40) centimeters from their sides, measured from the outer edge of the vehicle’s front side lamp or from the front or rear extremity of such lamps, (bb) with a length such that its projection in the horizontal plane is up to forty (40) centimeters, measured from the rear edge for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles, and up to twenty (20) centimeters for mopeds.

10. In the case of trucks, articulated vehicles, or convoys transporting bulky objects that cannot be easily divided or separated into more than one piece—such as beams, poles, pipes, or other long loads, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, such a load may protrude:

a) on vehicles with a total length of up to five (5) meters, where the portion extending into the horizontal plane is up to thirty percent (30%) of their total length from the front and thirty percent (30%) from the rear; b) on vehicles with a total length exceeding five (5) meters, the length such that their projection in the horizontal plane is up to two (2) meters from the front and up to three (3) meters from the rear.

If the shortest dimension of the loaded object exceeds the width of the vehicle, it may protrude up to forty (40) centimeters on each side of the vehicle.

11. Vehicles that exceed the maximum permissible weight or maximum dimensions may be driven on public roads in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 57, provided that:

(a) carry an indivisible load, that is, a load which, for the purposes of road transport, cannot be divided into two or more loads without disproportionate expense or risk of damage and which, due to its dimensions or mass, cannot be transported by a vehicle that meets the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this section; or (b) transport multiple, identical objects that exceed the maximum dimensions, such as beams, poles, pipes, or other long loads, subject to the provisions of paragraph 1.

12. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, for vehicles or combinations of vehicles used to transport vehicles (car carriers), it is permitted to transport vehicles that protrude from the front by up to fifty (50) centimeters and from the rear by up to one and a half (1.50) meters. These overhangs are measured from the rearmost fixed part of the body of the vehicle combination, either forward or backward to the rearmost point of the first or last vehicle forming part of the load, respectively. Some of the vehicles forming the load may rest on extendable portable structures that protrude from the body; however, these structures are not taken into account when measuring the dimensions and must not protrude beyond the load.

13. Loads protruding from the rear of the vehicle, provided that their projection in the horizontal plane exceeds one (1) meter, must be marked with a permanently attached sign measuring at least fifty by fifty (50 x 50) centimeters, white in color with diagonal red stripes, and made of highly reflective materials. This sign is mounted with its upper edge at a height not exceeding one and sixty (1.60) meters and its lower edge at a height of at least forty (40) centimeters from the road surface. When the load protrudes across the entire width of the rear of the vehicle, two such signs must be affixed, one at each end of the load. In addition, at night, the end of the load protruding from the front of the vehicle, if permitted, must be marked with a white light, and the end protruding from the rear with a red light.

14. The following is permitted:

a) The transport of bicycles on the roof and at the rear of vehicles using accessories approved in accordance with applicable regulations, which are installed under the driver’s care and responsibility. When transporting bicycles on the rear of vehicles, the rear position lights, parking lights, the turn signals, or the vehicle’s license plate; furthermore, the entire protruding portion must be marked with a red reflective device and removed when such transport is not taking place.

b) The transport of bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles at the rear of motor homes using accessories approved in accordance with applicable regulations. Rear position lights, parking lights, turn signals, and the license plate must not be covered. This protrusion must be marked with a red reflective element.

15. The applicable laws governing the road transport, loading, unloading, and stowage of dangerous goods shall apply.

16. Violations:

(a) those referred to in paragraphs 4, 7, 10, 12, and 13, subject to subparagraph (b), are classified in category E2-A,

(b) those referred to in subparagraph (b) of paragraph 4 are classified in category E2-B,

(d) Those referred to in paragraphs 6 and 11 are classified in category E3-B.

For a violation of paragraph 6, if the vehicle is not equipped with the appropriate equipment, the prescribed administrative measure of revocation of the driver’s license is imposed only on the driver, while an administrative fine and the administrative measure of revoking the vehicle registration are imposed on the vehicle owner.

Article 57 applies to violations of paragraphs 1, 2, and 3.

In the event of dangerous loading in violation of this provision, the vehicle shall also be immobilized in accordance with Article 50, regarding the immobilization of vehicles. For the above violations, and in the absence of relevant provisions in the more specific provisions of Law 3446/2006 (A’49), the penalties set forth herein shall apply.