October 2026 Newsletter

Dear HVTT Forum subscribers,

This newsletter provides an overview of heavy commercial vehicle transport trends, regulatory updates and field trials across China during the first half of 2026, together with personal reflections on the long-term development of double trailer combinations in China.

China’s Road Freight Market and Uptake of New Energy Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Official statistics from the 2025 China Transport Industry Development Report lay the foundation for understanding China’s heavy truck market. By the end of 2025, China had 11.69 million operational freight vehicles, forming the backbone of domestic land freight. Annual road freight volume reached 43.29 billion tones, sustaining a stable growth rate and confirming road transport remains the dominant mode within China’s integrated freight system.

Against the national decarbonization strategy, the fleet structure is undergoing profound green transformation. The stock of new energy commercial freight vehicles hit 336,100 units by end-2025. Pure electric heavy trucks are widely deployed in port shunting, mining and urban distribution; hydrogen fuel cell heavy vehicles are advancing in medium-and-long haul demonstration routes. While diesel fleets still dominate long-distance intercity transport, new energy heavy vehicles are achieving accelerating penetration in fixed, repetitive operational scenarios. Technology iterations focusing on battery light weighting, charging/hydrogen refueling infrastructure and vehicle thermal management continue to lower operational barriers for zero-emission heavy transport.

Regulatory Progress: GB 1589 Revision and New Safety Mandates for Heavy Vehicles

Two landmark regulatory initiatives have dominated industry discussions in H1 2026.

First, the revision of GB 1589 Limits of dimensions, axle load and masses for motor vehicles, trailers and vehicle combinations — China’s core mandatory standard governing vehicle dimensions and weights. This first major revision in a decade optimizes axle load limits, allows extended lengths for streamlined tractor-semitrailer combinations and 45ft container transport, and clarifies terminology for aerodynamic vehicle designs. However, after multi-round technical coordination, the revised standard does not include formal nationwide admissibility for double trailer combinations.

Second, the consultation draft of Technical and Management Requirements for Operational Vehicle Safety sets higher mandatory technical thresholds for heavy freight vehicles. New binding requirements cover active safety systems: mandatory Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDWS), blind-spot monitoring and surround-view cameras for heavy trucks. Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) will be compulsory for heavy tractors and heavy semi-trailers above 10 tonnes. These rules will lift the baseline safety performance of China’s heavy vehicle fleet and align domestic vehicle technology closer to international best practice.

Field Trials of Double Trailer Combinations in China

While national regulatory approval remains pending, China continues regional real-world demonstration of double trailer combinations (B-double / twin-trailer combinations), with abundant authentic operational data fully verifying the practical value of this high-efficiency transport mode.

Ordos in Inner Mongolia, as one of China’s earliest double trailer demonstration bases, has accumulated rich operational achievements after years of trial operation. At present, a total of 18 double trailer combinations have been put into service in Ordos. The fleet has completed more than 8,000 vehicle trips, covered a cumulative mileage of 1.11 million kilometers, and achieved a freight volume exceeding 400,000 tons. The practical operation data shows significant comprehensive advantages: the single-vehicle load capacity is increased by 70%, transport efficiency is improved by 36.7%, comprehensive transport energy consumption is reduced by 30%, freight cost is cut by 28.6%, and carbon emissions are reduced by 15%, realizing remarkable economic and ecological benefits.

Following the Ordos pilot, Aksu Prefecture in Xinjiang officially launched the double trailer combination trial operation in April 2025. The pilot is equipped with 20 national-six standard CNG tractors and 40 lightweight trailers, adopting a green and efficient equipment matching scheme. Up to now, the demonstration fleet has safely traveled 965,100 kilometers with zero safety accidents throughout the operation period. The actual operation results show that the regional transport efficiency has been increased by 70%, and overall logistics operating costs have been reduced by 36.45%. The stable and efficient trial operation has accumulated solid and replicable practical experience for the large-scale promotion and popularization of double trailer combination mode in Xinjiang and even the whole country.

Crucially, these are regional, time-limited pilot exemptions. No national legal framework yet permits unrestricted nationwide operation of double trailer combinations.

For the past 15 years, I have dedicated continuous research into double trailer combination technology, operational safety and standardization pathways for China. It is with sincere regret that the latest GB 1589 revision does not create a pathway for the legal nationwide rollout of double trailer combinations. Despite robust technical evidence, successful local demonstrations and clear logistics decarbonization benefits, the national regulatory consensus has not yet formed.

This disappointment is real, yet it is also part of long-term transport policy evolution. I will continue research and advocacy work.

I look forward to ongoing dialogue and joint efforts with all HVTT Forum Boards. Drawing on mature overseas experience with high-capacity vehicle combinations, sharing test methodologies, safety assessment frameworks and policy roadmaps, we can together push forward the discussion and eventually realize the legal application of double trailer combinations across China.

I welcome all comments and exchanges.

Best regards,

Hao Zhang

HVTT Forum Vice -President: Asia