SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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الهيئة السعودية للمواصفات والمقاييس والجودة  
Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org . (SASO)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SASO /FDS  469/0000  
 
السيارات- الأبعاد والأوزان  
MOTOR VEHICLES – DIMENSIONS AND  WEIGHTS  
 
 
 
ICS: 43.020  
 
This document is a draft Saudi Standard circulated for comments. It is, therefore, subject 
to alteration and modification and may not be referred to as a Saudi Standard until 
approved by SASO . 
 
  
  
  
SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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MOTOR VEHICLES – DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Date of GSMO Board of Directors’ Approval    :  
Date of Publication in the Official Gazette         :  
   
 
 
 
 
 SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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 Foreword  
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has prepared the 
draft of Saudi Standard " MOTOR VEHICLES – DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS  " by 
technical committee of road vehicle based on relevant ADMO, International and 
National foreign Standards and references. This standard will be replaced SASO 
469:2008 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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 MOTOR VEHICLES – DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS  
  
1. SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION  
 
This standard is concerned with the maximum allowable length, width, height, gross weight and axle 
load for buses, trucks, trailers , semi-trailers  and double trailer trucks  used on roads.  
  
2. COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES  
 
2.1  SASO 400/1984 "Motor Vehicles – Conformity Certificates ".   
  
3. DEFINITIONS  
 
3.1 Trailer:  A vehicle of which, on account of its design, no substantial part of the total weight is 
supported by the towing vehicle. A semi -trailer with dolly is considered as a trailer (Fig. 1).   
  
3.2 Tractor:  A truck (provided with fifth  wheel) designed primarily for drawing a semitrailer and not 
so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the semitrailer (Fig. 2).   
  
3.3 Semi -trailer:  A trailer which is designed to be coupled to a tractor by fifth wheel and to im pose a 
part of its total weight on the tractor (Fig 3).  
  
3.4 Bus:  A motor vehicle intended for carrying persons and luggage which has more than nine seating 
places including the driver’s seat (Fig. 4).   
   
3.5 Truck:  A motor vehicle intended for carrying  goods, or towing a trailer (Fig. 5).   
  
3.6 Maximum (gross) vehicles weight (GVW):  Weight of the vehicle loaded with the ma ximum load 
specified by the man ufacturer.  
  
3.7 Maximum (gross) axle weight (GAW):  The maximum load carrying capacity, specified by  the 
manufacturer, of a single axle measured at the tyre -ground interfaces.  
  
3.8 Overhang:  The horizontal distance   (a bus, truck, trailer or semi -trailer) between the center of the 
rear most axle and the rear most part of the body, or between the cente r of the front most axle and the 
front most part of the body.   
  
3.9 Total height:  The vertical distance between the road surface and the uppermost point of the 
vehicle.   
  
3.10 Total width:  The horizontal distance, measured perpendicularly to the longitud inal axis of the 
vehicle, between the outermost protrusions on both sides.   SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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3.11 Total length:  The horizontal longitudinal distance between the foremost point and the rearmost 
point.   
  
3.12 Turning radius:  The radius of the circle traced by the center point of contact surface of the outer 
tyre on front steerable axle, when the vehicle is turning with the steering in the extreme right/left 
position.   
  
3.13 Axle end:  Group of tyres on one of the axle ends bearing half the load lying on the axle end.  
 
3.14 B -train:  A semi-trailer with minimum two rear  axles provided with a fifth wheel coupling  to tow 
another semi -trailer  as shown in (Fig. 6  -Double trailer truck C). 
 
3.15 Transport vehicle:  Tractor , truck, trailer  or semi-trailer . 
 
3.16 Double  Trailer  truck:  An articulated transport vehicles as specified in (Fig. 6 ) used  to transport 
goods on specified  routes  after obtaining a permit from the concerned authorities in the Kingdom.  
 
3.17 Dolly:  A towed equipment having a drawbar with minimum two axles and  a fifth wheel arranged 
to enable a semi -trailer to be towed by a truck as shown in (Fig. 6 - Double trailer truck B).  
 
4. REQUIREMENTS  
The following requirements shall be met:  
 
4.1 Dimensions  
 
4.1.1 The total length shall not exceed 12.5 m for a single truck or bus, 23 m for a tractor and semi -
trailer,  20 m for truck and trailer , 25.25m for Double Trailer T ruck provided that the maximum parts  
length s as specified in (Fig. 6). The total width of any vehicle shall not exceed 2.6 m and the total 
height 4.5 m, in the cases specified below:   
 
4.1.1.1 Unladen  
  
4.1.1.2  When the ladder of an escalade motor vehicle, or the turret of an overhead -wire repair motor 
vehicle, is basically housed in a horizontal position.   
  
4.1.1.3  When mirrors and flexible antennas are removed.  
  
4.1.2 None of the outward -opening windows or ventilators and wing mirrors shall protrude by more 
than 300 mm outward from the outermost point on both sides, of the motor vehicle, and by more than 
300 mm up ward from the highest top point of the motor vehicle. In the case of rear -wing mirrors 
attached to a tractor towing a trailer with a width exceeding that of the tractor, a protrusion of these 
mirrors not exceeding 300 mm form the outer most point on both s ides of the trailer may be allowed.   
  SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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 4.1.3 The rear and front overhang shall be determined in accordance with the vehicle design so as to 
maintain the stability of the vehicle.   
 
4.2 M aximum vehicle and axle weights  
 
4.2.1 Maximum vehicle and axle weights  (This Article will be valid until the end of the year  
2027) 
 
4.2.1 .1 Maximum (gross) vehicles weight (GVW):  
The maximum vehicle weight of a truck, bus, truck with trailer, tractor with semi – trailer or any other 
permitted combination, shall not exceed 45 tons , and for the double tra iler truck the maximum gross 
weight shall not exceed (60) tons .  
 
4.2.1.2 Maximum axle weights  
  
4.2.1.2 .1 The maximum weight for a steerable single axle with a single tyre shall not exceed 8 tons 
and with a double tyre 10 tons and 13 tons for an unsteerable single axle.   
  
4.2.1.2 .2 The maximum weight on two adjacent axles ( Tandem - Two tires on each axle’s end ) shall 
not exceed the following:   
  
Distance between the axles’ 
centerlines  
(Meters)  Max. weight permitted  
(Tons)  
 
 
From 0.9 up to 1.00  
From 1.00 up to 1.10  
From 1.10 up to 1.20  
From 1.20 up to 1.30  
From 1.30 up to 1.35  
From 1.35 up to 2.50 
More than 2.50    
  
14.7 
16.1 
17.5 
18.9 
20.3  
21.0  
Each axle is to be treated as a single axle.   
 
4.2.1.2.3  The maximum permitted weight for three adjacent  axles  (Tridem - Two tires on each axle’s 
end) shall not exceed the following:   
 
Distance between first and third 
axles’ centerlines  
(Meters)  Max. weight permitted  
(Tons)  
3 m and less  
  More than 3 m  26 
32 SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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4.2.1.3 The maximum weight on any unsteerable axle end shall not exceed 6.5 tons.  
 
4.2.2 Maximum vehicle and axle weights  (This Article will be valid from the beginning of the 
year 2028)  
 
4.2.2.1  Maximum (gross) vehicles weight (GVW):  
 
4.2.2.1 .1 The maximum vehicle (truck, bus, truck with trailer, tractor with semitrailer or any  other 
permitted combination  including double trailer truck ) weight shall not exceed the addition of its axles’  
maximum weights (as described in section 4.2.2 .2)  
 
4.2.2 .2 Maximum axle weights  
  
4.2.2. 2.1 The maximum weight for steerable single axle is either  8 tons (in case of one tire  on each 
axle’s  end) or 8 tons (in case of two tires on each axle’s end). Maximum w eight for unsteerable single 
axle is 10 tons (in case of two tires on each axle’s end) . 
 
4.2.2.2 .2 The maximum weight on two adjacen t axles (Tandem - Two tires on each axle’s end) shall 
not exceed the following:   
 
Distance between the axles’ centerlines  
(Meters)  Max. weight permitted  
(Tons)  
 
Less than or equal 2.5  meter 
 
Greater than 2.5  meter   
18 tons  
 
Each axle is to be treated as a  single axle.  
 
4.2.2 .2.3 The maximum permitted weight for three adjacent axles (Tridem  - Two tires on each axle’s 
end) shall not exceed the following:   
 
Distance between first and third  axles’ 
centerlines  (Meters)  Max. weight permitted  
(Tons)  
 
Less than or equal 3.0 meter  
 
Greater than 3.0 meter   
24 tons 
 
Each axle is to be treated as a single axle.  
 
4.2.2.3 The maximum weight on any axle end shall not exceed one -half of the axle maximum weight 
(as listed above Article 4.2.2 .2)   
 
4.2.3 For vehicles with dimensions and/or weights exceeding the limits given in this standard and 
which are necessarily needed for use, an approval from the authorities responsible for transportation 
shall be attained prior to their clearance and use on roads.  SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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4.2.4 Double trailer trucks  shall obtaining a permit to run on roads from the concerned authorities in 
the Kingdom.  
 
5. RULES OF ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION  
 
The rules of acceptance and rejectio n shall be in accordance with the SASO standard mentioned in 
2.1.SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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                                   Fig. I. Trailer   
  
  
  
 
  
Fig. 2.  Tractor                                          
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
Fig. 3.  Semi -trailer  
  
  
  
                                    
 
                        Fig.  4.  Bus  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
                                   Fig. 5.  Truck   
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
SASO STANDARD                                                                    SASO 469/ 0000   
 
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Fig.6 –Double  trailer truck A 
Tractor, semi -trailer  and center - axle trailer  
Tractor should have at least two rear axels  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fig.6 –Double trailer truck  B 
Truck, dolly and  semi -trailer  
Truck should have at least two rear axels  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fig.6 –Double  trailer  truck C 
Tractor, B-train  and semi -trailer . 
Tractor should have at least two rear axels  
  
