ODOL (Over Dimension Over Load) is the Indonesian term for trucks that are larger than their type-approved dimensions or heavier than the permitted weight. ODOL trucks wear out roads faster, need longer to stop and are often involved in serious accidents. This guide covers dimension limits, JBB, JBI and road classes, the penalties set by law, and how to check your load before the truck leaves the dock.

The two halves of ODOL: dimension and load

Over dimension happens when a vehicle is altered beyond its approved size, such as a raised or widened body or an extended chassis without approval. Over load happens when the vehicle plus cargo weighs more than its JBB or the road's JBI. The two tend to travel together: a taller body invites more cargo, and more cargo pushes the axles past what they were built for.

Vehicle dimension limits

Government Regulation (PP) 55/2012 on Vehicles sets the general dimension limits for motor vehicles. In summary:

Dimension General limit
Width max 2,500 mm
Height max 4,200 mm and no more than 1.7 × vehicle width
Length, rigid vehicle max 12,000 mm
Length, articulated or drawbar combination max 18,000 mm

The 1.7 × width rule is the one people forget. For a truck 2,100 mm wide, the limit is 1.7 × 2,100 = 3,570 mm, well below 4,200 mm. For a 2,500 mm wide truck, 1.7 × width gives 4,250 mm, so the 4,200 mm cap applies instead.

JBB, JBI, MST and road classes

  • JBB (jumlah berat yang diperbolehkan): the maximum gross vehicle weight under the vehicle's design and type approval, recorded in the periodic KIR inspection book.
  • JBI (jumlah berat yang diizinkan): the maximum gross weight permitted on a given road class.
  • JBKB/JBKI: the equivalents of JBB and JBI for combinations such as tractor-trailers.
  • MST (muatan sumbu terberat): the heaviest load a single axle may put on the road.

Law 22/2009 defines the road classes as follows:

Road class Width Length Height MST
Class I ≤ 2,500 mm ≤ 18,000 mm ≤ 4,200 mm 10 t
Class II ≤ 2,500 mm ≤ 12,000 mm ≤ 4,200 mm 8 t
Class III ≤ 2,100 mm ≤ 9,000 mm ≤ 3,500 mm 8 t
Special class > 2,500 mm > 18,000 mm ≤ 4,200 mm > 10 t

The limit that actually binds is the strictest of the vehicle's JBB, the JBI of the road and the MST on each axle. Watch for road class signs along the whole route. Transport Ministry Regulation PM 60/2019 governs goods transport by motor vehicle; read the official text for the obligations of operators and shippers.

Penalties, weighbridges and normalisation

Law 22/2009 sets penalties for these offences, including:

  • Article 277: bringing in or modifying a vehicle so that its dimensions or construction no longer conform, without approval, carries up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp24 million.
  • Article 307: driving a goods vehicle that breaches the rules on loading, weight and dimensions carries up to 2 months' detention or a fine of up to Rp500,000.

Check the official text of the law for the exact wording. Enforcement takes place among other places at weighbridges run by UPPKB units (Unit Pelaksana Penimbangan Kendaraan Bermotor). An overloaded truck can be told to offload the excess, and a vehicle with an altered body can be required to undergo normalisation, meaning the body is cut back to its approved size.

The crackdown on ODOL, often branded "Zero ODOL", has run in several phases. Targets and enforcement stages change over time, so check the latest policy from the Ministry of Transportation and its Directorate General of Land Transportation before planning a fleet.

The shipper's role

ODOL is not only a matter for drivers and truck owners. The shipper decides how much cargo goes on board. What you can do:

  1. Weigh or calculate the gross weight of the load accurately, including pallets and packaging.
  2. Book the truck class by weight, not just volume; see Indonesian truck sizes.
  3. Ask the haulier for the KIR book and confirm the JBB fits your shipment.
  4. Be wary of flat "per trip" rates that reward loading as much as possible.
  5. Position the cargo so that no single axle is overloaded.

How to check a load, step by step

Before the truck is loaded, run through these simple checks:

  1. Get the vehicle's official data. Note the JBB, kerb weight, number of axles and overall length, width and height from the KIR book or STNK. Do not use brochure figures when unit data exists.
  2. Work out the legal payload. Subtract kerb weight and crew from the JBB or JBI, whichever is lower for the route.
  3. Total the cargo weight. Include pallets, packaging and securing material. If in doubt, weigh a sample of cartons or pallets.
  4. Check the load's dimensions. Nothing may overhang the body or push the overall height past the limit.
  5. Check per-axle loads. Split the weight between front and rear axles based on where the cargo sits.
  6. Compare with the road classes. Make sure the route from dock to destination suits the vehicle's dimensions and axle loads.

If any step fails, change the plan before the truck arrives, not at the weighbridge.

Worked example: an overloaded CDD

A CDD box truck (catalogue figures): JBB 8,250 kg, kerb weight 3,250 kg (1,850 kg front axle, 1,400 kg rear), two crew at 150 kg, vehicle width 2,100 mm.

  • Legal payload: 8,250 − 3,250 − 150 = 4,850 kg.
  • Requested load: 7,500 kg of ceramic tiles. Gross weight: 3,250 + 7,500 + 150 = 10,900 kg.
  • Excess over JBB: 10,900 − 8,250 = 2,650 kg, or about 32%.
  • With the load spread evenly over the deck, the rear axle carries about 7,781 kg, some 1,781 kg above the catalogue rear-axle rating of 6,000 kg. It is still under the 8 t MST of a Class II road, yet the truck's own axle and tyres are already overloaded.
  • Dimensions: if the body has been raised to an overall height of 3,800 mm, the truck also exceeds 1.7 × 2,100 = 3,570 mm and is over dimension too.

The right fix is to split the shipment across two CDDs or use one Fuso (8,000 kg catalogue payload). The guide to truck axle load and GVW shows how the per-axle figures are calculated.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on "it usually copes". A truck that can move is not necessarily legal or safe.
  • Checking only the total. A gross weight under JBB can still overload one axle if the cargo is bunched at the rear.
  • Ignoring the 1.7 × width rule. Narrow trucks hit the height limit much sooner.
  • Using catalogue figures without the KIR book. JBB differs between units.
  • Assuming that if it fits, it is fine. Dense goods are usually overweight long before the body is full.

Check your load before the truck leaves

Enter the vehicle and cargo details into the ODOL check to test width, height, length and weight against the general limits, then work out per-axle loads with the axle load calculator. If anything fails, use the truck finder to find a suitable class or rearrange the load in the Load Planner. All of these results are a preliminary check, not a substitute for official weighing at a weighbridge, the KIR book data or an enforcement officer's decision.