Centre makes load covers mandatory for all tippers, dumpers from April 1, 2027
Effective April 1, 2027, all tippers and dumpers on Indian roads must be equipped with a system that fully covers their load body, as mandated by an amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Twelfth Amendment) Rules, 2026, which require all dumpers and tippers to have fully enclosed load bodies while operating on roads.
According to the updated Rule 138B, the cover can be opened or closed by electric, electromechanical, hydraulic, or mechanical means. Any appropriate material may be used, but the load must be fully covered while the vehicle is in motion.
Additionally, tippers and dumpers must be fitted with an audio-visual alert system in the driver’s cabin to warn the driver if the load-body cover is open or unsecured while the vehicle is moving.This requirement applies to all dumpers and tippers from April 1, 2027.
The Centre has also amended Rule 93 to ensure that the new covering system is not counted when measuring the total height of a tipper or dumper. The cover used to enclose the load as per Rule 138B will be excluded from the vehicle’s height measurement.
The updated rules also state that parts such as rear-view mirrors, indirect vision devices, guard rails, indicator rub-rails or rubber strips up to 20 millimetres thick on each side, side foot steps, and the required load cover will not be counted when measuring the vehicle’s total height. The government first published the draft changes through G.S.R. 214(E) on March 20, 2026, and they appeared in the Gazette on March 27, 2026. People likely to be affected were invited to provide feedback within 30 days of the Gazette being made public.
The Centre said objections and suggestions received on the draft rules were considered before the final rules were notified. The amendments have been made by exercising powers under Section 110 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The notification, G.S.R. 712(E), dated July 28, 2026, states that the amendment rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, while the mandatory load-cover requirement has a specific implementation date of April 1, 2027.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Twelfth Amendment) Rules, 2026, which require all dumpers and tippers to have fully enclosed load bodies while operating on roads.
Additionally, tippers and dumpers must be fitted with an audio-visual alert system in the driver’s cabin to warn the driver if the load-body cover is open or unsecured while the vehicle is moving.This requirement applies to all dumpers and tippers from April 1, 2027.
The Centre has also amended Rule 93 to ensure that the new covering system is not counted when measuring the total height of a tipper or dumper. The cover used to enclose the load as per Rule 138B will be excluded from the vehicle’s height measurement.
The updated rules also state that parts such as rear-view mirrors, indirect vision devices, guard rails, indicator rub-rails or rubber strips up to 20 millimetres thick on each side, side foot steps, and the required load cover will not be counted when measuring the vehicle’s total height. The government first published the draft changes through G.S.R. 214(E) on March 20, 2026, and they appeared in the Gazette on March 27, 2026. People likely to be affected were invited to provide feedback within 30 days of the Gazette being made public.
The notification, G.S.R. 712(E), dated July 28, 2026, states that the amendment rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, while the mandatory load-cover requirement has a specific implementation date of April 1, 2027.
