Seaboard Marine wishes to advise our valued customers that the Government of Nicaragua has modified the rules and regulations regarding weight restrictions and penalties for shipments moving over the road in Nicaragua.

The following is a summary of the new regulations effective immediately:

  • Maximum allowed weight for over the road (OTR) shipments is 37,000 Kgs / 81,500 Lbs for chassis with 2 axles and 41,000 Kgs/ 90,000 Lbs for chassis with 3 axles. The maximum weight applies to the total weight of the chassis, container box, truck, tractor, genset and cargo combined.
  • Weight fines:
    • (1) Overweight fines are enforced when the total weight of truck head + chassis + shipping container + genset (in the case a genset is used) + weight of cargo exceeds the maximum allowed weight.
    •  (2) Uneven weight fines are enforced when the weight of one or more axles exceeds the maximum allowed weight per axle. Uneven weight fines may occur even when the total weight does not exceed the maximum total weight allowed, but one or more axles exceed the maximum allowed for that axle.
  • Fines range between C$5,000 Cordobas (approx. $150 USD) to C$20,000 Cordobas (approx. $610 USD).
  • Authorities require that fines must be paid in cash at the scale site. Seaboard Marine’s hired motor carriers do not carry cash to cover these fines. Therefore, customer must arrange payment directly.
  • Nicaraguan Authorities will not allow the container to continue the over the road movement until the fine payment is received.
    • If the fine is not paid, the container will be detained and storage charges will be assessed by the Nicaraguan Authorities for holding a container at the scale site.
    • Storage charges are C$600 Cordobas per every 24 hours (approximately USD $19 every 24 hours).
    • Also, a trucking detention fee may apply if the trucker is delayed due to waiting at the scale site for payment.

Customers that move cargo over the road in Nicaragua need to be aware of these weight restrictions that are applied to cargo that goes through the roads in Nicaragua and ensure that their suppliers do not exceed these maximum weights.

As always, we thank you for your continued support.