Russian private carriers have found a way to avoid payments to the "Platon" system by starting to transport sea containers on modified "Gazelles". Instead of mainline tractor units, they use light trucks modified into semi-tractors, which allows them to bypass both toll charges on federal highways and weight-and-dimension control.
A video featuring such road trains was filmed in December 2025 on the M-11 Neva highway. The footage shows "Gazelle Next" and "Gazelle Business" vehicles with double-row cabs pulling semi-trailers with sea containers. One vehicle carries a 40-foot container, while the other carries two 20-foot containers. At the same time, the frame of one of the semi-trailers is visibly bending under the load.
Vyacheslav Subbotin, host of the "Mintrans" program, explained that such vehicles are used specifically to evade "Platon" charges. According to him, the "Gazelle" formally does not fall under the system, and it also pays a lower rate on toll roads, allowing carriers to operate at dumping prices.
Traction is provided by diesel engines, including the Cummins ISF 2.8, which was installed on "Gazelles" until 2022, as well as their modern counterparts. Chip tuning is also used to increase torque. According to Subbotin, such modifications can be carried out with certification; however, the safety of such road trains raises serious concerns.
Experts note that demand for such schemes has arisen because of rising tariffs for long-haul transportation. At the same time, operating heavy containers on the basis of light trucks creates increased risks on highways and undermines competitive conditions for legal carriers.
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