I. Project Background and Procurement Requirements In 2025, a municipal sanitation department in Jinan City (hereinafter referred to as the 'Jinan Project') issued a procurement plan for sludge transport equipment, requiring a batch of 24 m³ sludge tipper trucks for enclosed transportation of sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants and pipeline dredging operations. The project specified requirements including large capacity, leak-proof design, compliance with vehicle registration regulations, and low operational costs. According to publicly released tender information, the unit budget was capped at approximately RMB 506,000, with a total budget of about RMB 3,036,000 (for 6 units), emphasizing chassis reliability, upper-body sealing performance, and after-sales service response speed. Ultimately, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. stood out among multiple bidders with its integrated solution combining SINOTRUK chassis and Chengli-built upper bodies, successfully delivering six 24 m³ sludge tipper trucks. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the case from the perspectives of chassis selection, upper-body configuration, cost comparison, and procurement experience. II. Core Solution: SINOTRUK Chassis + Chengli Upper Body This solution adopts a SINOTRUK (HOWO) chassis matched with a 24 m³ sludge tipper upper body independently manufactured by Chengli. Key specifications are as follows: Chassis Model: SINOTRUK HOWO T5G Series (e.g., reference chassis model ZZ5256ZLJN364GF1) Engine: SINOTRUK MC07.34-50 (340 hp) or MAN-technology engine, meeting China VI emission standards Transmission: SINOTRUK 10-speed manual transmission (HW10C) Wheelbase: 3600 + 1350 mm Upper-body Capacity: 24 m³ (effective volume approx. 20–22 m³, suitable for sludge density of 1.2–1.5 tons/m³) Upper-body Material: High-strength manganese steel; floor plate thickness: 8 mm; side plates: 6 mm Sealing System: Hydraulic rear gate with rubber sealing strips, anti-leakage design Lifting System: Front-mounted hydraulic cylinder, lifting angle ≥ 45° Additional Features: Manual lid opening mechanism, anti-overflow device, rear LED warning lights According to official Chengli parameters (referencing the CLW5250ZWXZ6 sludge tipper truck type approval), this model measures approximately 9.8 m in length, 2.5 m in width, and 3.2 m in height; its curb weight is approx. 11.8 tons, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 25 tons, and rated payload is approx. 13 tons. User feedback indicates stable performance on Jinan city roads and surrounding county roads; the SINOTRUK chassis delivers ample power—especially on inclines—and maintains acceptable engine noise levels. III. Blue-Plate vs. Yellow-Plate: Operational Cost Comparison Analysis Although this case involves a yellow-plate heavy-duty truck, to assist users in comprehensively understanding the vehicle selection rationale, the following compares operational cost differences between blue-plate (drivable with Class C driver’s license) and yellow-plate (requiring Class B or higher license) configurations. Note that due to volume and gross mass constraints, 24 m³ sludge trucks can only be registered as yellow-plate vehicles. Comparison Dimension Blue-Plate Option (e.g., 5–8 m³) Yellow-Plate Option (e.g., 24 m³) Driver’s License Requirement Class C (standard light vehicle license) Class B or higher (requires additional endorsement) Gross Vehicle Weight ≤ 4.5 tons 25 tons (this case) Single-Trip Transport Capacity Approx. 3–5 tons of sludge Approx. 13–15 tons of sludge Vehicle Purchase Cost Approx. RMB 150,000–250,000 (e.g., Chengli 5 m³ water tanker: RMB 98,000–115,000) Approx. RMB 450,000 (unit price in this case)