The HANKUN HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A is a mini truck-mounted message sign with a 64 × 18 amber pixel matrix, a single line of up to eight characters, and a character height of 126.0 mm (4.96 in) — on a 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) active display area, powered from the vehicle it is carried on.
Mini Single-Line Amber Vehicle-Mounted Message Sign
Model HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A | Mini · Amber · Truck-Mounted
| Active Display Area | Max Character Height | Pixel Structure | Display Colour | Cabinet Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1152 × 324 mm / 45.35 × 12.76 in | 126.0 mm (4.96 in) — single line of up to 8 characters | 64 × 18 pixels | 2 LEDs per pixel; single-LED mode available for low-power operation | Amber; a five-colour configuration of the same platform is available | 1352 × 524 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
The HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A is a mini truck-mounted message sign with a 64 × 18 amber pixel matrix, 2 LEDs per pixel with a single-LED low-power mode, one line of up to 8 characters at a 126.0 mm (4.96 in) character height, on a 1152 × 324 mm active display area. Power comes from the vehicle; mounting is agreed per vehicle.
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The HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A is part of the HANKUN variable message sign range, built for road authorities, contractors and rental fleets that need a legible, power-autonomous message sign at the roadside. It is a mini truck-mounted message sign, and its published figures are taken from the released engineering drawings.
CMS
In North America this class of equipment is called a changeable message sign — the term the MUTCD documents use for a sign whose message can be changed in service.
Truck VMS
In Australia and New Zealand the vehicle-mounted version of this equipment is specified as a truck-mounted VMS board, per AS 4852.2 practice.
Mobile VMS
UK and European road authorities and contractors refer to the vehicle-mounted version as a mobile VMS or vehicle-mounted VMS in tenders and specifications.
— Core Characteristics
01
Text and graphic symbols on one display. This model is a full-matrix display — each pixel is individually addressed — so message text, left and right arrows and work-zone warning symbols can all be shown on its single-line panel. Models differ in pixel matrix, display colour and active display area, not in whether symbols can be shown. Symbol capability is stated as a display capability and is not tied to any compliance claim.
02
Single line of up to 8 characters at 126.0 mm (4.96 in); character size is set by the message format selected. Character height depends on the character matrix selected, so the two are always published together.
03
64 × 18 pixels, 2 LEDs per pixel; single-LED mode available for low-power operation.
04
1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) — the illuminated area, stated separately from the cabinet.
05
Single line of up to 8 characters (variable format; symbols such as left and right arrows included) — stated together with the number of characters per line.
06
Amber. A five-colour configuration of the same platform is available; it is linked from this page.
07
Cabinet 1352 × 524 mm on a 100 mm border basis, depth 200–250 mm. Truck-mounted, powered from the vehicle.
08
Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. The display therefore draws less power in low light, which reduces the load on the supply that powers the sign from the vehicle.
09
Display assembly and mounting kit supplied for vehicle installation; the chassis is the customer vehicle.
10
4G; GPS position reporting. Message management from phone, tablet or PC. Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform.
11
This page states what is confirmed and what is not. Confirmed for this model: the 64 × 18 display matrix, the 1152 × 324 mm active display area, the character height of 126 mm (4.96 in) and the pixel structure, together with the vehicle-power arrangement. The remaining items are listed as to be confirmed rather than estimated, so nothing on this page is a placeholder value.
12
Every published dimension — including the 64 × 18 matrix and the 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) active display area — is taken from the released engineering drawings and is internally re-checkable, so the figures can be quoted in a project specification.
Vehicle-mounted deployment in minutes. This model carries a 64 × 18 matrix over 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) of active display area, single line of 8 characters, at a 126 mm (4.96 in) character height.
One clear message ahead of or behind a movement. A 126 mm (4.96 in) character height is sized for close-range reading, and the single amber output, which leaves one instruction with nothing competing against it, means there is no colour decision to make on a moving operation.
One instruction at a time. The single line of 8 characters format keeps that instruction unambiguous, and the 64 × 18 matrix is what it is laid out on.
Signs carried on vehicles already in service. A 1352 × 524 mm cabinet and the 64 × 18 matrix are specified against the vehicle rather than against a trailer.
Short instructions at entrances and marshalling points. Vehicle mounting with power taken from the vehicle means the panel is repositioned with the vehicle.
A vehicle-mounted panel for fleets that already run service vehicles. The 64 × 18 matrix and the 1352 × 524 mm cabinet are the two figures confirmed against the vehicle at the configuration stage.
§ MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F)
§ MUTCD Table 2E-4
US practice sets letter height from the posted approach speed. MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F) gives 18 in (457 mm) as the minimum letter height for a portable changeable message sign and permits shorter letters on low-speed facilities; Table 2E-4 adds that 450 mm (18 in) should be used where speeds are greater than 90 km/h (55 mph), in persistently poor weather, or where the driving task is complex. Messages are limited to two phases, and animation, flashing and scrolling are not used.
§ AS 1742.3:2019
§ State roadworks guidance
AS 1742.3:2019 and the state roadworks guidance size characters to the approach speed, at roughly 120 mm for 60 km/h approaches and 160–200 mm for 80 km/h approaches, with the larger alphabet series applied to high-speed and multi-lane works. The sign face is confirmed with the road authority for each project.
§ NZTA CoP for Temporary Traffic Management
§ Published NZ figures for LED message signs
The NZTA Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management sets a temporary speed limit at least 20 km/h below the normal limit, gated across the carriageway, with repeat signs at 400 m intervals. The published NZ figures for LED message signs set characters at not smaller than 300 mm inside a 50 km/h area and not smaller than 400 mm elsewhere.
§ Traffic Signs Manual Ch. 8, Table A1.2
§ TSRGD 2016
The UK sizes characters by x-height rather than cap height. Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 (Table A1.2) runs from 62.5 mm at 30 mph to 200 mm on dual carriageways at the national speed limit, and TSRGD 2016 sets the legal x-height limits at 35 mm to 400 mm, so a cap-height figure has to be converted before it can be placed in that table.
§ EN 12966:2014+A1:2018
EN 12966:2014+A1:2018 classifies a variable message sign on luminance, beam width, colour and luminance ratio, with a temperature class. The class required follows the road type, the viewing geometry and the climate at the site, and it is stated per configuration rather than as a single figure.
The panel is carried on the vehicle rather than towed, so the 64 × 18 display adds a message capability without adding a trailer to the depot.
A movable 64 × 18 panel at 126.0 mm (4.96 in) for gate direction, bay allocation and lane status inside a site where no public-road consent is involved.
Single line of 8 characters at 126.0 mm (4.96 in) suits street works and access restrictions, where the whole panel is read at low speed from a short distance.
A compact 64 × 18 panel at 126.0 mm (4.96 in) for school zones and pedestrian routes, where the message is short and it is read from close range.
Dispatching full-size trailer-mounted VMS signs for short 15-minute roadside interventions or moving escorts consumes unnecessary fuel and setup time. This mini single-line vehicle-mounted message sign installs directly onto utility vehicle roof racks or tailgates, providing immediate high-visibility messaging the moment the vehicle stops.
Fixed vertical roof-mounted signs create heavy aerodynamic drag at highway transit speeds, increasing fleet fuel costs and wind noise. The compact low-profile cabinet uses a motorized actuator that lays the sign flat against the roof during transit, deploying it vertically only when needed on-site.
Requiring field crews to step out into active traffic lanes to adjust sign settings poses severe safety risks. The in-cab controller with backlit preset switches lets the operator trigger the essential warnings — arrows, hazard text — from the driver seat.
Mounted on escort cars or tow trucks, the single-line electronic board gives instant rearward text advisories — SLOW DOWN, PASS WITH CARE, directional arrows — to the motorists behind the movement.
Water meter checks, street light servicing and cable repairs. The low-profile mobile variable message sign gives clear hazard messaging without blocking a narrow city lane or a parking bay.
A compact message sign in tunnel service-board position: the low cabinet profile lets a crew inside a low-headroom structure display warnings without clipping overhead conduits.
Paired with compact radar sensors, the unit runs as a mobile variable speed limit sign, alerting speeding motorists in residential streets and at active school crossings.
“Installing HANKUN’s Mini Single-Line Vehicle-Mounted Message Sign onto our municipal utility vans has made quick roadside repairs drastically safer. The electric roof-rack tilt mechanism is rock-solid, and the single-line amber text is surprisingly crisp from long distances. The in-cab controller lets our drivers activate hazard arrows instantly without stepping out into traffic.”
“As a commercial vehicle equipment upfitter, we needed a compact portable variable message sign that installs easily on light pickup roof racks. HANKUN delivered top-tier build quality at a very competitive variable message signs price. The low-profile design handles highway driving with zero drag, and their technical team made electrical integration seamless.”
One matrix · one line
64 × 18 matrix→single line · 8 characters→126.0 mm
126.0 mm→one line only→no second line to trade
Character height and line count are the same decision, and this platform answers it with its matrix rather than with a menu: a 64 × 18 grid laid out for single line of 8 characters, giving 126.0 mm (4.96 in). Because this panel publishes a single-line format, character height is bought directly by the matrix instead of being traded against extra lines.
2 LEDs per pixel · a low-power mode
2 LEDs / pixel→single-LED mode
126 mm character→strokes stay clean
The pixel structure is published as 2 LEDs per pixel; single-LED mode available for low-power operation. That is what lets a 126.0 mm (4.96 in) character be assembled from a character matrix rather than drawn as a single line of block letters, because the pixels are large enough to build a character without crowding the strokes at this height.
Power from the vehicle · the brief is fit
Vehicle power→no power system
1352 × 524 mm cabinet→mounting kit per vehicle
Power comes from the vehicle, so the design brief is not a power system but a fit: a 1352 × 524 mm cabinet and a mounting kit that go onto a vehicle already in the fleet. That is why the published figures for this model are the display figures plus the cabinet, and why the mounting arrangement and the vehicle interface are agreed per vehicle.
North AmericaAustralia / New ZealandUK / EuropeOther
Long-duration highway work zoneShort-term / incident responseSpecial eventsFixed facility (port, airport, utility)
Arrows (left / right)Arrows plus other symbols (work-zone triangle, speed roundel, etc.)
Amber — this modelWe need five-colour
Answered the four? Send them with your enquiry.
We reply with the configuration that matches your market, duty and message set — the amber model on this page, or the five-colour configuration of the same display if a colour hierarchy is needed.
Colour branch
Identical display geometry, only the colour configuration changes.
This is a colour choice, not a selection branch: it does not change resolution, character size or message format.
Mounting branch
The same display class in the other mounting configuration.
Truck-mounted suits vehicle-integrated operation; trailer-mounted suits long-duration deployment with independent power.
If the viewing distance or the message volume is beyond what a 1152 × 324 mm active display area can serve, the HK-TMVMS-1618-26-A is the next step up in the amber truck-mounted range, with a 96 × 36 matrix and a 1728 × 648 mm active display area.
This is the smallest published amber truck-mounted model. If the site is tighter than this model suits, a different display platform is needed — send us the site plan and we will confirm the model against it.
The HK-PTMS-CS-1821-24-A is the trailer-mounted alternative in the same size class: independent solar power and towing between sites.
Between two sizes? Send the viewing distance and the message set.
We confirm the model against your site geometry — or point you to the next size up before you commit.
The HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A is one of 19 catalogued models — 15 of them published and available for specification — and it is the 1st by active display area counted from the smallest: the smallest display in the published range. Within the mini amber vehicle group it is the 1st of 3. It carries a 64 × 18 pixel matrix — 64 pixels across and 18 down — over 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) of active display area, with a character height of 126.0 mm (4.96 in).
Those five figures are the whole basis on which this model is chosen: the rest of the range differs in matrix, colour and display area, not in what a full-matrix display can do.
catalogued models
in the HANKUN PCMS range
published & available
for specification
by active display area — smallest of the 15 published models
within the mini amber vehicle group
Published range · by active display area1 / 15
The smallest published display area in the range — every other published model steps up in matrix and display area.
Mini amber vehicle group1 / 3
First of its own group — the entry point of the amber vehicle-mounted range, with two larger configurations above it.
Need a different position in the range? Tell us the viewing distance.
We place your requirement on the same scale and name the model — this one, a step up, or a step down.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | HK-TMVMS-1618-14-A |
| Mounting | Truck-mounted (vehicle power) |
| Display colour | Amber |
| Active display area | 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) |
| Cabinet dimensions | 1352 × 524 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
| Display matrix | 64 × 18 pixels | 2 LEDs per pixel; single-LED mode available for low-power operation |
| LEDs per pixel | 2 per pixel — single colour, amber; single-LED mode selectable for reduced power draw |
| Message format | single line of up to 8 characters (variable format; symbols such as left and right arrows included) |
| Character height — standard matrix | single line of up to 8 characters at 126.0 mm (4.96 in) |
| Character height — extended matrix | character size is set by the message format selected |
| Compliance path | MUTCD configuration options · North AmericaEN 12966 compatible configuration · Europe & UKAS 4852.2 configuration options · Australia & New Zealand |
| Evidence and documents | |
| Factory check, every unit | Module burn-in before assembly · full-screen illumination test on the finished display · structural and sealing inspection of the cabinet and frame · pre-shipment re-check against the agreed configuration list |
| Documents on request | Technical data sheet · configuration options list · factory inspection record · optional test arrangement · CE documentation support |
| Confirmed for this platform | |
| Display control | Automatic dimming to ambient light conditions, with manual brightness setting |
| Remote | 4G connectivity, GPS position reporting, open API and SDK protocol |
| Mounting | Display assembly and mounting kit for vehicle installation, powered from the vehicle |
| Still to be confirmed for your configuration | |
| Mast & deployment | Mast type, lift height and deployment method |
| Controller | Controller model and NTCIP 1203 support |
| Ratings & warranty | Wind rating, IP rating, operating temperature range and warranty terms |
| Vehicle interface | Complete mounting-kit dimensions and vehicle interface |
| Not published on this page | |
| Not stated | Visual range, luminance value, contrast ratio, dimming levels, autonomy days, wind rating, IP rating, operating temperature range, warranty, complete unit weight and dimensions, controller model — none of these are estimated. Automatic dimming is published as a display capability; its threshold values and step count are not. |
— System & Operation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | |
| Supply | Powered from the vehicle; the standalone power configuration for this model is confirmed at the configuration stage |
| Mounting | |
| Mounting | Display assembly and mounting kit supplied for vehicle installation |
| Coating | Powder-coated and oven-baked (display cabinet) |
| Automatic dimming | |
| Ambient light control | Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. |
| Remote operation and integration | |
| Connectivity | 4G; GPS position reporting |
| Operating terminal | Message management from phone, tablet or PC |
| Fleet integration | Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform |
| Symbol display | |
| Text + graphic symbols | Text and graphic symbols on one display. This model is a full-matrix display — each pixel is individually addressed — so message text, left and right arrows and work-zone warning symbols can all be shown on its single-line panel. Models differ in pixel matrix, display colour and active display area, not in whether symbols can be shown. |
| Options | |
| Vehicle speed radar | Available as a configuration option |
| GPS position reporting | Included in the remote package |
| 4G remote monitoring | Remote monitoring and control as a configuration option |
— Compliance & Regional Configuration
MUTCD configuration options; NEMA TS-4 testing available on request.
✓MUTCD
✓NEMA TS-4
EN 12966 compatible configuration (class confirmed per project); CE marking and Declaration of Conformity available.
✓EN 12966
✓CE + DoC
AS 4852.2 configuration options; mounting kit to applicable ADR requirements.
✓AS 4852.2
✓ADR
— Procurement Case
01
A 64 × 18 display over 1152 × 324 mm of active display area mounts on a vehicle already in the fleet, so the job carries no trailer, no towing vehicle and no site power arrangement.
02
The five published figures for this mini vehicle model — 1152 × 324 mm active display area, 126.0 mm (4.96 in) character height, 64 × 18 matrix, amber display colour and a 1352 × 524 mm cabinet — can be quoted straight into a project specification, because each one is traceable to the engineering record.
03
The amber output carries one message layer on this 64 × 18 display, so a crew is briefed once and there is no colour decision to make in service — and the same-platform options mean one spare-part set and one training path across a mixed fleet.
04
At 1152 × 324 mm this model is the smallest published display area among the 15 published models, and the smallest of the 3 mini amber vehicle configurations — the entry point of the vehicle-mounted range, placed against the other models on published figures rather than on a sales description.
— Before You Specify
Vehicle Fit & Message Format
A mini single-line amber vehicle-mounted message sign mounts directly onto roof racks, pickup beds or utility vehicle tailgates. It provides compact, immediate rear-end warning for escort vehicles and roadside responders without adding the storage, towing or parking burden of a separate trailer. The published display figures are a 64 × 18 matrix over a 1152 × 324 mm (45.35 × 12.76 in) active display area, at a 126.0 mm (4.96 in) character height.
The vehicle-mount frame includes an electric 12V actuator. In transit the low-profile board folds flat against the roof rack to eliminate aerodynamic drag; on arrival the operator presses a cab button to raise the display vertically. Actuator travel, lift height and the deployment method are confirmed per vehicle at the configuration stage.
Adjustable roof-rack clamps, rack-mount brackets and rear-bed tailgate mounting hardware are offered for light commercial, escort and municipal fleets. The cabinet is 1352 × 524 mm on a 100 mm border basis with a depth of 200–250 mm; complete mounting-kit dimensions and the vehicle interface are confirmed against your vehicles, because the chassis is the customer vehicle.
Power, Control & Compliance
This model is offered as a MUTCD configuration option rather than as a blanket certification. MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F) sets 18 in (457 mm) as the minimum letter height for a portable changeable message sign on higher-speed approaches and permits shorter letters on low-speed facilities; at 126 mm this is a near-field panel, which is the duty it is sized for. Conformance is confirmed against the project specification before shipment, and NEMA TS-4 testing is available on request.
The display is powered from the vehicle — 12V DC vehicle supply, with the standalone power configuration confirmed at the configuration stage. Automatic dimming reduces the draw in low light and a single-LED low-power mode is available, so the panel draws less current at night than a fixed-brightness display. Battery capacity and duty cycle are confirmed per vehicle installation.
Message management runs from phone, tablet or PC over 4G, with GPS position reporting, and an in-cab controller with preset keys is used for the messages a crew repeats — arrows, hazard text, speed advisories. An open API and SDK protocol is provided for integration into an existing fleet platform; controller model and NTCIP 1203 support are confirmed per project.
Applications, Cost & Procurement
Yes — vehicle speed radar is a published option, agreed as a configuration item at ordering. With radar fitted the unit runs as a dynamic speed display, with the threshold set to the posted limit for the site.
Yes. The cabinet is 1352 × 524 mm with a depth of 200–250 mm and is carried on the vehicle rather than towed, which suits a low-headroom structure where a trailer-mounted unit would not fit. Check the mounted height against the clearance at the site — the mounting arrangement and lift height are agreed per vehicle.
Eliminating trailer axles, tyres and a solar battery bank lowers the bill of materials, and vehicle upfits are quoted per unit and for volume fleet orders against the agreed configuration list. Send the market, the vehicle type and the message set to our sales engineering team for a quotation; the figure depends on the colour configuration, the options fitted and the compliance documents required.
HANKUN publishes the figures on this page from released engineering drawings, offers MUTCD, EN 12966 and AS 4852.2 configuration paths on the same platform, and supports the unit from a North America after-sales base. Enclosure protection rating, wind rating and warranty terms are confirmed per configuration and stated on the order.
A question not listed here? Send it with your project location — the answer comes back with the configuration sheet.
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