Choosing the Right Truck for the Job: Haulage & Transport

Different loads require different transport solutions, so there is no single truck that is suitable for every haulage job. Choosing an unsuitable vehicle can result in additional costs, delivery delays, loading difficulties and unnecessary safety risks.

For example, palletised goods are easy to distribute, but oversized machinery or equipment may require specialist transport.

Walker Movements can help customers to identify the appropriate vehicle and transport solution for their requirements. We’ll help you to understand your load and select the right vehicle based on its weight, dimensions, type and delivery requirements.

Start with the load

The weight of the load is one of the most important considerations, as heavy goods such as machinery, steel, building products and bulk materials may require a vehicle capable of carrying the necessary weight safely. The dimensions are equally important because a standard palletised load has very different requirements from something long, wide or unusually high.

The main types of freight that businesses need to move are pallets, containers, machinery, vehicles, construction equipment, bulk materials and fragile goods.

Businesses need to establish exactly what is being transported, how heavy it is, its dimensions and how it will be loaded and secured before selecting a truck.

Matching the truck to the job

Curtain-sided trucks

Curtain-sided trucks are suited to general freight and palletised deliveries, making them useful for retail and distribution work. The curtains can be opened to provide access for forklifts, making loading and unloading quicker, and they also provide protection from the weather during transit.

Flatbed trucks

Flatbeds are useful for steel, timber, machinery and large construction products that may not fit conveniently inside an enclosed body. The open deck makes crane loading easier, and the available deck space also provides flexibility for securing large or awkwardly shaped loads.

Low loaders

Low loaders are designed to transport heavy or high machinery and equipment, including excavators, agricultural equipment and heavy vehicles. Their lower deck height helps to accommodate tall machinery while keeping the overall vehicle and load within appropriate height limits.

Some plant machinery cannot be transported safely on a standard trailer because of its size, weight, or height.

Crane trucks

A crane truck combines transport and lifting capability in one vehicle, which is particularly useful where there is no crane available at the delivery site. This could include remote locations or deliveries where equipment needs to be lifted directly from the truck into position.

Tractor units

Tractor units are commonly used for long distance haulage and high-volume freight, particularly for national and international distribution. Their role is to pull trailers carrying large quantities of goods over longer distances, making them particularly suitable for efficient motorway transport and high-volume movements.

Rigid trucks

Rigid trucks can be useful for urban, regional and restricted-access deliveries. Unlike an articulated vehicle, the cab and body are mounted on a single chassis, which can make a rigid truck easier to manoeuvre in tighter locations such as towns, narrow access routes and sites where a larger vehicle may be difficult to position.

Don’t forget the route

Selecting the vehicle based only on the load can cause problems if the destination cannot accommodate it. Different environments also need to be considered, as motorways and major roads may accommodate larger vehicles, while city centres, narrow roads and rural locations can present access restrictions.

There are also weight restrictions that may apply to particular roads or areas. Construction sites can have restricted or uneven access, while rural deliveries may involve narrow approach roads.

If the job involves multiple delivery stops, the vehicle needs to be practical for all of the locations rather than just the easiest one. This means that route and access requirements are just as important as the size and weight of the load.

Loading and unloading requirements

Choosing the truck also means considering how the goods will actually be loaded and unloaded, as you will need to know whether a forklift is available at the collection and delivery points.

Some loads may need a crane for loading or unloading, particularly in the case of heavy machinery or large construction products. A tail lift might be necessary where goods need to be lowered from the vehicle without suitable loading equipment at the destination.

The delivery site needs to have enough room to accommodate the chosen vehicle, particularly where an articulated vehicle is being considered. Specialist lifting requirements need to be identified before the vehicle is booked, rather than discovered when it arrives.

Compliance and safety

The vehicle and load must comply with applicable weight limits and load restraint requirements. Oversized or abnormal loads may be subject to additional regulations and route planning requirements, and the relevant driver licensing requirements also need to be met for the vehicle being used.

Proper planning helps to ensure the load is transported safely and legally rather than creating avoidable problems during the journey.

Why choosing the right truck saves money

Choosing the appropriate vehicle can reduce the number of journeys required by making better use of available capacity. A suitable vehicle can also make loading and unloading faster, reducing the time spent at collection and delivery points.

The appropriate load capacity and securing arrangements can reduce the risk of goods being damaged during transport.

Efficient vehicle selection can help control fuel use and overall transport costs, and faster, better-planned deliveries can also reduce delays and improve reliability for customers.

The cheapest vehicle to purchase is not necessarily the cheapest overall option if it cannot handle the load efficiently.

How Walker Movements can help

Walker Movements can help you assess the requirements of a particular load and identify an appropriate transport solution. The right truck is not automatically the largest or cheapest option.

The appropriate choice needs to take into account the load, destination, access conditions, loading and unloading requirements and delivery timescale.

Discussing these requirements before transport is arranged can help avoid unsuitable vehicles, delays and unnecessary costs. Get in touch with Walker Movements now to discuss your haulage requirements.

Successful haulage starts with matching the vehicle to the job by considering the load, route, access and loading requirements rather than choosing a truck based on size alone. Walker Movements can help you select the most suitable transport solution for your job.