A Breakdown of the Most Common Types of Trucks in the Logistics Sector

Trucks are the heart of logistics, moving goods across regions and ensuring eCommerce businesses stay connected with customers. Trucks handle about 72.5% of all freight transport in the US, moving over 10.23 billion tons of goods annually. 

In 2024, road transport accounted for approximately 71% of all freight movement across India. Without trucks, businesses would struggle, deliveries would be delayed, and the economy would face major disruptions. Whether selling clothes, electronics, or groceries, trucks help you get your products to customers on time, no matter where they are.

As you work on improving your business, understanding the types of trucks in logistics and how they are used can help you make smarter decisions about your shipments.

The Importance of Trucks in Logistics Operations

Let’s take a look  at the importance of truck logistics in India: 

• Go Anywhere, Deliver Everywhere: Trucks can reach places where trains or planes can’t. They can move through narrow village roads, busy city streets, and remote areas. This means you can sell your products to customers no matter where they are.
• Faster and More Reliable Deliveries: Trucks take direct routes, making deliveries faster than trains or ships. This is important for time-sensitive goods like medicines, fresh food, or urgent orders. GPS tracks let you know where your shipment is and when it will arrive.
• eCommerce and Last-Mile Delivery: If you sell online, ensure your products reach customers’ doorsteps. They also handle returns, which are common in online shopping. Without trucks, delivering or picking up orders would be much harder.
• Handle High Demand Easily: During big sales, festivals, or wedding seasons, your business may need to deliver more orders than usual. Truck fleets can adjust to these, ensuring your stock gets restocked on time and customers don’t have to wait.
• Cost-Effective and Flexible: Trucks are an affordable means of transporting goods, especially for short and medium distances. Unlike trains or planes, you don’t need to wait for a full load. Trucks can be used for small or big shipments, saving money and keeping deliveries on schedule.
• Reach More Customers, Grow Your Business: Trucks help you expand your business by connecting small towns and big cities. When sending raw materials to a factory or finished goods to a shop, ensure your products reach the right place at the right time.
• Essential for Every Step of Business: Trucks keep your business running, from picking up raw materials to delivering final products. They connect factories, warehouses, wholesalers, retailers, and customers to ensure no delays.
• Supports Small and Big Businesses: Whether you run a small shop or a large company, trucks help keep your business moving. They create jobs, support industries, and facilitate trade nationwide.

Different Types of Trucks for Logistics and Transport

Different types of trucks in logistics transport goods safely and efficiently. Choosing the right truck depends on the type of cargo you need to move. 

Here are the standard types of trucks you may use for your business:

Trucks by Size and Weight

1. Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs)

These trucks are designed for lighter loads, typically up to 3.5 tons. They are often used for smaller deliveries in urban areas, like carrying parcels or furniture.

2. Medium Commercial Vehicles (MCVs)

These trucks can carry loads between 3.5 and 16 tons. They are great for handling mid-sized shipments like home appliances, small equipment, or boxes that don’t fit in LCVs.

3. Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs)

Designed for heavier loads, these trucks carry shipments between 16 and 49 tons. They are used for large cargo, like construction materials, machinery, or bulk goods.

Specialised Trucks

1. Flatbed Trucks

With an open platform and no sides, flatbed trucks are perfect for carrying large, bulky, or irregularly shaped items. They are commonly used for oversized cargo like heavy machinery, steel pipes, and lumber.

2. Refrigerated Trucks (Reefer Trucks)

These trucks have built-in cooling systems, making them ideal for transporting temperature-sensitive goods like food, pharmaceuticals, and other perishables. They help maintain the cold chain logistics during long-distance deliveries.

3. Straight Trucks

Straight trucks have the cargo area and cab in one piece. They are smaller than other trucks, making them easy to manoeuvre in tight city spaces. These trucks are commonly used for local deliveries like furniture or small goods.

4. Tanker Trucks

Tanker trucks transport liquids or gases. These include everything from fuel to water, chemicals, and food-grade liquids. Their sealed and pressurised compartments ensure safe and leak-free transportation.

5. Jumbo Trailer Trucks

These are heavy-duty trucks with multiple trailers, allowing them to carry large volumes of lighter goods, such as furniture and appliances. 

6. Semi-Trailer Trucks

These large trucks are essential for hauling oversized loads over long distances. They feature a cab (tractor) attached to a semi-trailer, making them ideal for transporting large amounts of goods, from machinery to consumer products.

7. Dump Trucks

If you need to transport loose materials like gravel, sand, or dirt, dump trucks are the way to go. They can unload cargo quickly using hydraulic lifts, making them perfect for the construction and mining industries.

8. Box Trucks

These trucks have a box-shaped cargo area with walls and a roof. Box trucks help move smaller items like retail goods or home furniture and are often used in urban environments.

9. Tail-Lift Trucks

Tail-lift trucks are designed with a built-in lift mechanism, making loading and unloading heavy items easier. They are great for deliveries to locations without loading docks or forklifts.

10. Container Trucks

These trucks are designed to carry large shipping containers, making them perfect for international logistics and transporting heavy cargo across distances.

Beyond Trucks: Other Vehicles Used in Logistics

When shipping goods, there are several modes of transport other than trucks. Each has advantages and is suitable for different types of products and distances.

1. Rail: Efficient for Bulk Goods

Rail transport, like coal or grain, is excellent for long-distance and bulk shipments. It’s reliable and cost-effective for large volumes of goods. Some key benefits of rail transport include:

• Cost-effective for large quantities.
• Reliable with fewer delays compared to road transport.
• Eco-friendly because trains produce less pollution than trucks.

However, rail transport requires a railway system, which can be expensive.

2. Air: Fast but Expensive

Air transport is the fastest shipping method, making it ideal for urgent or high-value items. While it’s not suitable for large or heavy goods, it’s great for:

• Quick delivery of small, valuable items.
• Perishable goods that need to arrive quickly.

However, air shipping is the most expensive mode and has weight and volume limits. It’s also not the most eco-friendly choice.

3. Sea: Ideal for Large Shipments

Shipping by sea remains the most cost-effective option for transporting large goods. While it’s slower than air or road transport, it’s great for:

• Large, bulk shipments.
• International trade.

Shipping by sea can be slower due to weather conditions or customs, but it’s still the most common method for global trade.

4. Intermodal: Combining Different Modes

Intermodal transport uses different transport types, such as trucks, trains, and ships. It combines the best of each mode, making it:

• Cost-efficient for long-distance shipments.
• Flexible with multiple options for getting goods to their destination.

This method is ideal for large shipments that must travel through different regions and require a combination of transport modes.

The Role of Shiprocket Cargo in Modern Logistics

If you’re looking for a way to make shipping heavy items easier, Shiprocket Cargo is here to simplify your life. Whether you have small or big shipments, this platform helps you save money without compromising speed or quality.

Shiprocket Cargo reaches over 24,000 pin codes across India, so your customers will receive their orders on time. Your delivery will be taken care of whether in a busy city or a small town.

You can track your shipments in real time! That means you always know exactly where your package is and when it will arrive. This keeps you in the loop and your customers happy because you can update them with accurate delivery details.

With Shiprocket Cargo, you get cheap, fast shipping for heavy orders. So, why worry about shipping when you can leave the tricky part to them and focus on growing your business? 

Conclusion

Picking the right truck for your deliveries is key to ensuring your business runs smoothly. Knowing the best truck for the job can save you time and money, whether you need to move small packages or oversized, heavy items. Different trucks work for various needs, so choosing wisely helps you deliver products on time and keep your customers happy. 

Using services like Shiprocket Cargo makes shipping even easier, letting you focus on growing your business without worrying about delivery. With the right truck and logistics partner, you’ll be all set to handle any order that comes your way!