Have you recently bought or are thinking of purchasing a rigid truck? If so, you’re probably wondering how much it can carry. Knowing the weight limit of your rigid truck should be one of your utmost priorities to ensure that you don’t overload it, which could be highly dangerous and illegal.
What is a Rigid Truck?
The term ‘rigid truck’ is an umbrella term for a truck chassis with a body on the back, such as a jetvac tank body, gritter lorry body or a fridge box body etc. Rigid trucks are a major asset to the transport, logistics and shipping industries. Compared to other types, rigid trucks typically have higher capacity limits due to their larger size and design, enabling them to transport heavy loads of goods, merchandise or produce for commercial use and distribution. Rigid lorries can also be bought as ‘chassis cabs’ – the truck cab and a skeletal chassis on the back, which can be built to spec – to be longer or shorter to accommodate certain body types – or bought as completed trucks.
There are many different types on the market today. In the UK, some of the most popular trucks include the drop-side, curtain-side and flatbed trucks, which are often able to accommodate between 25-30 tonnes, that’s about 14 standard crates in total.
What is the Maximum Capacity of a Rigid Truck?
The capacity of a rigid truck will vary depending on its size, weight and type of goods it is transporting – all of which must be adhered to according to government regulations. You will also need a Heavy Goods Licence (HGV) to allow you to drive a truck that is over 7.5 tonnes and up to 32 tonnes. Let’s take a moment to explore the maximum gross weights for each axle rigid truck:
2 Axle Rigid Truck – In the UK, the maximum gross weight of a rigid truck with two axles is between 7.5 and 18 tonnes. UK law states that if the vehicle is carrying over 7.5 tonnes, visible markers will need to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle.
3 Axle Rigid Truck – The maximum gross weight of a rigid truck with three axles is 26 tonnes. Each driving axle must be fitted with twin tyres and road-friendly suspension.
4 Axle Rigid Truck – The maximum gross weight of a rigid truck with four axles is 32 tonnes, and again, each axle must be fitted with twin tyres and road-friendly suspension.
Rigid trucks that are loaded beyond their ability will likely affect the vehicle’s steering and will not be able to stop quickly in the event of an emergency. Overloading trucks will result in additional wear and tear to not only the vehicle itself but to roads and bridges and is, unfortunately, one of the single biggest causes of excessive damage on the roads today.
Where Can I Purchase a Used Rigid Truck?
If you are looking to buy used rigid trucks, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Truck Trading, we have been buying and selling used rigid trucks, used semi-trailers and used tractor units to the trucking industry for over 20 years at competitive prices. We understand investing in a new vehicle can be stressful, but we work hard to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. Our team of experts is on hand to help you invest in the right model for your business and to ensure you have everything you need to get started on the road. Give us a call on 0161 432 1477 or send us a message at sales@trucktrading.co.uk.
