In such a dynamic landscape of logistics today, it becomes very important to get the right truck from amongst various options to transport goods and shipments efficiently, cost-effectively, and also in time. While most online truck booking Apps are making it easier, knowing the specific types of trucks and trailers best suited to your requirements have become of utmost importance. Whether it is raw materials, consumer goods, or something more specific, proper selection can only help optimize space usage and fuel efficiency.

We will look at the various truck classifications, ranging from Small Commercial Vehicles to Light Commercial Vehicles and Heavy Commercial Vehicles. All have been sub-divided by their tonnage categories, and most importantly, their ideal applications, tonnage capacity, and examples from leading brands such as Tata, Eicher, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra.

Why Choosing the Right Truck Matters

It’s important to decide on the right truck.A mismatch between your cargo and vehicle type can result in higher transportation costs, underutilized space, and even delayed deliveries. Knowing the particular characteristics of different trucks will help achieve better load management, safe handling, and lower operational costs.

Choosing the right truck also allows for:

  • Safe delivery: Minimize damage to goods.
  • Reduced fuel consumption: Avoid overloading or underutilization.
  • Cost efficiency: Reduce the need for multiple trips or under-capacity trips.

Types of Trucks in India: SCV, LCV, and HCV Based on Tonnage

There are several trucks categorized by payload capacity. There exist three types:

1. Small Commercial Vehicles (SCV)

  • Tonnage/Capacity: Less than 1.5 tons
  • Ideal for: Small-distance and intra-city delivery, last-mile distribution, e-commerce, small retailers, and agricultural produce.

Examples:

  • Tata Yodha Pickup: 1.2 to 1.7 tons payload capacity mini-truck best for last mile deliveries and for city transportation.
  • Ashok Leyland Dost: A mini-truck offers payload capacity of 1.5 tons and is engineered to provide efficient operations in many applications.
  • Mahindra Bolero Pik-Up: A mini-truck with payload capacity of 1-ton provides a comfortable drive with excellent fuel efficiency.

2. Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV)

  • Tonnage/Capacity: 1.5 tons to 6 tons
  • Best suited for: Regional transportation, mid-range delivery needs, moving goods such as textiles, construction materials, and consumer goods.

Examples:

  • Tata Ultra T.6: One of the most iconic LCVs in India with a payload capacity ranging from 3.5 to 3.8 tons, ideal for industrial goods and e-commerce deliveries. 
  • Ashok Leyland Partner: An efficient LCV with a payload capacity of 4.5 – 5 tons, promoting sustainable transportation.
  • Mahindra Blazo: A powerful LCV with a 3.5-ton payload capacity, ideal for heavy-duty applications and long-distance transportation.

3. Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV)

  • Tonnage/Capacity: Above 6 tons
  • Suitable For: long-distance haul and bulk movement across industries including construction, cement, steel, beverages, and large manufactured items.

Examples:

  • Tata Prima 3428.T E-3: Heavy-duty transportation -almost 25 tons-coupled for long hauls transporting bulk commodities.
  • Eicher Pro 5300: It’s a very capable HCV that can carry a payload of 16 tons and is pretty versatile for construction, logistics, etc.
  • Ashok Leyland 4020: Heavily used as a heavy duty HCV with the payload capacity of 27 tones. It is, however, indeed a great performing and durable vehicle.
  • The Mahindra Truxpert 49 is a high capacity premium transport vehicle that will be able to carry a maximum payload of 35 tons and sport various sorts of advanced features for effective transport.

Types of Trailers

Trailers are essential for specialized cargo needs, allowing for larger and sometimes more complex deliveries. Here are some commonly used trailer types:

1. Flatbed Trailers

  • Best suited for: Moving items like machinery, pipes, vehicles, and construction materials.
  • Common applications: Industrial equipment, lumber, building materials.

2. Low Bed Trailers

  • They are suitable for: Over-sized cargo like cranes, heavy equipment, and transformers.
  • It is quite commonly used in the construction and infrastructure projects needing high-capacity transport.

3. Container Trailers

  • They are suitable for: Standard shipping containers that are 20ft or 40ft in length.
  • It is normally applied in import/export, bulk cargo.

4. Tanker Trailers

  • They are made specifically for: Liquids transport like petroleum, chemicals, and food-grade products
  • Petroleum products milk, water, chemical transport.

5. Refrigerated Trailers (Reefers)

  • Best Use: Temperature-sensitive commodities, frozen foods, drugs, and dairy products
  • Most used: Frozen food, pharmaceutical, dairy products.

How to Choose the Right Truck and Trailer for Your Application

  1. Cargo Type: Always match your truck or trailer depending on the nature of cargo. If it’s something sensitive to temperature, then reefers would be a perfect option. If its bulk commodities, then flatbeds and container trailers would be suitable.
  2. Weight & Size: Ensure that your payload capacity of the truck matches the load. Otherwise, you’re creating inefficiency while overloading the truck or wasting fuel and money while underutilizing the truck.
  3. Distance: Short distance deliveries can be handled by means of SCVs or LCVs, whereas high-distance cargo requires HCVs because of its heavy-duty.
  4. Terrain: Take a look at how the condition of the road and terrain is. Trucks needed more ground clearances for delivering smooth suspension for rough terrain or in rural areas.

Benefits of Online Truck Booking

  • Booking Convenience: Book trucks anytime and anywhere.
  • Saved Cost: Compare rates and opt for the best suited.
  • Variety: Wider trucks and trailer ranges are available for each requirement.
  • Real-time tracking: Tracks the shipment in real time so that the shipment would be transparent and secure.

Read Also – The Benefits of Online Truck Booking Over Traditional Methods

FAQs 

Q1. What are SCV, LCV, and HCV?
Ans: SCV, LCV, and HCV are truck classifications based on payload capacity. SCVs carry up to 1.5 tons, LCVs between 1.5 and 6 tons, and HCVs over 6 tons.

 

Q2. Which truck is best for transporting construction materials?
Ans: HCVs like the Ashok Leyland U-Truck or Tata LPT 3718 are best suited for heavy construction materials.

 

Q3. Can I transport refrigerated goods using a standard truck?
Ans: No, temperature-sensitive goods require refrigerated trailers (reefers) to ensure they are transported at the right temperatures.

 

Q4. What are the advantages of online truck booking?
Ans: Online truck booking provides convenience, cost savings, real-time tracking, and a wide selection of trucks tailored to different needs.

 

Q5. How do I determine the right truck for my cargo?
Ans: Consider the cargo type, weight, size, distance to be covered, and road conditions when choosing a truck or trailer.