3.3 Road

Road Transport is flexible as it allows for door-to-door service and no tracks are required to be maintained. Not much time schedules are required so the vehicles can go on journeys at short notice. There are weight/load limitations for vehicles and roads for safety purposes. Congestion and traffic delays would limit the efficiency of road transport.

3.3.1 Delivery Vans

Delivery vans are the small delivery vehicles which can carry a tonne or two in a sealed body. Smaller vans are based on car designs, while larger ones – such as Luton Box vans – are like small removal vans.

3.3.2 Flat-bed Lorries

Flat-bed Lorries are basic, rigid vehicles with two or three axles, and a flat platform that is used to stack materials. Materials are tied on, or small sides are added.

3.3.3 Box-bodies Lorry

Box-bodied Lorries are like the flat beds, except they have bodies added, traditionally with access from the rear. These give more protection than flat beds.

3.3.4 Articulated Lorries

Articulated Lorries, are more manoeuvrable than rigid lorries, so they can be bigger, up to the legal weight limit. There are many variations on the theme of trucks that bend in the middle. A common format has a two- or three-axled tractor and a two- or three-axled trailer.

3.3.5 Lorry & Trailer

Lorry and trailer, which combine a rigid lorry pulling a two-axle trailer. This gives greater capacity than an articulated lorry, but maintains some of its manoeuvrability. Containers may be placed on the trailers.

For you to ponder:

Which lorry or truck will you select to transport:

ice-cream
groceries
timber
oil
container
fast food F & B, e.g. McDonald's, KFC.
Furniture
Packaged goods

3.0

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