There are many vehicles, but which one do I need?

In the context of road transport, the choice of the right vehicle for the transport of goods by road is of paramount importance. Although we tend to associate this area with heavy trucks up to 24 tonnes, there are other options to consider. Let's look at some key reasons for selecting the right vehicle:

Efficiency and Cost: Choosing the right vehicle for the load and the distance to be travelled minimises operating costs.

Load Capacity: Choosing a vehicle that fits the volume of goods ensures efficient distribution and avoids overloading or underutilisation.

Manoeuvrability: Smaller vans are ideal for urban areas and narrow streets, while larger vehicles are more appropriate for long distances and bulky loads.

Compliance and road safety: Vehicles equipped with a tachograph must comply with driving time regulations. The maximum driving period is limited to 4.5 hours, resulting in a maximum daily driving time of 9 hours (extendable to 10 hours twice a week), for a maximum weekly driving time of 56 hours.) Selecting the right vehicle ensures legal compliance and avoids penalties.

In short, the choice of the right vehicle affects not only efficiency and costs, but also safety and legality in the transport of goods by road. For this reason, HTG Express offers a range of vehicles to suit our customers:

• Small van

With a capacity of up to 500kg (2-3 metres3), or the equivalent of 2 europallets, it is ideal for urban deliveries and deliveries in areas with limited space. Its manoeuvrability makes it easy to load and unload in tight areas. In addition, the absence of a tachograph allows traffic to be adapted to the efficient driving possibilities offered by the driver, with no stops required by law. It is also not foreseen that this type of vehicle will need to carry a tachograph after the full implementation of the European Mobility Plan.

• Box van:

This is the star vehicle in express transport, which can carry up to 1250kg in a volume of up to 12m3. Its transit speed is faster than that of any heavy vehicle, and the loading area has a bodywork that makes theft more difficult at stops along the route.

• Curtain Side Van:

The largest vehicle that does not have a tachograph, it is perfect for bulkier and lighter loads, with a maximum of up to 1,000kg and 8 europallets as a reference. In addition, the canvas bodies allow side loading for longer goods.

• 7.5 t Truck:

Already considered a heavy vehicle, the Mini-TIR is legally required to carry a tachograph with which to record activity. However, the up to 2,800kg it can carry in its 35 cubic metres (or 15 europallets) allows it to combine capacity and manoeuvrability.

• Heavy Vehicle:

This category includes any size of truck, the best known being the trailer truck. Carrying up to 24,000kg in its 100m3, it is designed to transport large volumes of cargo, and is also obliged to record driving times with the tachograph.

It should be noted that the maximum load references may vary according to the country of transit through which the vehicle is travelling. For example, in Austria and Switzerland the maximum permissible load for a closed van is 1,000kg and 900kg for a bodywork van.

In any case, at HTG Express we assess all aspects of your application to ensure that the result is optimal. If you have any queries, we will be delighted to hear from you on +34 943 63 44 17 or by email at Operations.eur@htg-express.com.