Gross weight vs payload
When people say “an 18 tonner” they mean the gross vehicle weight: the most the truck can legally weigh when fully loaded. The payload is what’s left after you take off the weight of the truck and body. An 18 tonne curtainsider might carry around 10 tonnes, depending on its body and equipment.
Rigid lorries
| Axles | Common name | Typical maximum gross weight |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7.5 tonner | 7.5 tonnes (plated down for C1 licence holders) |
| 2 | 18 tonner | 18 tonnes |
| 3 | Six-wheeler | 26 tonnes |
| 4 | Eight-wheeler | 32 tonnes |
The higher limits depend on things like road-friendly suspension and twin tyres. A truck’s actual legal weights are shown on its plating certificate.
Articulated lorries
An artic’s weight is the unit and trailer together. A five-axle artic typically runs at up to 40 tonnes, and a six-axle artic at up to 44 tonnes, which is the UK maximum for normal operation.
Why 7.5 tonnes is a key size
7.5 tonnes is the upper limit of the C1 licence category. Many drivers who passed their car test before 1997 have C1 automatically, so 7.5 tonners have a big pool of drivers, which keeps them in demand and easy to sell.
Plating and down-plating
Every HGV is plated by DVSA with its legal weights. Some trucks are down-plated to a lower weight, for example to fit a licence category. The plated weight is what counts on the road, so tell a buyer if your truck has been re-plated.