Short answer
The body type decides how your cargo gets on and off the lorry. A box lorry is a rigid enclosed body loaded through its door openings — the rear doors, plus side doors on lorries built with them, so how many openings it has decides where a forklift can reach in; it is the everyday choice for general cargo that stays dry. A curtain sider has fabric sides that open along the whole length, so a forklift can load anywhere down the side, not just at a door — better for pallets and long or awkward loads. A tailgate is a hydraulic lift at the back, for pickup or delivery sites that have no loading dock or forklift. An open (flatbed) truck has no sides or roof, used for oversized or crane-loaded cargo. VSPEED runs box lorries from 10ft to 40ft, a 40ft curtain sider, and tailgate options — the right pick comes down to what the cargo is, how it loads, and whether your site has a dock or forklift.
For businesses booking lorry transport who need to match the vehicle to their cargo and loading site.
Published by VSPEED · Updated
| Body type | Box lorry (厢式车) | Curtain sider (篷帘车) |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded from | Door openings — rear, plus side doors where fitted | The whole side opens, along the full length |
| Best for | General cargo that must stay enclosed and dry | Pallets, long or awkward loads, forklift loading |
| Weather protection | Fully enclosed | Covered by curtains, opened only to load |
How to tell the body types apart
A box lorry is a rigid enclosed box — you load through its door openings. Every box has rear doors, and many are also built with side doors, so the more openings a lorry has, the more places a forklift can reach in; a box with side doors can be loaded from the side as well as the back. A curtain sider looks similar in shape, but the entire side is tensioned fabric "curtains" that slide open along the full length — so a forklift can load anywhere down the side, not just at a fixed door opening. An open or flatbed truck has a load bed with no sides or roof, used when cargo is oversized, needs crane loading, or would not fit inside a box. So the real question is how much side access you need: a box with the right number of doors handles most cargo, while a curtain sider gives you the whole side when pallets have to go in fast.
Sizes, and where each can go
VSPEED's own fleet runs from 1-tonne up to 35-tonne vehicles, in box lorries of 10ft, 14ft, 21ft, 26ft and 40ft, plus a 40ft curtain sider. Size is not just about how much fits — it decides where the lorry can go. A small 10ft or 14ft lorry gets into narrow city streets, shoplots and tight loading areas; a 40ft needs room to turn and approach, and works best where there is a proper bay or forklift. Sending a 40ft to a shoplot with no loading area is a common way a delivery fails after the trip is already paid for, so the vehicle is matched to the site, not just the cargo volume.
When you need a tailgate — and how VSPEED picks the vehicle
A tailgate is a hydraulic platform at the rear that lifts cargo between ground and truck bed. You need it when the cargo is palletised or heavy and the pickup or delivery site has no loading bay and no forklift — without one, there is no safe way to get a pallet down. To match the right lorry, VSPEED looks at the cargo dimensions and weight, how it is loaded, the route, and the site access at both ends. Send photos of the cargo and the loading area and VSPEED confirms the body type, size and whether a tailgate is needed before the trip, not after.
FAQ
What is the difference between a box lorry and a curtain sider?
A box lorry is fully enclosed and loaded from the rear. A curtain sider has fabric sides that open along the whole length, so a forklift can load from the side — better for pallets and long loads. Both keep cargo covered.
Do I need a tailgate lorry?
You need one when cargo is palletised or heavy and the site has no loading bay or forklift. If either end can't get a pallet up or down safely, a tailgate handles it. Send photos of the site and VSPEED will confirm.
Which lorry size should I choose?
Match the size to both the cargo volume and the site: a small 10-14ft lorry for narrow streets and shoplots, a larger 26-40ft where there is a bay or forklift. Send your cargo details and the delivery site and VSPEED picks the size that actually fits.
Can a 40ft lorry reach my shoplot?
It depends on the access — a 40ft needs room to turn and approach, and works best with a bay or forklift. A tight shoplot may need a smaller lorry or a tailgate. Send photos of the loading area and VSPEED will pick a vehicle that can actually get in.