The common configurations
| Truck | Payload | Approx. volume | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid / tandem tipper | 10 – 13 t | 6 – 8 m³ | Tight sites, smaller orders |
| Truck and dog | 22 – 26 t | 14 – 16 m³ | The standard bulk cart |
| Semi tipper | ~24 – 28 t | 15 – 17 m³ | Big loads, needs room to swing |
| Truck and quad | up to ~30+ t | up to ~19 m³ | Maximised payload where access allows |
Payloads vary with the truck, axle configuration and legal mass limits. Volume is approximate, using about 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre for loose crushed rock.
Why bigger loads are cheaper
Cartage is charged by the trip, not just the tonne. A truck and dog moves roughly double what a tandem carries in a single run, so for a large order, fewer big loads means fewer trips and a lower delivered rate per tonne. The catch is always access.
What to check before the truck comes
Tell the supplier the constraints
The single most useful thing you can do is describe your access when you order. Gate width, overhead wires, slope and turning room let us send the right truck the first time, instead of a big load that cannot get in. Legally, mass and fatigue sit with the NHVR, and under Chain of Responsibility everyone who influences the task shares the duty, including whoever orders the truck. Give us the details and we will match the vehicle and track it to your gate.