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Last edited 07 Oct 2022

Lorry

A lorry is a large vehicle used for transporting goods or people. The word is likely to have originated from the verb, lurry which meant to lug or pull about. It first appeared as meaning a low-loading trolley, pulled by a horse or a freight carrying rail car, most probably the first transport lorries. The term truck might also be used to describe a lorry but is more common in the US and might refer to slightly smaller lorries for example pick-up truck or truck driver.

It is more formally referred to as a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) in law, which are large lorries that are designed for long haul road transport.

According to the UK Department of Transport there are 3 types of HGVs:

Smaller 2-Axle Lorries – The UK maximum gross weight in tonnes for these vehicles is over 3.5.
Bigger 2-Axle Lorries – The UK maximum gross weight in tonnes for these vehicles is over 7.5.
Multi-Axle Lorries – These vehicles can either have 3, 4, 5 or 6 axles. These vehicles can either be rigid or articulated. The UK maximum gross weight in tonnes for these vehicles ranges from 25 to 44.

Rigid lorries are so called because the tractor and trailer are fixed securely to each other, which makes the driving experience similar to that of a car. Articulated lorries or artics are so called because the tractor and trailer are two separate distinct parts so loads can be more easily and quickly changed.