Different Types of Commercial Vehicles Explained

Let’s start with the basics - what defines a ‘commercial vehicle in the UK?

Commercial Vehicles, or CVs, are defined in the UK as any vehicle specifically designed for the transportation of goods, objects, or equipment - as opposed to passengers. 

They’re most commonly used by traders and fleets, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and specifications to suit their unique purposes.

sopp+sopp work with some of the UK’s largest fleets to deliver award-winning accident management journeys, and fast, best-quality commercial vehicle repairs. 

Here we discuss the different types of commercial vehicles on the market - including their unique characteristics, designs, and use cases…

What are the different types of commercial vehicles?

There are a number of different types of commercial vehicles on the market, ranging from small vans to articulated lorries. 

They’re split into two main categories: Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). Here’s what these terms mean, and which vehicles they cover…

LCVs - Light Commercial Vehicles

A Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) is defined as any commercial vehicle with a gross weight of less than 3,500kg - or 3.5 tonnes. They’re sometimes referred to as Light Goods Vehicles.

Do I need a special licence to drive an LCV?

You don’t need a special licence to drive an LCV, as long as the gross weight of the vehicle (the base vehicle weight, plus any fuel, fluids and cargo) is below 3.5 tonnes. If the vehicle is heavier than this, you’ll need at least a category C1 licence.

The different types of LCVs include:

Car-Derived Vans

Car-derived vans are some of the most compact commercial vehicles on the market. They’re a popular choice among traders, couriers, and fleets transporting smaller goods or equipment.

As the name suggests, they’re usually based on the same chassis as passenger hatchbacks, providing a familiar driving experience, and impressive fuel economy. This also means they weigh less than other vans - they’re usually designed to weigh no more than two tonnes including any cargo.

They have a fixed cab at the front, which usually seats two to three people, and a spacious cargo area to the rear, which is usually accessed via rear loading doors.

Panel Vans

Panel vans are one of the most common types of Light Commercial Vehicles. Unlike car-derived vans, their chassis is purpose-built for transporting goods, giving them a higher load capacity (up to 3,500kg - 3.5 tonnes).

They have a fixed cab at the front, and a spacious cargo area to the rear, usually accessed via loading and/or sliding doors.

Panel vans are a popular choice for many traders and couriers transporting small to medium goods. Their compact design makes them relatively lightweight, easy to drive, and fuel efficient.

Combi Vans (Crew Vans)

Combi vans share the same chassis and body as panel vans, but they have additional passenger seats where the cargo area would normally sit, and additional windows/doors to the rear.

They’re a popular choice for commercial transport, like minicabs, and specialist vehicles like ambulances.

However, their increased practicality also makes them popular amongst traders. You get all the benefit of a car/people carrier, plus the additional storage space provided by the panel body.

Box Vans (Luton Vans)

Box vans, sometimes called ‘Luton’ vans, are similar to panel vans, but they have a larger, independent cargo container attached to the rear of the chassis.

Thanks to their increased load capacity, they’re a more practical solution for transporting large goods, or large quantities of smaller objects - like furniture or supermarket food deliveries. This makes them a popular choice for businesses like commercial couriers and removal companies.

Box vans look like a smaller version of a lorry, and often serve a similar purpose. However, thanks to their decreased weight, they can usually be driven without the need for a HGV licence - as long as they weigh less than 3,500kg.

Pickup & Tipper Vans

Pickup and tipper vans are similar to both box and panel vans, except they don’t have an enclosed cargo hold. Instead, they have an open-top bed like you’d find on a pickup truck.

Because of their open-top loading bed, they can accommodate cargo of all shapes and sizes - without the limits of an enclosed cargo hold. This makes them a popular choice for traders like builders, or companies transporting construction materials/plant equipment. 

On tipper vans, the rear bed can be tilted using a hydraulic mechanism - allowing cargo like refuse and raw materials to be unloaded quickly.

HGVs - Heavy Goods Vehicles

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are defined in the UK as any commercial vehicle with a weight of over 3,500kg, or 3.5 tonnes. 

They include vehicles like lorries and tankers - but also large specialist vehicles like fire engines and mobile cranes.

HGVs are most commonly used to transport large objects, or large quantities of goods - like food, fuel, raw materials, or equipment.

Some HGVs have a box container or other equipment fixed to the chassis, and some tow large articulated trailers.

What kind of licence do I need to drive a HGV?

The type of licence you need to drive a HGV depends on the weight of the vehicle, and whether it’s towing an articulated trailer. For HGVs between 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) and 7,500kg (7.5 tonnes), you’ll need at least a Category C1 licence. To drive HGVs between 7,500kg and 32 tonnes, you’ll need at least a Category C licence. For fully-articulated vehicles (tractor-trailers), a more comprehensive Category C+E licence is required.

Drivers who passed their test before 1997 are automatically entitled to drive Category C1 vehicles in the UK. However, if you passed your test after this date, you’ll need to take a Category C1 test on top of your normal licence.

You can read more about the various HGV licence categories here.

The different types of HGVs include…

Rigid Lorries

Rigid lorries are HGVs with a fixed container, rather than a trailer. They’re essentially a larger version of a box van, with more cargo capacity, power, and a higher weight limit.

Common types of rigid lorries include box trucks and flatbeds. They have a large cab at the front, and a fixed, independent container to the rear - such as a cargo hold, flatbed, or tanker. Most have either four or six wheels, depending on their length.

Rigid lorries have a maximum length of 12 metres - slightly shorter than a two-axle bus. They’re used to transport all kinds of goods and materials, from consumer produce like food, to heavy commercial equipment.

They’re much bigger and heavier than a van, meaning they’re much different to drive - with a larger turning circle, and sometimes more gears. 

To drive a rigid lorry, you’ll need at least a Category C1 HGV licence. If the vehicle’s gross weight exceeds 7.5 tonnes, you’ll need a category C licence. 

Articulated Lorries 

Articulated (Artic) lorries consist of a tractor unit and a trailer, which can be coupled/decoupled, allowing the vehicle to transport a wide variety of goods and equipment.

The main chassis is shorter than a rigid lorry, with a cab towards the front, and a tow hitch fixed to the rear - to which the trailer is attached. There’s a rotating joint between the trailer and tractor, allowing the lorry to flex around corners.

They usually have between four and six wheels on the tractor unit, and another four to six on the articulated trailer. They have a maximum length of 16.5 metres when towing container trailers, and 18 metres for low-loader trailers - making them some of the longest vehicles on our roads.

Some even tow multiple trailers, with an articulated joint between them. In this case, the maximum length can be up to 18.75 metres to allow for the additional joint.

Articulated lorries are commonly used to tow large box or curtain trailers, tankers, refrigerated containers, and flatbeds.

To drive one, you’ll need a category C+E licence. They can be much heavier than rigid lorries, and have more gears - making the driving experience markedly different from smaller HGVs.

Specialist HGVs

Some HGVs are used for specialist purposes, such as transporting built-in equipment and machinery, rather than goods or materials. These include large cement mixers, cranes, fire engines, grit lorries, refuse wagons, and large recovery trucks.

They’re similar in design to rigid lorries, with a fixed chassis - consisting of a cab towards the front, and space for equipment/machinery to the rear.

Although specialist HGVs aren’t always used to transport goods, you’ll still need at least a category C1 licence to drive one. If the vehicle’s gross weight exceeds 7.5 tonnes, you’ll need a category C licence.

sopp+sopp - Fleet Accident Management & Repair Specialist

sopp+sopp work with some of the UK’s best-known fleets to deliver specialist accident management services - encompassing everything from incident reporting to vehicle repair.

We’re specialists in commercial vehicle repair management - our UK-wide repair network can accommodate HGVs and LCVs of all fuel types - including EVs and Hybrids.

Commercial vehicle expertise

Our triage, engineering, and repair processes are tailored to the unique requirements of commercial vehicles, and their onboard cargo/equipment. We consider each vehicle's unique attributes and circumstances from the outset, and ensure this data is used to inform the most appropriate methods of recovery, damage assessment, and repair.

We'll consider everything from the vehicle's make, model, category, and fuel type - to the equipment/cargo it has on board, ensuring we deliver a right-first-time repair journey, no matter the complexities involved.

FNOL & eNOL Incident Reporting

We’re committed to delivering swift, accurate incident reporting for fleets of all sizes and specifications, tailored for the specialist requirements of commercial vehicles. 

Our in-house telephone FNOL team are supported by our self-developed technology, including our eNOL incident reporting application - Activate Initiate.

We recognise that quick and qualitative incident reporting is paramount to reducing claims costs, and minimising vehicle downtime. We’re constantly innovating to improve the speed, accuracy, and ease of our clients’ incident reporting processes.

Extensive UK-Wide Repair Network

Our UK-wide repair network caters for all vehicle types - including cars, vans, and HGVs. Whatever your vehicles’ specifications or fuel types, our repair network has the capacity and expertise to deliver swift, right-first-time repairs.

End-to-End Accident Management

Our in-house claims team handles the accident management process from start to finish, and keeps our clients updated throughout the claims progress. This includes collecting incident reports, engaging third parties, triaging vehicle damage, engineering effective repairs, deploying vehicles, and ensuring they’re repaired swiftly.

Our self-developed bodyshop management system ensures you always know where your vehicles sit within the claims process.

Intelligent Triage & Engineering

Our damage triage and repair engineering processes are supported by our range of intuitive technologies, which help to increase the speed and efficiency of our services.

This includes intelligent triage, which uses tech integrations to identify total loss, and understand vehicles’ repair requirements from photographs provided by the driver.

Our intelligent engineering process ensures that all repairs are completed at best quality, and utilise cost-saving solutions wherever possible. This includes suggesting more effective sources for parts when they’re available - including green and aftermarket, depending on your existing repair policies.

To learn more about sopp+sopp, and our range of technology-driven fleet management solutions, get in touch with our team for a no-obligation call: