Knowledge Post: A Comprehensive Guide to the Types and Uses of Logistics and Transportation Vehicles—Practical and All‑Inclusive

Release date:

2025-04-28

Author:

Jinhua Logistics

Trucks are classified into subcategories across seven dimensions: payload capacity, body structure, cab configuration, drive axle type, vehicle length, energy‑use architecture, and emissions.

From payload capacity, body structure, cab configuration, vehicle drive axle, vehicle length, energy‑use architecture, and vehicle emissions. 7 A dimension that further categorizes truck types.

2020 In the year, there were a total of commercial freight vehicles. 1110.28 ten thousand vehicles, including ordinary freight trucks 414.14 Ten thousand vehicles, dedicated freight trucks 50.67 Ten thousand vehicles, tractor trucks 310.84 Ten thousand vehicles, trailers 334.63 Ten thousand vehicles. Do you recognize these freight trucks? Let’s take a look together:

Seven dimensions of truck classification

Currently, the transportation industry categorizes commercial trucks into four types: general‑purpose trucks, specialized trucks, tractors, and trailers. Specialized vehicles can also be classified under body‑type categories, falling under the umbrella of special body structures. Trailers themselves constitute a distinct product line, encompassing flatbeds, stake bodies, box bodies, low‑deck trailers, container semi‑trailers, and more.
Therefore, we can consider factors such as payload capacity, body structure, cab configuration, vehicle drive axle, vehicle length, energy‑use architecture, and vehicle emissions. 7 One dimension, which further segments truck types.

01 Classified by payload

Currently, the most commonly used types are generally categorized into four classes: micro‑trucks, light trucks, medium trucks, and heavy trucks.

Micro-truck: Total mass < 1.8 Ton.

Light truck: 1.8 ton < total mass ≤ 6 Ton.

China–Qatar: 6 ton < total mass ≤ 14 ton.

Heavy-duty truck: Gross vehicle mass > 14 Ton.

Blue license plate description:

For vehicles with a length less than 6000mm and the total mass is less than 4500kg Light-duty cargo vehicles with blue license plates, which are permitted to operate within urban areas, are what we commonly refer to as “blue‑plate light trucks.”

02 Classified by carbody structure

Due to the varying characteristics of the goods being transported, truck (trailer) bodies exhibit significant diversity. Generally speaking, they can be categorized into stake‑type, side‑board type, (low) flatbed type, dump trucks, box‑type, container carriers, tankers, and center‑axle trailers.

1. Van

Box trucks, also known as van trucks, are primarily used for fully enclosed transportation of various goods; certain specialized models can even carry hazardous chemicals. These vehicles offer numerous advantages, including maneuverability, ease of operation, high efficiency, large cargo capacity, protection of goods from rain, optimal space utilization, and enhanced safety and reliability.

2. Box-type / High-sided truck

High-sided trucks are primarily used for specialized cargo transport in enclosed, lattice‑type bodies. The lattice‑style side rails can be raised or lowered, partially removed, or fully detached, offering features such as safety, reliability, and practical convenience.

3. Flatbed truck

Flatbed trucks are a common type of vehicle in road transportation, available in two main configurations: flatbeds and low‑deck models. They are particularly well suited for loading and unloading large, heavy cargo. These vehicles offer substantial payload capacity, robust safety and durability, and high efficiency in horizontal movement.

4. Container truck

It refers to a specialized transport vehicle designed to carry detachable containers. By using containers for transshipment, goods can be loaded directly at the shipper’s warehouse and delivered to the consignee’s warehouse for unloading, without the need to remove the cargo from the container and repackage it.

5. Tractor truck

A tractor unit is a large truck or semi-trailer in which the cab and the trailer are connected by a coupling device.

The vehicle at the front that provides driving power is called a tractor unit, while the vehicle at the rear without its own traction is called a trailer; the trailer is towed by the tractor unit.

6. Trailer

A trailer is a vehicle that lacks its own propulsion and is towed by a powered locomotive. It offers advantages such as speed, maneuverability, flexibility, and safety, enabling convenient segment‑level transportation.

Trailers are classified, according to their method of connection to the towing vehicle, into full trailers and semi‑trailers.

03 By cab type

They can be classified into four types: long-nose, short-nose, flat-nose, and offset. In a flat-nose truck, the engine is located directly beneath the cab; in a short-nose truck, about half of the engine lies under the cab; and in a long-nose truck, the engine is positioned ahead of the cab.

04 By drive axle

We often hear that trucks have… 4x2、6x2、6x4 Expressions like this: the first number indicates the total number of wheels, while the second number denotes the number of driven wheels. For example, 4x2 , indicating that the truck has 4 One wheelset (with two axles, i.e., a twin-axle bogie), among which there is… 2 A single driven wheel (a single drive axle, i.e., a single-axle configuration). Similarly, 6*4 of the

There is a truck. 3 The root wheel axle, within which there is 2 One is the drive shaft.

Four front, eight rear / Explanation of “front four, back four”:

The so-called “Front four, rear eight” refers to a four-axle vehicle with a dual‑axle front. 4 One wheel, and the rear eight are also dual axles, with each axle having a left and right side. 2 One wheel, each bridge 4 A wheel, that is… 8 A single-wheel drive. “Front four, rear four” refers to a three-axle vehicle with a dual front axle. 4 The wheel is followed by a single axle, with one on each side of the axle. 2 One wheel, in total 4 Wheel.

05 By carriage length

Several models that we often hear about, such as 4 rice 2、9 rice 6、13 rice 5 All of these refer to the length of the car body.

The specifications and payload capacities of several common vehicle models are as follows:

06 By energy consumption category

At present, trucks still rely on diesel engines as their primary power source, while some light-duty trucks utilize alternative energy sources such as gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, and electricity. According to the China Motor Vehicle Environmental Management Annual Report, 2017 Annual truck stock 2341 ten thousand vehicles, including the number of diesel vehicles in circulation 1690.9 ten thousand vehicles, accounting for 72.2% 。

07 By Emissions

According to the emission standard stages, they are classified as China Stage II, China Stage III, China Stage II, China Stage IV, China Stage V, and China… VI and above. At present, diesel trucks meeting National Emission Standard II or earlier are… 35 Ten thousand vehicles, diesel trucks meeting Standard III 841.2 Ten thousand diesel trucks meeting National IV emission standards 716.8 Ten thousand vehicles—diesel trucks meeting China V or higher emission standards. 97.9 Ten thousand vehicles. Since 2019 year 7 month 1 Effective from today, key regions, the Pearl River Delta, and the Chengdu–Chongqing region will implement the China VI vehicle emission standards ahead of schedule.