Sonic TransportSonic Transport
Sonic Transport 18 tonne box body rigid HGV
18 Tonne Lorry With Driver

18 Tonne Lorry Hire With Driver, Same Day Delivery Across the UK

Curtain side, box and tail lift rigids with an experienced Category C driver, for full pallet loads and bulk freight. Collected within 60 minutes and delivered anywhere in the UK the same day.

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  • Collected within 60 minutes
  • Guaranteed same day UK delivery

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Pickup in 60 mins. Same Day Delivery Across the UK.

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30,000+ Loads DeliveredCompleted movements60 Minute CollectionRapid responseDedicated VehiclesNo shared loadsSmall Van to ArticFull rangeUK & Europe CoverageNationwide reach24/7 Real PeopleAlways availableADR SpecialistsHazardous goodsTemperature ControlledClimate managedTrusted & CertifiedFully accreditedLive POD & TrackingReal time updates30,000+ Loads DeliveredCompleted movements60 Minute CollectionRapid responseDedicated VehiclesNo shared loadsSmall Van to ArticFull rangeUK & Europe CoverageNationwide reach24/7 Real PeopleAlways availableADR SpecialistsHazardous goodsTemperature ControlledClimate managedTrusted & CertifiedFully accreditedLive POD & TrackingReal time updates30,000+ Loads DeliveredCompleted movements60 Minute CollectionRapid responseDedicated VehiclesNo shared loadsSmall Van to ArticFull rangeUK & Europe CoverageNationwide reach24/7 Real PeopleAlways availableADR SpecialistsHazardous goodsTemperature ControlledClimate managedTrusted & CertifiedFully accreditedLive POD & TrackingReal time updates

Sonic Transport is a Birmingham based 18 tonne lorry delivery company, moving business freight UK wide through a nationwide network of vetted vehicles. An 18 tonne rigid carries up to 9,000 kg or 14 pallets in a 7.3 metre load space, with an optional tail lift. Loads are collected within 60 minutes and delivered the same day anywhere in the UK, guaranteed. Get a quote in 5 minutes by phone or through the online quote form.

The plain answer

What is an 18 tonne lorry?

An 18 tonne lorry is a two axle rigid HGV, meaning the cab and body are one fixed vehicle, with a maximum gross weight of 18,000 kg. It is one of the most common rigid trucks on UK roads and needs a Category C licence. Ours have a load space 7.3 metres long, 2.4 metres wide and 2.5 metres high, carry up to 9,000 kg or 14 euro pallets, and are available as curtainsiders or flatbeds, with a tail lift or truck mounted forklift. It carries a serious load yet still reaches sites an artic cannot.

Our 18 Tonne Lorry at a glance
Load length7.3 m
Load width2.4 m
Load height2.5 m
Payload9,000 kg
Euro pallets14
Gross vehicle weight18,000 kg
Tail liftYes, optional, 1,500 kg lift
Driver licenceCategory C (HGV Class 2)

Load space measured inside the vehicle. Payload is the weight of goods it can carry.

What an 18 tonne lorry is typically used for

Real examples of the jobs we send this vehicle on every week.

  • Retail and wholesale pallet loads

    Full rigid loads into distribution centres and stores.

  • Construction deliveries

    Materials, racking and machinery to sites, with a Moffett for offloading.

  • Warehouse stock transfers

    High volume moves between sites in one trip.

  • Manufacturing supplies

    Raw materials and finished goods between factories and customers.

What an 18 tonne lorry cannot do

An 18 tonne lorry cannot carry more than 9,000 kg, more than 14 euro pallets, or lengths beyond about 7.3 metres. For full trailer loads you need an artic.

Use instead:

18 Tonne Lorry questions answered

An 18 tonne vehicle is a two axle rigid lorry with a maximum gross weight of 18,000 kg. It needs a Category C licence and is one of the most common rigid HGVs in the UK.

Ready to book an 18 tonne lorry?

Tell us what you are moving and we will confirm the right vehicle and price in minutes.

0330 236 8313

Recent 18 Tonne Lorry Deliveries

Full pallet loads and bulk freight we've moved for businesses across the UK

Galvanised rectangular HVAC duct sections and fittings stacked on a yard floor ready for loading onto the 18T artic
Manufacturing

Galvanised HVAC Ductwork Loaded onto an 18T Artic for a Full Day Delivery

View Delivery
Palletised ADR consignment of shrink wrapped and boxed automotive goods secured on a curtain side trailer for delivery to Tilbury Docks
West Midlands to Tilbury

Palletised ADR Consignment Moved from the West Midlands to Tilbury Docks by Curtain Side Trailer

View Delivery
Curtain side artic trailer with strapped shrink wrapped pallets partially visible through open curtain, parked on concrete yard during Midlands palletised delivery
Midlands

Midlands Curtain Side Artic Pallet Delivery

View Delivery
View All Our Work

Our Customers Deliver to Trusted UK Brands

Hyundai Mobis
Burger King
Sainsbury's
Screwfix
Hilton
Toolstation
Popeyes
Pret A Manger
18 tonne box body rigid HGV

18 tonne lorry specifications

Our 18 tonne rigids offer serious carrying capacity while still fitting most standard loading bays. The right balance of capacity and accessibility for high volume commercial freight.

Length
7.3 m
Width
2.4 m
Height
2.5 m
Payload
9,000 kg
Pallet capacity
14 euro pallets
Tail lift
1,500 kg (optional)

When to choose an 18 tonne

  • Full pallet loads to retail distribution centres
  • Bulk raw material deliveries to manufacturing sites
  • Large volume product runs for wholesale customers
  • Construction materials, machinery and racking systems
  • Catering equipment and hospitality supply
  • High volume stock transfers between warehouses

Optional Features

Extras available on request to match the specific demands of your load.

  • Tail LiftLowers goods to the ground where there is no loading dock.
  • FlatbedAn open deck for long or awkward loads lifted on by crane or forklift.
  • MoffettA truck mounted forklift that offloads pallets on site.

What an 18 Tonne Vehicle Actually Means for Your Business

An 18 tonne rigid is one of the most versatile and capable vehicles in commercial road freight. With a payload of up to 9,000 kg and a load space that can accommodate up to 14 euro pallets, it offers serious carrying capacity without the routing restrictions that come with a full articulated lorry. That distinction matters practically. An 18 tonne rigid can access a much wider range of delivery points, including urban distribution centres, industrial estates with tighter yard space and sites where a larger vehicle simply cannot manoeuvre. For businesses moving significant volumes of freight in a single journey, it represents a highly efficient balance between capacity and accessibility that smaller vehicles cannot match and larger vehicles sometimes cannot reach.

Experienced Drivers Who Understand These Vehicles

Driving an 18 tonne rigid is a different skill set from driving a van or a smaller commercial vehicle. It requires a Category C licence, a thorough understanding of the vehicle's dimensions and turning characteristics, and the experience to handle it confidently in loading bays, on narrow industrial roads and in the kind of tight delivery environments that commercial freight regularly demands. Our drivers bring that experience to every job. They know how to position the vehicle for efficient loading and unloading, how to manage weight distribution correctly and how to navigate the practical challenges that come with moving a large rigid through real commercial environments. That competence protects your freight, your delivery timescales and the safety of everyone involved.

The Right Vehicle for Pallets, Bulk Freight and High Volume Loads

The 18 tonne rigid is the vehicle of choice for a wide range of commercial freight applications. Full pallet loads heading to retail distribution centres, bulk raw material deliveries to manufacturing sites, large volume product runs for wholesale customers, construction materials, machinery, racking systems, catering equipment and high volume stock transfers between warehouses all sit comfortably within what this vehicle is designed to handle. If your business regularly moves freight at a volume or weight that smaller vehicles cannot accommodate efficiently, the 18 tonne rigid removes the need to split loads across multiple vehicles, which reduces cost, reduces complexity and gets your freight to its destination in a single, well managed movement.

Whatever the Load, We Have You Covered

Choose from our comprehensive fleet of specialist vehicles

Small Van

Small Van

Dimensions 1.5 m x 1.2 m x 1.1 m
Payload 350 kg
Pallet Capacity 1 pallet
View Full Details

Tail Lift, Curtainsider and Flatbed Configurations for Every Load Type

An 18 tonne vehicle is not a single solution. Depending on the nature of your freight, the right configuration makes a significant practical difference to how efficiently the job can be executed. A curtainsider offers fast side loading and unloading, which is particularly valuable in busy distribution environments where turnaround time matters. A tail lift removes the dependency on a loading dock or forklift at the delivery point, making it possible to deliver to sites that would otherwise be inaccessible for freight of this scale. A flatbed opens up the vehicle to oversized, awkwardly shaped or crane offloaded loads that an enclosed body cannot accommodate. We match the right configuration to the specific demands of your freight, so the vehicle works for your load rather than the other way around. See our tail lift delivery service.

Our Standards

Operational Excellence, Every Delivery

The benchmarks that set us apart, built on reliability, compliance and a commitment to your supply chain.

60 Minute Collection

Collections within the hour, so your urgent consignments are moving without delay.

Dedicated Vehicles

Your goods travel alone. No shared loads, no detours, no risk of damage in transit.

24/7 Real People

Speak to a real person day or night. Our UK based operations team is always available to support your deliveries.

Live POD & Tracking

Live GPS tracking and instant proof of delivery with photos, signatures and timestamps on every job.

ADR Specialists

Licensed ADR drivers and vehicles for hazardous goods, Classes 2 to 9, with Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser support.

30,000+ Loads Delivered

A proven track record of reliable, on time deliveries trusted by leading brands and SMEs across the UK.

For Regular Shippers

Open a credit account. Skip the booking friction.

Faster booking, agreed payment terms, and a dedicated account manager across every Sonic Transport service.

30 day account terms
Named account manager
One rate card across all services
Online application, no PDF
Apply in 4 minutes

UK & European Logistics

Connecting the UK. Every Day.

A nationwide transport network delivering reliable, flexible and cost effective logistics.

  • Approved Partner Network

    Vetted vehicles nationwide

  • Same & Next Day

    UK wide coverage

  • FORS Ready

    Compliant & trusted

  • UK Wide

    Network coverage

  • 8 Key Locations

    National connectivity

  • 60 Minutes

    Typical urgent collection

  • 24/7

    Operations support

Birmingham

Our HQ & logistics hub

London

Same day deliveries across the capital

Manchester

Northern distribution coverage

Leeds

Yorkshire & North East routes

Bristol

South West coverage

Glasgow

Haulage across Scotland

Belfast

Northern Ireland coverage

Dublin

Republic of Ireland services

Related Services

Need an 18 Tonne Vehicle for a Commercial Freight Job?

Tell us your load, your destination and your timescale and our team will confirm the right vehicle and configuration.

0330 236 8313

Frequently Asked Questions

An 18 tonne rigid offers serious carrying capacity while being able to access a much wider range of delivery points than a full artic. Urban distribution centres, industrial estates with tighter yard space and sites where a larger vehicle cannot manoeuvre are all accessible.