What is the typical lead time for a same day booking?

For most major UK cities like Birmingham and London, we can typically have a vehicle on site within 60 minutes of booking confirmation.

Do you provide tracking for B2B shipments?

Yes, we utilize advanced tracking systems and proactive communication to ensure you are informed of your package's status from pickup to delivery.

What are the dimensions of a 44 tonne lorry in the UK?

A UK articulated lorry can be up to 16.5 m long overall and 2.55 m wide, and usually stands around 4 m high, though there is no legal height limit. Our artic trailers have a load space 13.5 m long, 2.4 m wide and 2.7 m high.

How much can a 44 ton lorry carry?

Our 44 tonne artics carry up to 24,000 kg. The 44 tonnes is the total gross weight of the tractor unit, trailer and load together.

How many pallets fit on an artic?

Our artic trailers take 26 euro pallets, within a payload of up to 24,000 kg.

Is an artic wagon the same as an articulated lorry?

Yes. Artic, artic wagon, articulated lorry and 44 tonner all describe the same vehicle: a tractor unit pulling a separate trailer. The word is sometimes misspelled as arctic lorry.

What licence do you need to drive an artic lorry?

A Category C+E licence, often called HGV Class 1, plus a Driver CPC. Every artic we supply comes with a qualified, experienced driver.

Sonic Transport articulated lorry in branded curtain livery

Artic Lorry With Driver

Artic Lorry Hire With Driver, Same Day Delivery Across the UK

Item: Sonic Transport
Rating: 5
Author: Maria

44 tonne articulated lorries with 13.5 metre trailers and an experienced Category CE driver, for full loads and large scale freight. Collected within 60 minutes and delivered anywhere in the UK the same day.

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Collected within 60 minutes
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Pickup in 60 mins. Same Day Delivery Across the UK.

Prefer to talk? 0330 236 8313

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 artic lorry haulage company, moving full loads UK wide through a nationwide network of vetted vehicles. A 44 tonne artic carries up to 24,000 kg or 26 euro pallets in a 13.5 metre trailer, driven by HGV Class 1 drivers with Driver CPC. 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 artic lorry?

An artic lorry, short for articulated lorry and sometimes called an artic wagon, is a tractor unit that pulls a separate trailer, joined by a pivot so the vehicle bends in the middle when it turns. It is the largest standard goods vehicle on UK roads, running at up to 44 tonnes gross weight, and needs a Category C+E licence. Our artics have a load space 13.5 metres long, 2.4 metres wide and 2.7 metres high, carry up to 24,000 kg and take 26 euro pallets, making them the most efficient way to move a full load.

Our Artic Lorry at a glance
Load length	13.5 m
Load width	2.4 m
Load height	2.7 m
Payload	24,000 kg
Euro pallets	26
Gross vehicle weight	44,000 kg
Tail lift	Available on request
Driver licence	Category C+E (HGV Class 1)

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

What an artic lorry is typically used for

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

Full load trunking
Distribution centre to distribution centre moves across the UK.
Retail replenishment
Full trailers of stock for national chains and wholesalers.
Port and ADR freight
Palletised and dangerous goods to and from UK ports.
Steel and long materials
Steel sections and long loads on a flatbed trailer.

What an artic lorry cannot do

An artic cannot get into many town centre streets, small yards or sites with tight turns or weight limits, and it is rarely cost effective for loads under about 14 pallets.

Use instead:

18 tonne lorry for up to 14 pallets and tighter sites
oversized loads service for loads wider or longer than a standard trailer

Artic Lorry questions answered

An artic lorry, or articulated lorry, is a tractor unit pulling a separate trailer joined by a pivot. It runs at up to 44 tonnes and needs a Category C+E licence. Ours carry up to 24,000 kg and 26 euro pallets.

Ready to book an artic lorry?

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

0330 236 8313

Recent Artic Lorry Deliveries

Full loads and large scale freight we've moved for businesses across the UK

Artic trailer loaded with shrink wrapped pallets of cleaning supplies

30 October 2026

Our Customers Deliver to Trusted UK Brands

Artic lorry specifications

Available in curtainsider, box, flatbed and refrigerated configurations, our artics handle full loads, DC to DC trunking and point to point services across the full UK and European network.

Length: 13.5 m
Width: 2.4 m
Height: 2.7 m
Payload: 24,000 kg
Pallet capacity: 26 euro pallets
Tracking: Live GPS

When to choose an artic lorry

Full load DC to DC trunking across the UK
National chain retail replenishment
FMCG distribution and brewery full loads
Temperature controlled freight requiring a fridge trailer
Oversized or abnormal loads requiring a flatbed
ISO container movements on a skeletal trailer
Any movement above 14 pallets or 9,000 kg
European freight movements requiring cross border compliance

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.
ADRTrained drivers and equipment for moving dangerous goods.

ADR certified drivers and equipment are available for dangerous goods movements. See our ADR load service for details.

What an Articulated Lorry Brings to Your Freight Operation

The articulated lorry is the definitive heavy freight vehicle of the UK and European road network, and for good reason. With a gross vehicle weight of up to 44 tonnes, a payload of up to 24,000 kg and a load length of 13.5 metres, the artic offers a combination of payload and volume that no other road freight vehicle can match. A full curtainsider trailer accommodates up to 26 euro pallets. A refrigerated trailer maintains precise temperature across that entire load space for the full duration of a journey. A flatbed trailer carries oversized, crane offloaded or abnormal loads that no enclosed body could accommodate. For businesses moving freight at scale, whether that is full loads heading to a single destination or consolidated freight built around the trailer's full capacity, the articulated lorry is not one option among many. It is the only vehicle that does the job properly at that level of volume and weight.

The Skill and Experience Required to Operate an Artic Correctly

An articulated lorry is the most demanding vehicle on the road to operate professionally. A full Category C licence with CE entitlement, a current Driver CPC qualification and considerable practical experience are the baseline requirements, but they do not in themselves produce a driver capable of handling a 44 tonne combination confidently in the environments that commercial freight regularly demands. Reversing a 13.5 metre trailer into a busy distribution centre bay, navigating a tight industrial estate with a full load on board, managing the vehicle's considerable length and offtracking on roads that were not designed for vehicles of this size, and understanding how load distribution across the trailer affects handling and braking all require a level of competence that only genuine experience can build. Our drivers bring that experience to every artic movement we handle. They are professionals who operate these vehicles as a matter of routine, and that capability is what allows us to take on complex, high value and time critical artic jobs with confidence.

Full Trailer Configurations for Every Type of Commercial Freight

The articulated lorry is not a single solution. The trailer configuration is as important as the tractor unit itself, and matching the right trailer to the freight is a decision that has a direct bearing on how efficiently and safely the load can be collected, transported and delivered. A curtainsider offers fast, flexible side access that speeds up loading and unloading at busy distribution points and allows forklift access from either side simultaneously. A flatbed carries oversized machinery, steel structures, large prefabricated components and abnormal loads that cannot be enclosed. A refrigerated or temperature controlled trailer maintains precise conditions for food, pharmaceutical and medical freight across long distances and extended transit times. A box trailer provides security and weather protection for high value or sensitive loads. A skeletal trailer is built specifically for ISO container movements between ports, rail terminals and distribution centres. We understand those configurations, we know which one your freight requires and we ensure the right trailer is specified from the outset rather than making do with whatever is available.

Whatever the Load, We Have You Covered

Choose from our comprehensive fleet of specialist vehicles

Small Van

Dimensions 1.5 m x 1.2 m x 1.1 m

Payload 350 kg

Pallet Capacity 1 pallet

View Full Details

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.

Managing the Complexity That Artic Movements Involve

Articulated lorry movements involve a level of logistical complexity that smaller vehicle jobs do not. Collection and delivery points need to be assessed for artic access before the vehicle is dispatched, because a 13.5 metre trailer that cannot complete a turn or access a loading bay creates a problem that is both costly and time consuming to resolve on the day. Weight and axle load compliance needs to be considered when the load is being planned, because exceeding legal axle weights is a serious offence regardless of whether the gross vehicle weight limit has been reached. Driver hours regulations, tachograph requirements and rest period planning all need to be managed correctly across longer journeys, particularly on European movements where cross border compliance adds further layers of requirement. Our team manages all of that as a standard part of every artic booking. We assess the access, plan the load, ensure compliance throughout the journey and keep you informed at every stage, so that a vehicle and load of this scale arrives at its destination without the complications that poor planning invariably creates.

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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

Need an Artic for a Large Scale Commercial Freight Job?

Tell us your load, your trailer requirement, your destination and your timescale and our team will confirm the right configuration and plan the movement correctly.