5 Most Popular Types of Delivery Trucks for Businesses

Selecting the right type of delivery truck can directly impact your operational overhead, route efficiency, and service reliability. Whether you’re handling last-mile deliveries or heavy industrial hauling, your fleet choice dictates how effectively you can scale to meet market demands.

From specialized refrigerated units and box trucks to dropside models and flatbeds, there are various options that can align with your unique business requirements.

The Different Types of Delivery Trucks

For the efficient transport of your goods, consider these common types of delivery trucks used by businesses in Singapore:

1. Refrigerated or Freezer Trucks

Maintaining a strict cold chain is critical when transporting goods by truck, particularly for temperature-sensitive inventory. To ensure that your products stay fresh while upholding safety standards, consider using refrigerated trucks.

Also known as reefer units, these specialized types of trucks feature integrated cooling systems and insulated walls to prevent heat transfer and protect the integrity of the payload.

Moreover, these vehicles act as mobile, climate-controlled environments that maintain constant internal temperature regardless of the heat outside. They are also the ideal choice for businesses transporting perishable items such as fresh seafood, dairy, and frozen foods, as well as temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.

One example here is the EC31 freezer truck, which combines a robust 871 kg payload with a factory-fitted refrigerated unit. It also maintains a precise temperature range from -20°C to +12°C, ensuring optimal conditions for cargo transport across the island.

2. Box Trucks

Box trucks feature a distinct, cube-shaped cargo area that is completely enclosed and separate from the driver’s cab, providing maximum protection for your goods. This type of delivery truck has a secure design that’s essential for hauling high-value electronics, furniture, and retail apparel, as it shields inventory from both theft and Singapore’s frequent tropical downpours.

Furthermore, box trucks offer a versatile balance of storage volume and agility. Their maneuverable size allows drivers to navigate tight loading bays and residential streets with ease, making them the preferred choice for many local businesses handling daily “last-mile” logistics.

3. Dropside Trucks

For businesses that require frequent, rapid access to their payload, a dropside truck offers a highly functional solution. This type of delivery truck features sturdy side panels and a tailgate that can be hinged downward or removed entirely, creating an open platform for easy loading.

They are also widely used in logistics, especially within the construction and landscaping sectors, where transporting heavy pallets, timber, or bags of gravel is common. The ability to drop the sides allows for quick turnaround and forklift access from any angle.

For industries requiring even more capability, the Farizon H9E is engineered for heavy-duty tasks. As a leading electric commercial vehicle, the H9E can be a reliable partner for sectors needing high payload capacity, up to 4,085 kg, and an extended range of up to 324 km.

4. Flatbed Trucks

Flatbed trucks are characterized by their entirely open trailer bed, lacking a roof or fixed sides. This open-air design makes them the most versatile types of cargo trucks for hauling oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped equipment that cannot fit in a standard enclosed van.

Whether you are moving industrial machinery or large building supplies, the flatbed provides the necessary clearance and ease of access. Because they allow for crane loading from above or the side, they are a primary choice for transporting goods by truck in the manufacturing and engineering industries.

5. Dry Van

While similar in appearance to box trucks, dry vans are typically larger trailers designed to haul vast quantities of non-perishable freight. This type of delivery truck is completely enclosed to protect cargo from external elements such as rain and dust, though they do not offer temperature control.

Moreover, they are highly effective for moving bulk dry goods such as packaged snacks, consumer hardware, and textiles. At the same time, dry vans offer a cost-effective way to move large volumes of palletized inventory between warehouses. This ensures that general retail products remain clean and protected throughout the entire journey, supporting a more reliable supply chain.

Choosing the Right Delivery Truck for Your Business

Selecting among the different types of delivery vehicles requires a strategic assessment of your daily operations and long-term financial goals. To ensure you invest in a vehicle that truly supports your growth, review these factors:

• Payload Capacity: Ensure the truck can safely handle your maximum expected cargo weight, as overloading poses safety risks and increases wear. So, check if the vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) aligns with your heaviest hauls.
• Range and Efficiency: Evaluate how far the vehicle can travel on a single charge or tank. For urban logistics, electric trucks like the DFSK EC35 offer an ideal range for multiple delivery rounds across the island without needing a midday top-up.
• Operating Costs: Compare fuel vs. electric options for long-term savings. While internal combustion engines are familiar, EV commercial vehicles may provide lower maintenance and energy costs, helping you stay ahead as diesel registrations phase out.
• Cargo Type and Handling Needs: Assess whether your goods require specialized environments. For example, if you handle frozen food, a refrigerated unit is essential. On the other hand, bulky construction materials may require the open loading access of a flatbed or dropside model.

Finding Your Ideal Fleet Solution

The right type of truck for your business ultimately depends on the nature of your deliveries, your average cargo volume, and the overall scale of your operations. Whether you’re navigating the tight streets of the CBD with a compact van or moving heavy machinery across the island, selecting a vehicle that balances performance with cost-efficiency is crucial to your long-term success.

As Singapore moves toward a greener future, now is the perfect time to future-proof your logistics and buy electric vehicles for your business.

From the versatile SRM T3EV to specialized electric trucks like the DFSK EC31 freezer truck, our lineup is engineered to meet the diverse needs of the local logistics landscape.

Explore Hong Seh Motors’ extensive range of EV commercial vehicles today to reduce your carbon footprint and optimize your operational costs.