Light haulage and tail-lift delivery by van
Light haulage for loads too big for a parcel network and too small to justify a lorry: part loads, trade supplies, equipment and stock moved direct in vans up to a 3.5-tonne Luton with tail lift, anywhere in mainland UK.
- Vans up to 3.5 t, Luton with tail lift
- Part loads moved direct, same day
- Honest advice on payload limits
Freight that sits between a parcel and a lorry
A lot of commercial freight falls into an awkward gap. It is too heavy, bulky or numerous for a parcel network, which wants individual boxes under strict weight limits. It is also too small to fill a lorry, and a part-load on a groupage service may wait a day or two for space and pass through a cross-dock on the way.
Light haulage fills that gap. You get a van matched to the freight, anything from an SWB up to a tail-lift Luton, and it runs straight from the loading point to the drop. The load is ours alone for the trip, so it is not co-loaded with other customers' freight or transferred between vehicles. For many businesses that makes it a practical freight delivery service for urgent or awkward part loads, and we take bookings around the clock, weekends and bank holidays included.
What we move
We move part loads and bulky freight that fit a van up to a tail-lift Luton: trade and building supplies, machinery and equipment, stock transfers between sites, and exhibition and event loads. Each needs a dedicated van rather than a parcel network, and the weight usually decides which size we send.
Trade and building supplies
Plasterboard, timber lengths, pipe and fittings, kitchen units, sanitaryware, tools and fixings. A plumber's merchant sending a boiler and a cylinder to a job in Milton Keynes, or a contractor who needs a missing order of doors on site before the joiners arrive, are typical jobs. Our construction courier page covers site deliveries and booking-in in more detail.
Machinery and equipment
Compressors, generators, welding sets, workshop machines, catering equipment and hire tools. A tail-lift Luton makes it practical to move a heavy item without a forklift at both ends, provided it sits within the lift's rating. For engineering firms and production sites, our page on manufacturing and engineering deliveries explains how urgent parts runs work.
Stock transfers
Moving stock between a warehouse and a shop, between two branches, or from a supplier to a fulfilment centre that needs it today. Cages, boxed stock and loose cartons all travel well in a Luton.
Exhibition and event loads
Stands, display panels, flight cases, furniture and AV kit going to a venue for build-up, then back again after the show. Venues often run timed delivery slots, so tell us the slot and the access route for vans.
Payload versus floor space
Every van has two limits, and the one that matters depends on what you are moving. Light, bulky loads such as display stands or packaging run out of floor space first. Dense loads such as tiles, paper, metal stock or bagged aggregates hit the payload limit with much of the floor still empty.
The 3.5-tonne label on a van refers to its maximum permitted weight with everything aboard. Take off the vehicle itself, the driver and the fuel, and the goods allowance is much lower. Because a Luton's box body is heavy, it carries only about a tonne, which is often less than a long-wheelbase panel van even though the Luton has more room.
Here is how that plays out for typical light haulage loads:
| Type of load | Likely to run out of | Van that usually suits | Rough goods weight it allows |
|---|---|---|---|
| A generator, a compressor or two pallets of fixings | weight | SWB van | 800 kg to a tonne |
| A mixed trade order of boxed fittings and sanitaryware | either, depending on the mix | MWB van | 1,000 to 1,200 kg |
| Timber lengths, copper pipe, heavier part loads | weight, and length | LWB van | 1,100 to 1,300 kg |
| Cages of stock, display stands, a workshop machine on the lift | space for light goods, weight for dense ones | Luton with tail lift | about 1,000 kg |
All of these are typical values for the class of van, not promises for every model, and we check the actual vehicle when you book. Our guide to van sizes gives the load dimensions, and if your freight is on pallets, this pallet-count explainer is worth a look.
Give us weights, not just dimensions
A load list with an approximate weight per item lets us choose the right van first time. Delivery notes, supplier specifications and the weight printed on packaging are all good sources. If in doubt, round up.
Tail-lift delivery
A tail lift is a powered platform at the back of the Luton that lowers to the ground, takes the load, and raises it level with the van floor. It removes the need for a loading dock or forklift at sites that do not have one, which is why tail-lift delivery is so often requested for shops, schools, small workshops and homes.
Plan on a lift capacity of roughly 500 kg, and remember that counts everything standing on the platform, the pallet truck included. A 400 kg generator on a pallet goes up easily; a 650 kg machine does not, however much payload the van has left, and needs a forklift or loading bay instead.
For the lift to work safely the van needs firm, level ground behind it and room to lower the platform. Gravel, grass, a steep drive or a camber that tilts the platform all cause problems. Something also has to move the goods on and off the platform, usually a pallet truck or a hand trolley, so tell us what is available at each end. Pallet-specific advice is on our pallet delivery page.
Get a quote for this jobor call 020 4525 2039, any time
Loading and securing a part load
Part loads shift more than full ones, because there is empty floor for goods to slide into. The driver secures each load with ratchet straps to the van's tie-down points and load bars across the body, keeps heavy items low and towards the front, and blankets anything with a finish that could mark. Loose cartons travel better shrink-wrapped onto a pallet or packed into a cage than stacked by hand, so palletise where you can.
What we do not carry
We do not run lorries of 7.5 tonnes or more, offer HIAB or crane loading, carry hazardous goods under ADR, or do household removals. Our largest vehicle is a Luton van, so anything heavier or bigger needs a haulier with larger vehicles. Being clear about limits saves everyone time. In more detail:
- Lorries of 7.5 tonnes or more. Our largest vehicle is a Luton van. Loads above its payload or size need a haulier with heavier vehicles.
- HIAB or crane loading. We cannot lift goods off a vehicle onto a roof, over a wall or into a basement. Site deliveries need to be unloaded at ground level.
- Hazardous goods under ADR. Flammable, corrosive, toxic or otherwise regulated dangerous goods are not carried.
- Removals. We move goods and part loads, not the contents of a home.
When a load is borderline, we will say so at the quote stage. Sometimes splitting it across two vans is the answer; sometimes it genuinely needs a lorry, and you are better off knowing before anything is booked.
Planning a light haulage job
- Send the load list
Items, quantities, dimensions and approximate weights, plus whether anything is on pallets.
- Describe both ends
Loading bay, forklift, pallet truck or none; ground surface; gate times and site contacts.
- Agree the vehicle and price
We pick the van for the weight and size you have described and give you one fixed figure covering the mileage, vehicle, time of day and any extras.
- Collection and direct drive
At collection everything is strapped down and braced with load bars, and the van heads straight for the delivery site.
- Delivery and signature
The goods are unloaded and signed for, and you receive the proof of delivery.
You can follow the job as it runs, and goods in transit insurance comes with every booking. Our terms set out the cover limits and exclusions, so give us the value of the load when booking; we will then confirm the cover or set up extra protection for expensive equipment. If the same freight moves between the same sites every week, a regular scheduled run may suit you better, and approved firms can open a business account and pay on invoice. For single bulky items such as furniture or display units, our large item courier page is the better starting point.
FAQ
Common questions
What counts as light haulage?
In the UK the term usually means moving goods in vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross weight, which can be driven on a standard car licence. In practice that is anything from a single crate in an SWB van to a full Luton load of around 1,000 kg. Heavier freight, or loads that need a 7.5-tonne or larger lorry, falls into general haulage, which we do not offer.
How heavy can a tail-lift delivery be?
Two limits apply. The tail lift on our Luton vans is typically rated to about 500 kg per lift, including any pallet truck, so a single heavier item needs a forklift or loading bay. The whole load must also stay within the van's payload, typically around 1,000 kg. Exact ratings depend on the vehicle, and we confirm them when you book.
Do you supply a pallet truck for tail-lift jobs?
Let us know what handling kit is on hand at the collection and delivery sites, and we can check whether the van can bring a pallet truck along. A tail lift on its own only raises and lowers goods; something still has to move a pallet on and off the platform. Firm, level ground behind the van is needed in either case.
Can you take building materials to a site?
Yes, within payload. Boards, timber, pipe, sanitaryware, tools and fixings are all regular loads. Dense materials such as bagged cement, tiles or blocks reach a van's weight limit long before its floor is full, so give us quantities and weights. Tell us about site access, gate times and the site contact, and whether the delivery needs booking in.
Do you carry hazardous goods?
No. We do not carry dangerous goods that fall under ADR, such as flammable liquids, gas cylinders, certain batteries shipped in quantity or corrosive chemicals. If you are not sure how a product is classified, section 14 of its safety data sheet gives the transport information, or your supplier can tell you; raise it with us before you book. Undeclared hazardous goods cannot be loaded when the driver arrives.
Can one van collect from several suppliers and deliver to one site?
Yes. A run that collects from two or three trade counters and delivers everything to one site is a common booking. Give us each collection address, what is being collected there and roughly how much it weighs, so the van has the payload for the combined load. For deliveries to several addresses, see our multi-drop courier service.
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