How to Choose a Truck for Construction, Delivery or Cold Storage

Construction sites demand durable trucks that can handle rough terrain, heavy loads and frequent loading. The right truck for construction depends on what you carry and where you deliver.

• Dropside trucks are the most popular choice for construction — sides open for easy loading of bricks, sand, timber and building materials.
• Tipper bodies are ideal for sand, gravel, rubble and loose materials that need tipping discharge.
• Chassis cab gives you the flexibility to mount a custom body for your specific construction needs.
• Look for reinforced suspension, heavy-duty tyres and underbody protection for site work.
• Consider 4x4 or all-wheel-drive options if your sites have poor road access.

Construction trucks typically need higher payload capacity (5–12 tons) and durable bodies that withstand daily loading.

Delivery trucks need easy loading, weather protection and fuel efficiency. The right body type saves time on every route.

• Box body trucks are the standard for furniture, retail goods, parcels and protected cargo. Lockable and weatherproof.
• Curtain side trucks are ideal for palletised goods that need fast forklift loading from the side.
• Refrigerated box bodies for food and perishable delivery — essential for cold chain logistics.
• Tail lifts are valuable for deliveries where no loading dock is available.
• Automatic transmissions can reduce driver fatigue on urban delivery routes.

Delivery trucks typically operate in the 1–8 ton payload range with a focus on fuel economy and manoeuvrability in urban areas.

Refrigerated transport requires specialised equipment. The truck body and refrigeration unit must maintain consistent temperatures for food safety and compliance.

• Refrigerated box body — fully insulated with a built-in fridge/freezer unit. Suitable for frozen, chilled and ambient goods.
• Check the fridge unit type: rear-mount, under-mount or nose-mount. Each has different maintenance requirements.
• Verify temperature range capability — some units only cool to -5°C while others reach -20°C for frozen goods.
• Inspect insulation panel condition, door seals and internal floor drainage.
• Check the fridge unit service history — compressor, condenser and refrigerant levels should be documented.

See our truck body types guide for more details on refrigerated bodies.