What is the longest straight truck?
In today’s blog post, we will answer the following question: What is the longest straight truck? We will review the maximum allowed length for strain trucks in the US. We will also explain what a straight truck is and how to choose the best one for your business.
What is the longest straight truck?
The longest straight truck currently on the market doesn’t exceed 40 feet. Most straight trucks have a length between 10 to 26 feet and are 8 to 10 feet tall. These dimensions are well into the State vehicle length regulations, but what you should pay attention to is not to exceed the maximum length allowed if your straight truck is towing a trailer or semi-trailer.
See the table below for more information.
State vehicle length regulation
| State | Maximum length allowed |
| Alabama | 40′ 0″ |
| Alaska | 45′ 0″ |
| Alberta | 41′ 0″ |
| Arizona | 40′ 0″ |
| Arkansas | 40′ 0″ |
| Atlantic Provinces (Canada) | 41′ 0″ |
| British Columbia | 41′ 0″ |
| California | 40′ 0″ |
| Colorado | 45′ 0″ |
| Connecticut | 45′ 0″ |
| Delaware | 40′ 0″ |
| Florida | 40′ 0″ |
| Georgia | Not Specified |
| Hawaii | 45′ 0″ |
| Idaho | 45′ 0″ |
| Illinois | 42′ 0″ |
| Indiana | 40′ 0″ Max – Permanently mounted Equipment that does not carry cargo can exceed this limit by 5′ |
| Iowa | 45′ 0″ |
| Kansas | 45′ 0″ |
| Kentucky | 45′ 0″ |
| Louisiana | 45′ 0″ |
| Maine | 45′ 0″ |
| Manitoba | 41′ 0″ |
| Maryland | 40′ 0″ |
| Massachusetts | 40′ 0″ |
| Michigan | 40′ 0″ |
| Minnesota | 45′ 0″ |
| Mississippi | 40′ 0″ |
| Missouri | 45′ 0″ |
| Montana | 55′ 0″ |
| Nebraska | 40′ 0″ |
| Nevada | 40′ 0″ |
| New Hampshire | 45′ 0″ |
| New Jersey | 40′ 0″ |
| New Mexico | 40′ 0″ |
| New York | 40′ 0″ |
| North Carolina | 40′ 0″ |
| North Dakota | 50′ 0″ |
| Ohio | 50′ 0″ |
| Oklahoma | 45′ 0″ |
| Ontario | 41′ 0″ |
| Oregon | 40′ 0″ |
| Pennsylvania | 40′ 0″ |
| Quebec | 41′ 0″ |
| Rhode Island | 40′ 0″ |
| Saskatchewan | 41′ 0″ |
| South Carolina | 40′ 0″ |
| South Dakota | 45′ 0″ |
| Tennessee | 40′ 0″ |
| Texas | 45′ 0″ |
| Utah | 45′ 0″ |
| Vermont | 46′ 0″ |
| Virginia | 40′ 0″ |
| Washington | 40′ 0″ |
| West Virginia | 40′ 0″ |
| Wisconsin | 40′ 0″ |
| Wyoming | 60′ 0″ |
What is a straight truck?
Belonging to the heavy-duty family, the straight truck is a truck manufactured or modified to carry a container or heavy equipment on its chassis. Thus, unlike the truck tractor intended to “tow” its container, the straight truck is designed for it to “carry” its merchandise.
These straight trucks weighing at least 3.5 tonnes are made up of:
- a cabin, more or less large, with berth or not depending on the model. Straight trucks intended for long journeys are better equipped for driver comfort.
- a chassis on which the container (also called bodywork) will rest, allowing the goods to be transported. The chassis can be adapted to receive different types of bodywork and therefore different types of goods: for example tank body for liquids or even a refrigerated body for perishable foodstuffs.
- an engine powerful enough to drive the straight truck under heavy loads.
- axles, parts arranged transversely under the straight truck, allowing its weight to be supported. The maximum axle load is 13 tonnes and a straight truck can have up to 4 axles.
In addition to the specificities associated with each body, straight trucks can be improved with equipment to improve their comfort of use and their productivity.
- A crane – To unload or load a straight truck faster, regardless of its bodywork, an auxiliary crane can be attached to it at the front or at the rear. This removable equipment called “crane truck” should not be confused with the driving crane directly integrated into the body. It is mainly dumping trucks and flatbed trucks that are equipped with this auxiliary crane, the goods transported well withstanding this type of loading or unloading.
- A tailgate – The tail lift is a platform system located at the rear of the vehicle body that makes it easier to load and unload contents. This lifting platform, therefore, allows a significant gain in productivity, for example for heavy loads that no longer need to be docked.
This system requires the presence of a body on the chassis of the straight truck but also of an opening system from the rear of the vehicle to be put in place.
What are the dimensions of straight trucks?
In the table below we present to you the average dimensions of six models of straight trucks. As you will see, depending on the truck volume, the dimensions and the weight of the truck vary in size.
| Truck volume (ft3) | Height (ft) | Length (ft) | Width (ft) | GVWR (lbs) | Required licence to drive |
| 350 – 700 | 7.8 | 6 | 19.3 | 1985 | B |
| 700 – 810 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 23 | 2200 – 2645 | B |
| 810 – 1410 | 10.5 | 7.5 | 26 | 11,000 | C |
| 1756 | 12.5 | 8.2 | 32.8 | 22,000 | C |
| 2825 – 3530 | 12.5 | 8.5 | 60.7 | 60,000 | C |
What is the difference between a straight truck and a truck tractor?
The differences between a straight truck and a truck tractor are in the way they are built and thus the load they are able to carry :
- A straight truck could be defined as a “one-piece” truck. The box is connected to the cab and the rest of the truck’s components by the chassis, a structure of rigid stringers that hold all the vehicle’s components together.
A straight truck is, thus, made up of a single block so that the box where the goods are transported is attached to the cabin like the other components that make up the chassis.
- The truck tractor is made up of at least two rigid structures, joined by an articulation point, where one of which drags the whole truck. In addition, in truck tractor trucks the merchandise is only transported in the semi-trailer since the tractor has the exclusive function of towing the truck.
The truck tractor is in charge of pulling the whole truck. In a truck tractor, the stock travels in the semi-trailer since the only function of the tractor unit is to provide traction of movement.
The bottom line
Straight trucks are also known as box trucks, cubic trucks, or cubic vans. A straight truck can carry cargo on the same chassis as the cab and power unit. However, it can only be loaded from the back. They are commonly used to transport things like furniture and other small items.
There is a wide variety of straight trucks, from 20 feet in length to 40 feet, in order to provide the customer with their needs, either for the accessibility of loading and unloading or for the volume of goods to be transported.
All of them have lift doors, internal merchandise separators, refrigerators at controlled temperature, vehicle load capacity of maximum authorized mass (MAM) from 14 tons to 26 tons, 2 and 3 axle vehicles.
Do you have any questions or comments on the content? Let us know!
FAQ on What is the longest straight truck?
What are straight trucks?
Straight trucks are also known as box trucks, and they are vehicles with fixed trailers. They have all the amenities for passengers to travel comfortably. In addition, the rear box allows a greater load capacity than any trunk.
What are the different types of trucks?
Here are the different types of trucks:
- The tractor truck.
- The dump truck
- The refrigerated truck.
- The Ampliroll truck.
- The flatbed truck.
- The tank truck.
- The box truck.
How heavy is a straight truck?
A straight truck’s GVWR varies depending on the number of axles: a two-axle heavy truck is limited to 19 tonnes, while another with three axles is limited to 26 tonnes. Single vehicles with four or more axles, as well as articulated buses, have a maximum GVW of 32 tonnes.
What is the most reliable brand of truck?
The truck brands Daf, Scania and Volvo Trucks are considered the most reliable brands currently on the market.
What is the best brand of American trucks?
The motto of the Americans is “The bigger the truck, the better.” This can be seen perfectly reflected in the best American truck brands such as Kenworth, Mack, Freightliner, Western Star, Peterbilt or International Trucks.
