Details to confirm before a truck or lorry quote
Describe the load by weight, dimensions and packing, whether palletised, loose or crated. Ask the recipient whether unloading will be by forklift, at a loading dock or by hand, and whether their site has height, length or weight limits for delivery vehicles. Provide driver licence details and say whether the hire is for business use, so the team can confirm driver and operator requirements with you before booking.
Picking a suitable truck
Let the job, not the headline size, guide your choice of truck. Ask about gross weight, body length, whether a tail lift is needed, load security, turning space and whether timed delivery windows affect which vehicle can be supplied. The range on offer includes the Ford Luton 3.5 Tonne Box with Tail Lift, 3.5 Tonne Tipper Transit Truck, 3.5 Tonne Recovery Truck, 7.5 Tonne Box Truck With Tail Lift and 7.5 Tonne Curtain Side Truck, depending on dates, driver details and availability. Make, model, transmission, seats, payload and licence position are all confirmed at quote stage, so treat the listed vehicles as a guide to the kind of hire available, not as a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Matching Handling Equipment to a Load
Which equipment does your load actually need? Before booking, it is worth listing what will be moved and noting any items that require particular handling, such as pallets, heavy machinery or long lengths of material. Record whether pallets are standard sizes, whether anything arrives on wheels, and whether any item has lifting points or unusual proportions worth describing. If you already own equipment such as pallet trucks or straps, note that too, since it may affect what you need from the hire itself. Think about the surfaces at both ends, noting gradients, gateways or yard conditions that could influence which equipment you bring. Share the list with the team when you enquire, and ask directly whether anything on it changes the body type they would suggest. Unanswered questions are best raised at this stage rather than on the day.
Preparing a Load Inventory
What exactly is going on the truck? A written inventory is one of the most useful things you can prepare before requesting a quote. Group items by category, such as furniture, boxed goods, pallets or site materials, and note the approximate number in each group. For anything oversized, record dimensions and any dismantled parts separately. If the load spans several collection points or delivery addresses, list them in order with contact names and phone numbers at each stop, since recipients often hold access details you will need. Mark which items are fragile or time-sensitive so they can be discussed with the team. Once the inventory is complete, send it with your route and dates, and ask any open questions about how the load maps onto the available body types.
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Last checks before booking
Before your hire is confirmed, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, driver requirements, mileage, insurance, delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. For truck hire, also establish whether the work involves pallet freight, site access, use of a tail lift, timed drops, long-distance mileage or any driver and operator checks before anything is agreed. A useful request gives the date, length of hire, rough route, delivery or pickup address, expected passengers or load, and any special requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.