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The transportation industry is key for the successful movement of goods and services, with lorries being an essential cog in this vast wheel. But what is a ‘lorry’ or, rather, which vehicles can be classified as such? A lorry typically refers to large motor-driven trucks that are capable of transporting heavy items from one place to another, ensuring efficiency and reliable delivery across different locations.
Join us on a journey to discover the contribution of lorries throughout history and how their role has grown in the transportation world. We’ll help you understand what separates lorries from other vehicles such as trucks, as well as analyse how modern-day technology is transforming these timeless workhorses into cutting-edge tools.
Table Of Contents
What Is A Lorry?
A lorry is a large motor vehicle designed to carry heavy loads and materials. It comes in an impressive array of sizes, shapes and specialised capabilities to meet any transportation task imaginable. Lorries are essential for the functioning of different industries, including construction, logistics and agriculture.
Lorries are characterised by their robust and durable construction as well as their high carrying capacities, which allow them to transport large quantities of goods over long distances. They have a range of features and specifications, including different engine sizes and types, load capacities and fuel types, depending on the specific transportation requirements.
The Term’s Origin
At the beginning of transportation services, people used a flat load-carrying surface pulled by animals to carry heavy loads. This vehicle, regarded as a waggon, was the oldest ancestor of today’s lorries. In 1769, Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, a French military engineer, created a large motor truck powered by steam. Other engineers improved on his prototype, and by 1770, the vehicle was capable of carrying goods up to four tonnes at a speed of 4 km/hr.
By 1900, other manufacturers had created various vehicles with capacities ranging from one to three tonnes that moved at a faster pace. At that point, people called them lurries, coined from the verb ‘to lurry’, which means to lug or pull a heavy load. However, in the 20th century, most people began to use the word ‘lorry’ to refer to this large machine.
Why Do Some People Think There Is A Difference Between A Truck And A Lorry?
Some people think there is a difference between a truck and a lorry due to subtle distinctions in how the words are used in different regions. The use of the terms ‘lorry’ and ‘truck’ can be pretty confusing because most people use them interchangeably. The word ‘truck’ is more common in American English, while more people in the UK refer to it as a ‘lorry’.
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries describes a lorry as a large motor vehicle for carrying heavy goods, people, animals and alike by road.
The terms ‘lorry’ and ‘truck’ are often used interchangeably depending on the region. Many would, however, say that all lorries are trucks, though not every truck would necessarily qualify as a lorry. According to them, trucks are large vehicles that can move heavy goods (more than 3.5 tonnes), whereas lorries are simply vehicles with a flat platform for moving cargo. For example, a curtain-sider lorry is also called a curtain-side truck.
Check out our truck vs lorry article for a detailed explanation of the differences between these two terms.
HGV Vs LGV Vehicles
HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) and LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) mean the same as both refer to hefty commercial transport vehicles that weigh over 3.5 tonnes with passengers, cargo and fuel taken into account. The use of these terms varies based on region and among insurance companies.
Things can get confusing since LGV also stands for ‘light goods vehicles’, commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes in gross weight, used to transport smaller loads. You can drive light goods vehicles with a standard driver’s licence (B category). To drive HGVs, you must take additional tests and obtain relevant categories (C1 and further) and a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) if you will drive it for commercial purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do People Call It A Lorry?
People call it a lorry because it is a large and heavy vehicle used for transporting goods. Many believe that the term ‘lorry’ was coined out of ‘lurry’, which was used to refer to a low, four-wheeled cart used for transporting goods in the 18th century. In British English, the term ‘lorry’ refers to a large goods vehicle, whereas ‘truck’ is more commonly used in the United States.
What Is A Lorry Driver?
A lorry driver is a person who operates a large, heavy vehicle used for transporting goods. The driver is responsible for driving the vehicle safely and efficiently, often over long distances and varying terrain. They may also be required to load and unload items from the back of a lorry, as well as ensure that the goods being transported are properly secured.
What Is The Difference Between A Truck And A Lorry?
The difference between a truck and a lorry is how people use these terms in various regions. In the United States, the term ‘truck’ refers to a wide range of large motor vehicles used for transporting goods, including pickup trucks, delivery trucks and tractor-trailers.
In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, the term ‘lorry’ is more commonly used to refer to large goods vehicles with a rigid chassis and a weight of more than 3.5 tonnes. While lorries are great for bulky goods, when it comes to the transportation of heavy machinery, your only option may be a low-loader trailer.
What Do British People Call 18-Wheelers?
British people call 18-wheelers articulated lorries or simply ‘artics’. In British English, large goods vehicles are classified by their weight and number of axles, with terms such as ‘rigid lorry’ or ‘heavy goods vehicle (HGV)’ being used to describe vehicles with a weight of more than 3.5 tonnes and multiple axles.
In What Countries Do They Say A Lorry?
The countries where they say ‘a lorry’ are the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. In other nations, like the United States, South Africa and Canada, the majority of people refer to such a vehicle as a ‘truck.’ It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that regional and cultural influences can have a significant impact on language preferences.
Conclusion
Answering the question ‘What is a lorry?’ helps you understand how important these vehicles are in our daily lives. Without lorries, retail businesses would grind to a halt, and economic activity would suffer greatly. Although people use different names for these vehicles across regions, their importance remains undeniable and cannot be underestimated.
