Free tool

Which truck do I need?

Enter weight and volume to get the smallest standard truck that carries it, and how full it will be.

Enter the weight and volume of your load, and this free Safe & Secure Logistics sizer finds the smallest standard Indian truck that carries it, from a Tata Ace to a 32 ft multi axle container and a 40 ft trailer. It shows typical dimensions, payloads and how full the truck will be.

Your truck appears here. Without JavaScript, use the table below.

Standard Indian goods vehicles

Typical market figures. Legal payload is set by each vehicle’s registered GVW.
Vehicle	Body	Size (ft)	Payload (t)	Volume (cft)
Mini truck (Tata Ace class)	Open/closed, 7 ft	7 × 4.8 × 4.5	0.75 to 1	150
Pickup, 8 to 9 ft	Open/closed	8.5 × 5.2 × 5	1.25 to 1.7	220
14 ft LCV (407 class)	Closed or open	14 × 6 × 6	2.5 to 4	500
17 ft MCV (1109 class)	Closed or open	17 × 6.5 × 7	5 to 7	770
19 ft MCV	Closed or open	19 × 7 × 7	7 to 9	930
20 ft container truck	Closed container	20 × 8 × 8	6 to 7	1,280
22 ft open body	Open, 6-wheel	22 × 7.5	9 to 10	n/a
32 ft container, single axle (SXL) The volume truck: light, bulky cargo	Closed container	32 × 8 × 8	7 to 9	2,048
32 ft container, multi axle (MXL) Same box, heavier payload	Closed container	32 × 8 × 8	14 to 18	2,048
32 ft high-side (JCB) body	Open, high sides	32 × 8	18 to 25	n/a
32 ft reefer, multi axle Inside dimensions smaller than a dry box (insulation)	Refrigerated box	31 × 7.6 × 7.6	14 to 16	1,790
40 ft flatbed trailer Steel, machinery, ISO containers	Flatbed, tractor-trailer	40 × 8	25 to 32	n/a

How it works

The method, and its limits

The sizer walks the table from the smallest closed body upward and picks the first vehicle whose lower-end payload covers your weight and whose volume, at 85% usable, covers your cubic feet. Open bodies and trailers are suggested only when you give no volume (loose or heavy cargo).

Dimensions and payloads are typical market figures for Indian bodies and vary by body builder. The legal limit is the registered GVW on the vehicle’s RC, within MoRTH’s axle-load notification; overall width and height are capped by CMVR Rule 93 (2.6 m wide; 3.8 m high for most goods vehicles).

Sources

Where the figures come from

Figures are general information, checked on 29 Sep 2026. Rules change; follow the source before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Which truck do I need for 5 tonnes?

By weight alone, a 17 ft MCV (1109 class) typically carries 5 to 7 tonnes. If the goods are bulky, volume decides: check the cubic feet as well.

What is the difference between a 32 ft SXL and MXL?

Same 32 ft closed box. A single-axle (SXL) truck typically carries about 7 to 9 tonnes and suits light, bulky cargo; a multi-axle (MXL) carries about 14 to 18 tonnes for denser loads.

How many cubic feet is a 32 ft container?

About 2,048 cft (32 × 8 × 8 ft) gross. Plan on using roughly 85% of it once packing gaps are allowed for.

Who decides the legal payload?

The vehicle’s registered gross vehicle weight on its RC, within the axle-load limits notified by MoRTH. Typical payloads here are market figures, not legal limits.

Should I book a whole truck or a part-load?

Under about 3 tonnes, a part-load is usually better value unless the goods are bulky or urgent. A part-load is charged per kg on chargeable weight.

What truck carries machinery?

Flatbed trailers for most machines; semi-low-bed or low-bed trailers when the machine is tall. Anything over legal dimensions needs ODC permission.

What truck do I need for frozen goods?

A reefer. Safe & Secure Logistics runs long-haul 32 ft multi-axle reefers; inside space is smaller than a dry box because of insulation.

Can I trust these dimensions?

They are typical market figures and vary by body builder. Our desk confirms the exact vehicle for your load before placement.

Want an exact price?

Our desk confirms your lane, vehicle and price, usually within minutes.

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