What is the biggest rigid lorry?
The biggest rigid lorry you can legally run on normal public roads in the UK (and broadly across the EU) is a four-axle, 32-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) truck—often an 8×4—up to 12.0 metres long and 2.55 metres wide. In practice, that means the largest “straight truck” is a heavy-duty tipper, mixer, refuse collector or box-bodied rigid built to the 32t limit, without a trailer attached.
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What “biggest” means for a rigid lorry
“Rigid” refers to a single, continuous vehicle chassis carrying its load—unlike an articulated lorry (tractor plus semi-trailer) or a drawbar combination (rigid plus a separate trailer). The largest rigid is therefore defined by the maximum legal size and weight a single-unit truck can have on public roads, which in the UK and EU is set by long-standing construction and use regulations.
Key UK/EU limits that define the largest rigid lorry
The following points outline the headline legal limits that determine how big a rigid lorry can be in the UK and, with small variations, across the EU.
- Maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW): 32 tonnes for a four-axle rigid (commonly 8×4)
- Typical axle-based limits: 18 tonnes (2 axles), 26 tonnes (3 axles), 32 tonnes (4 axles)
- Maximum overall length for a rigid vehicle: 12.0 metres
- Maximum width: 2.55 metres (2.60 metres for certain temperature-controlled bodies)
- Fuel type does not change size limits: diesel, gas, or electric versions must still comply with the same dimensions and weights
Taken together, these rules mean the largest road-legal rigid is a 12.0 m-long, 2.55 m-wide, four-axle truck plated at 32 tonnes GVW, regardless of brand or body style.
How that looks in the real world
On UK and EU roads, the biggest rigids are widely used in construction, municipal services and heavy distribution. They prioritise payload, durability and maneuverability in tight urban or site conditions where an articulated lorry may struggle.
Common 32-tonne rigid configurations and roles
Below are the most common ways operators specify and use 32t rigids at the maximum size and weight.
- 8×4 tipper: high-payload aggregates and muckaway for construction and civils
- 8×4 concrete mixer: transporting ready-mix concrete to sites
- 8×4 refuse collection vehicle (RCV): heavy municipal waste operations
- 8×2 or 8×4 box/curtainsider with tail-lift or rear-steer: urban and regional palletised distribution where access is tight
- 8×4 with crane (HIAB) or hookloader: building supplies, skips and multi-drop site work
These builds take full advantage of the legal maximums while balancing payload (often circa 18–22 tonnes depending on body/equipment) with turning ability and stability.
Notable examples and brands
There is no single “biggest” model by name—any mainstream manufacturer can supply a 32t, four-axle rigid within the same legal envelope. Typical examples include the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3240/3251, Volvo FM/FM X 8×4, Scania P/G/R-series 8×4, DAF CF/XF/XDC 8×4, MAN TGS 32-tonners, and Iveco X-Way/Trakker 8×4. Differences lie in chassis options, powertrains (including emerging battery-electric variants), cab designs and body integrations rather than outright size.
International variations
While the UK/EU framework is a good benchmark, “biggest rigid lorry” can vary by jurisdiction. For context, here’s how a few regions broadly compare.
- Australia: Rigid trucks are typically capped at 12.5 m length; mass limits depend on axles and schemes (GML/CML/HML), with four-axle rigids commonly around the 29–31 tonne range. Higher limits often involve adding trailers (no longer a rigid-only vehicle).
- United States: “Straight trucks” are governed by federal bridge formulas and state rules. Maximums depend on axle count and spacing rather than a single national GVW cap for rigid-only vehicles; the practical upper limit for a heavy straight truck often aligns with the 80,000 lb (36.3 t) federal gross cap for five axles, but details vary widely by state and configuration.
- EU member states: Broadly harmonised on 12.0 m length and 2.55 m width for rigids; height rules can differ by country, and some operational allowances (e.g., for alternative fuels or specialized bodies) may vary.
In short, the UK/EU’s 32-tonne, four-axle rigid is among the largest mainstream rigid trucks in regular road service globally, though exact limits and practical payloads differ by country.
How it compares with articulated lorries
Articulated lorries can be substantially bigger in capacity because they add a semi-trailer to the tractor unit. In the UK/EU, the common 44-tonne artic (and, in the UK, the rollout of longer semi-trailers up to 18.55 m) out-carries a 32t rigid. However, the rigid’s advantage is maneuverability, simpler site access, and suitability for urban work and off-road construction sites.
Bottom line
If you are asking what the biggest rigid lorry is, the practical and legal benchmark in the UK and most of Europe is a 32-tonne GVW, four-axle rigid (typically 8×4), up to 12.0 m long and 2.55 m wide. Beyond that size, you move into articulated or drawbar combinations rather than a single rigid vehicle.
Summary
The largest road-legal rigid lorry in the UK/EU is a four-axle (8×4) truck at 32 tonnes GVW, up to 12.0 metres in length and 2.55 metres in width. These vehicles—often tippers, mixers, refuse trucks, or heavy box-bodied rigids—maximise payload and stability while remaining more maneuverable than articulated lorries. Other regions set their own limits, but the UK/EU 32t rigid is among the biggest single-unit trucks in routine road use worldwide.
What is the biggest lorry in the world?
BelAZ 75710
What is the maximum length of a rigid lorry?
12 metres long
A Class 2 lorry, or Category C vehicle, is a rigid lorry with a fixed cab and cargo area. Depending on the axle configuration, these vehicles can be up to 12 metres long and weigh up to 32 tonnes.
What is the biggest construction truck?
Day. It can load over 450 tons and has two diesel engines under the hood with a total of 3,430 kW kemarovo in Siberia.
How much is the 797 haul truck?
approximately US$5,000,000
Although the price varies based on individual customer specifications, each 797 costs approximately US$5,000,000.
