Ask for a transport quote and one of the first questions back is usually about the vehicle — a 407, a 709, a 14-footer or a 22-ft truck. If you’re not in logistics day to day, those numbers don’t mean much on their own, but they drive your cost, your transit time and whether your goods travel safely. Here’s a plain-language guide to what each size actually means and how to pick the right one.
Why Vehicle Size Is the First Decision, Not an Afterthought
Every truck size carries a different running cost — fuel, tolls, driver allowance and turnaround time all scale with the vehicle. Book a truck too big for your load and you’re paying to move empty space. Book one too small and you either can’t fit the consignment or overload it, which is unsafe and can hold up the shipment at a checkpost. Getting the size right is where an experienced transporter saves you money before the truck even leaves the yard — it’s also the first thing to sort out whether you’re booking Full Truck Load or Part Load.
The Common Truck Sizes, Compared
| Truck Type | Typical Payload | Wheels | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 407 (mini truck) | Around 2.5 tonnes | 4-wheeler | Small consignments, city and last-mile delivery, narrow or congested roads |
| 709 | Around 4.5 tonnes | 6-wheeler | Mid-size regional loads, dealer-to-dealer runs, smaller FTL bookings |
| 14 ft truck | Around 6–7 tonnes | 6-wheeler | Larger part loads and mid-distance FTL, bulky but moderate-weight cargo |
| 22 ft truck | 10 tonnes and above | 10-wheeler / container body | Long-haul interstate FTL, high-volume or containerised freight |
These are typical ranges, not fixed numbers — actual payload depends on the specific vehicle model, body type and road permit. Treat the table as a starting point for the conversation, not a quote.
407: The Small, Manoeuvrable Option
The 407 is the smallest truck most transporters run — a compact 4-wheeler built for city streets, narrow lanes and last-mile delivery where a bigger vehicle simply can’t turn. It suits a handful of cartons up to a couple of tonnes: dealer restocking, small retail consignments, or the final leg of a delivery after a larger truck has covered the long distance. It’s rarely the right choice for a full interstate haul on its own — the running cost per tonne climbs fast over long distances.
709: The Mid-Size Workhorse
Step up to a 709 and you get roughly double the payload of a 407 on a 6-wheel chassis — still manageable on most state highways and smaller town roads, but with enough capacity for a proper regional shipment. This is a common choice for part loads that have grown too large to share economically, or for a full truck load where the consignment doesn’t justify anything bigger.
14 ft and 22 ft: The Long-Haul Trucks
Once you’re moving real tonnage across state lines — Kolkata to Siliguri, Sikkim, Bhutan or the North-East — a 14 ft or 22 ft truck is usually the economical choice. The 22 ft truck, often with a closed container body, is the standard for long-distance FTL: it carries the most weight per trip, which lowers the cost per tonne over distance, and a sealed container protects cargo on multi-day runs through variable weather. A 14-footer sits in between — enough capacity for a solid mid-size load without the cost of running a near-empty 22-footer.
Matching Vehicle to Route
Vehicle choice isn’t just about weight — the road matters too. Hill routes into Sikkim and the Jaigaon crossing into Bhutan have gradients, width restrictions and border-checkpost formalities that can rule out the largest trucks on certain stretches, sometimes requiring a transfer to a smaller vehicle partway. On the long, mostly flat run to Guwahati and the North-East, a 22-footer is usually the most efficient choice for a full load. For the shorter Kolkata–Siliguri leg, the right size depends much more on your actual tonnage than on the distance. This is exactly the kind of call worth making with your transporter before booking, not after the truck arrives.
How We Help You Choose
Tell us your goods type, approximate weight or carton count, and pickup and delivery points, and we’ll recommend the vehicle that fits — not the one that’s convenient to send. Since 1985, matching the right truck to the load has been as much a part of the job as driving it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a 407 and a 709 truck?
A 407 is a smaller 4-wheeler with a payload of around 2.5 tonnes, best suited to city and last-mile delivery. A 709 is a 6-wheeler carrying roughly double that, around 4.5 tonnes, and suits mid-size regional shipments that have outgrown a shared part load.
Should I book a 14 ft or 22 ft truck for a long-distance shipment?
It depends on your tonnage. A 22 ft truck carries 10 tonnes or more and is the most cost-efficient choice per tonne on long interstate hauls like Kolkata to Guwahati. A 14-footer, carrying roughly 6–7 tonnes, is a better fit when your load doesn’t justify a full 22-footer.
Can a 22 ft truck travel all the way to Sikkim or Bhutan?
On certain hill stretches into Sikkim and at the Jaigaon border crossing into Bhutan, width and gradient restrictions or checkpost formalities can require goods to be transferred to a smaller vehicle for part of the journey. Your transporter should flag this at the quoting stage, not after the truck is loaded.
How do I know which truck size my shipment needs?
Share your goods type, approximate weight or carton count, and pickup and delivery points with your transporter. A vehicle that’s too small risks overloading; one that’s too large means paying to move empty space. Call or WhatsApp us with those details and we’ll recommend a fit.
