Search our range of Flatbed And Dropside trucks for sale and hire

What Is the Difference Between a Flatbed and a Dropside Truck?

A flatbed truck has a completely open load platform without fixed side panels or a roof. It provides maximum access for loading from either side, from the rear or from above.

This makes a flatbed particularly suitable for oversized items, steelwork, timber, machinery and loads that must be lifted directly onto the bed.

A dropside truck uses a similar open platform but adds hinged side panels. These panels can be lowered to provide side-loading access and raised again once the load has been secured.

Dropsides are often preferred for mixed deliveries, scaffolding, building supplies, tools and smaller items that benefit from additional containment. The side panels do not replace suitable load-restraint equipment, but they can make the vehicle more practical for everyday trade and construction work.

The right body depends on the materials being carried, how they are loaded, the level of access required and the vehicle’s typical working environment.

Flatbed Trucks for Sale and Hire

Flatbed trucks provide a simple and highly flexible platform for moving loads that may not suit a box body or curtainsider.

With no permanent sides or roof restricting access, materials can be positioned and secured across the available deck. Flatbeds are especially useful for operators transporting long products or handling loads of different shapes and sizes throughout the working week.

Flatbed trucks are widely used by:

• Steel stockholders and fabricators
• Timber and roofing suppliers
• Construction companies
• Plant and equipment operators
• Utilities contractors
• Agricultural businesses
• Specialist haulage companies
• Builders’ merchants
• Event logistics businesses
• Local authorities

Available specifications can include standard flatbeds, extendable bodies, crane-mounted flatbeds and bodies equipped with tail lifts or specialist load-restraint systems.

Dropside Trucks for Sale and Hire

Dropside trucks combine the loading flexibility of a flatbed with hinged side panels that can be lowered when access is required.

The body can be opened along the sides for loading by forklift or by hand, making it easier to complete multi-drop work and deliver materials directly to site.

Dropside trucks are especially popular with:

• Scaffolding companies
• Builders and building contractors
• Roofing businesses
• Fencing contractors
• Landscaping companies
• Builders’ merchants
• Utilities and telecoms contractors
• Highway maintenance teams
• Local authorities
• Agricultural operators

Different body lengths, side heights, headboards, storage options and load-restraint systems can be specified to match the materials being transported.

Flatbed and Dropside Truck Hire

If purchasing a vehicle is not the right option, MV Commercial offers flexible flatbed and dropside truck hire for short-term projects, seasonal demand and long-term fleet requirements.

Hiring can help businesses secure additional vehicle capacity without committing to an immediate purchase. It can also provide replacement cover when an existing vehicle is off the road or support the launch of a new contract.

Flatbed and dropside hire is suitable when you need:

• Additional capacity for a new contract
• Short-term support for a construction project
• Seasonal fleet expansion
• Replacement vehicle cover
• A specialist body without the wait for a new build
• Long-term contract hire
• A vehicle specification to trial before purchasing
• Faster mobilisation for urgent work

Depending on availability and requirements, vehicles can be supplied through short-term hire, long-term rental, lease, contract hire or rent-to-buy.

Popular Vehicle Weights

MV Commercial supplies flatbed and dropside trucks across a wide range of vehicle weights. The right choice will depend on payload, body length, access requirements and the type of work being completed.

7.5 Tonne Flatbed and Dropside Trucks

A 7.5 tonne flatbed or dropside provides more load capacity than a van while remaining practical for local deliveries, urban routes and restricted-access sites.

These vehicles are commonly used by builders, landscapers, fencing contractors, local authorities, roofing businesses and smaller scaffolding companies.

18 Tonne Flatbed and Dropside Trucks

An 18 tonne vehicle provides greater payload and body space for heavier construction materials, scaffolding, timber, steel and palletised goods.

This weight offers a useful balance between carrying capability and manoeuvrability, making it suitable for local and regional work.

26 Tonne Flatbed and Dropside Trucks

A 26 tonne flatbed or dropside gives operators additional deck space and payload for more demanding applications.

Three-axle vehicles are frequently selected for heavier scaffolding work, builders’ merchant deliveries, utilities projects and crane-equipped specifications.

32 Tonne Flatbed Trucks

For heavier transport requirements, a 32 tonne flatbed provides a robust platform for construction materials, plant, steelwork and specialist equipment.

These vehicles can be specified with loader cranes, heavy-duty bodies, storage systems and safety equipment to suit demanding sites and delivery operations.

Popular Chassis Options

MV Commercial can supply flatbed and dropside bodies on chassis from leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

Popular options include:

• DAF trucks
• Volvo trucks
• Scania trucks

Chassis selection should consider vehicle weight, wheelbase, payload, body length, cab specification, typical journey distance and whether a loader crane or tail lift is required.

Our manufacturer-independent approach allows us to recommend a chassis and body combination suited to the work rather than limiting customers to one manufacturer.

Scaffold Specification Flatbeds and Dropsides

Flatbed and dropside bodies are popular throughout the scaffolding industry because they provide fast access to tubes, boards, fittings and equipment.

A scaffold truck can be built with features such as:

• Extended body lengths
• Heavy-duty headboards
• Removable or hinged side panels
• Load-restraint points
• Underbody storage
• Toolboxes and equipment lockers
• Work lights and beacon bars
• Camera and side-scan systems
• Chapter 8 markings
• Loader crane options

Smaller 7.5 tonne and 10 tonne trucks can suit local scaffolding work, while 18 tonne and 26 tonne vehicles provide greater payload and capacity for larger contracts.

Crane-Mounted Flatbeds and Dropsides

A loader crane can turn a flatbed or dropside into a self-loading vehicle, allowing operators to collect and deliver materials without relying on site handling equipment.

Crane-mounted bodies are commonly used for:

• Builders’ merchant deliveries
• Timber and roofing materials
• Steel and fabrication transport
• Scaffolding
• Utilities equipment
• Cabins and containers
• Fencing and landscaping products
• Construction materials

MV Commercial can supply crane trucks with cranes from leading manufacturers including Palfinger, HIAB and Cormach.

The crane position, lifting capacity, outreach, stabiliser arrangement and body specification can be selected around the intended application. Storage, access and remaining payload must also be considered when developing the complete vehicle.

Body and Equipment Options

Flatbed and dropside trucks can be configured with a wide range of body, safety and productivity features.

Available options can include:

• Fixed or removable dropsides
• Different side-panel heights
• Heavy-duty headboards
• Hardwood or application-specific flooring
• Extendable body sections
• Tail lifts
• Loader cranes
• Underbody toolboxes
• Chain and equipment storage
• Load-restraint points
• Rope hooks and lashing rails
• Fall-protection systems
• Work lights and beacon bars
• Camera systems
• Side-scan equipment
• Reverse alarms
• Chapter 8 markings
• Custom paint and livery

Specifications will vary according to chassis, vehicle weight, body dimensions and payload requirements.

Built Around Your Operation

A productive truck starts with the right specification. Before a build begins, MV Commercial works with customers to understand what the vehicle will carry, how it will be loaded and the conditions in which it will operate.

A flatbed built for steel transport has different requirements from a dropside used by a scaffolding contractor or builders’ merchant. Body length, deck height, payload, load security, access, storage and safety equipment must all work together.

By considering the complete vehicle from the start, we can create a practical truck that supports the operator’s day-to-day work.

Built in Grantham

Many MV Commercial specialist vehicles are designed, engineered, fabricated and finished through our manufacturing facilities in Grantham.

Our in-house capabilities support key stages of the build, including:

• Vehicle design and specification
• Engineering
• Fabrication and welding
• Subframe production
• Body building
• Crane installation
• Paint and finishing
• Livery application
• Lighting and safety equipment
• Testing and final preparation

Managing these stages within our own facilities gives customers greater control over the finished specification and allows the chassis, body and any lifting equipment to be developed as one complete working package.

Explore our Grantham manufacturing facility.

Ready to Go or Bespoke

MV Commercial supports customers who need a truck immediately as well as operators planning a bespoke vehicle or fleet.

Our Ready to Go stock can reduce the time required to replace a vehicle, begin a new contract or add capacity. Available vehicles may include new, used, late-registration and ex-fleet flatbeds and dropsides in a variety of weights and body configurations.

If the right vehicle is not currently in stock, our team can source a suitable truck or develop a bespoke build around your requirements.

Options can include:

• Standard flatbed bodies
• Dropside bodies
• Scaffold specifications
• Crane-mounted flatbeds
• Extended bodies
• Tail-lift vehicles
• Custom storage
• Safety and compliance equipment
• Full paint and livery packages

Safety and Load Security

Open-bodied trucks must be configured and operated with suitable load security. The correct restraint method will depend on the materials being carried, their weight, shape and position on the vehicle.

Equipment can include lashing points, load-restraint rails, straps, chains, headboards and specialist storage systems.

MV Commercial can also supply vehicles with safety and compliance equipment for construction sites, urban routes and infrastructure work, including cameras, side-scan systems, reverse alarms, beacons, reflective markings, work lights and Chapter 8 markings.

Finance, Lease and Rent-to-Buy

MV Commercial can supply new and used flatbed and dropside trucks through purchase, hire, lease and rent-to-buy arrangements.

Through MV Asset Finance, businesses can explore funding options that support:

• New vehicle purchases
• Used truck purchases
• Fleet replacement
• Business expansion
• New contract mobilisation
• Multi-vehicle orders
• Bespoke vehicle builds
• Long-term fleet planning

Flexible funding can help operators preserve working capital while securing the vehicles required to support their workload.

Aftersales Support

A flatbed or dropside truck only delivers value when it is available for work. MV Commercial provides nationwide aftersales support to help customers keep their vehicles maintained, compliant and productive.

Support can include:

• Scheduled servicing and maintenance
• Body repairs
• Electrical diagnostics
• Lighting repairs
• Mobile technician support
• Crane servicing where applicable
• Hydraulic repairs
• Parts support
• Safety-system checks
• Workshop repairs
• Replacement vehicle support

With depots and support coverage across the UK, MV Commercial can continue supporting your vehicle after it enters service.

Why Choose MV Commercial?

Choose MV Commercial for:

• New and used flatbed trucks
• New and used dropside trucks
• Sale, hire, lease and rent-to-buy options
• Vehicles from 7.5 tonnes to 32 tonnes
• DAF, Volvo and Scania chassis options
• Scaffold specification trucks
• Crane-mounted flatbeds and dropsides
• Ready to Go vehicle availability
• Bespoke body design and fabrication
• In-house paint, livery and finishing
• Safety and productivity equipment
• Finance through MV Asset Finance
• Nationwide aftersales support
• 24/7 customer assistance

Whether you need a compact dropside for local deliveries, a long-bodied scaffold truck, a crane-mounted flatbed or a fleet of bespoke open-bodied vehicles, MV Commercial can help you source, build, hire, finance and support the right trucks.

Contact MV Commercial

Looking for a flatbed or dropside truck for sale, hire, lease or rent-to-buy?

Speak to MV Commercial today about our latest flatbed and dropside trucks, flatbed trucks, dropside trucks, scaffold trucks, crane trucks, Ready to Go vehicles, truck finance and nationwide aftersales support.