A box truck is a Class 3–7 commercial vehicle with an enclosed cargo box mounted permanently on the same chassis as the cab — a single integrated unit, not a truck pulling a trailer. The cargo box, typically 16 to 26 feet long, is accessed through rear roll-up or swing doors. Most box trucks also have a side access door and many are equipped with a hydraulic liftgate at the rear for ground-level loading and delivery. The box truck's sweet spot is urban and suburban delivery where freight needs weather protection and the cargo volume is too large for a cargo van but the route structure — many stops, residential addresses, tight loading docks — excludes a 48 or 53 ft trailer. The single-unit design keeps the vehicle maneuverable and accessible without the turning radius penalties of a tractor-trailer. Payload capacity runs 5,000 to 12,500 lb depending on size and specification. Volume is the more limiting constraint for most freight types: a 26 ft box holds roughly 1,500 to 1,800 cubic feet — enough for a full household move, significant retail restocking volumes, or dozens of pallets of lighter goods. For dense freight that hits weight limits before filling the box, a flatbed or straight truck may be more efficient. The regulatory boundary at 26,001 lb GVWR is the most commercially significant spec for box truck operators. Trucks below this threshold do not require a CDL, dramatically expanding the available driver pool. This is why the 24–26 ft box truck is the most common size in moving and delivery — it maxes out usable cargo space while staying under the CDL line. Liftgate service is the most common accessorial for box truck delivery. At facilities without a loading dock — residences, small retail storefronts, medical offices — a liftgate allows freight to be lowered from the truck floor to ground level safely. Liftgate trucks cost more to buy, more to maintain, and are rightly priced as an accessorial when required.
| Typical length | 16–26 ft cargo box; overall vehicle length typically 22–36 ft |
| Typical width | 7.5–8 ft interior cargo width |
| Typical height | Interior height 7–8.5 ft; overall vehicle height approximately 12–13.5 ft |
| Payload capacity | 5,000–12,500 lb; GVWR typically 14,500–26,000 lb (under 26,001 lb = no CDL required) |
New 16–26 ft box trucks range from $40,000–$90,000 depending on size and liftgate configuration. Used units vary widely. Per-mile rates for local delivery typically run $1.50–$3.00; dedicated route rates are typically negotiated daily or monthly.
A box truck is a type of straight truck — the enclosed box body is one of several cargo body types that can be mounted on a single chassis. The broader "straight truck" category includes flatbed bodies, dump bodies, refrigerated bodies, and tank bodies, all on a single chassis without a trailer. Box truck specifically refers to the enclosed box-body variant, which dominates the moving and delivery segments.
Not if the GVWR is under 26,001 lb, which covers most 16–24 ft box trucks. Trucks with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or more require a CDL Class B. If the box truck is towing a trailer rated over 10,000 lb GVWR, a CDL Class A is required regardless of the truck's own GVWR. Always check the vehicle's door-jamb placard or registration for the rated GVWR.
A liftgate is a hydraulic platform at the rear of the truck that lowers freight from the cargo floor to ground level — typically a drop of 4–5 feet. It is required whenever the delivery location lacks a loading dock and the freight is too heavy to hand-carry down ramp steps. Appliances, furniture, medical equipment, and palletized goods typically require a liftgate for residential or retail delivery.
A 26 ft box truck holds approximately 1,500–1,800 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for roughly 500–700 standard medium boxes or a fully furnished 3–4 bedroom home. Weight capacity is typically 10,000–12,500 lb. The practical limit is usually volume for light goods (furniture, parcels) and weight for dense goods (beverages, paper products).
Yes — refrigerated box trucks (reefer box trucks) mount a transport refrigeration unit on the front of the cargo box. They are common for food service, pharmaceutical, and floral delivery. Reefer box trucks are a distinct equipment category from standard dry box trucks and command a rate premium. The cargo box insulation and refrigeration certification must meet the requirements of the commodity being transported.