Interesting Lorry Facts  

With the first reference of the word “lorry” being found in the English language in 1838, referring to a luggage truck on a train, HGVs have come a long way from then to what we see on the nation’s roads today.   

Lorries are a massive part of our everyday life. We cannot go through a day or take a short journey without seeing many of these heavy goods vehicles. They form an essential part of driving our country’s economy. When looked after properly and decorated well, they are also an excellent representation of the company they work for.   

Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about these fantastic vehicles and give them the love they deserve.   

  

1 – The lorry was invented in Germany in 1896 by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler.   

Having already invented the motorcycle and a motorised firefighting hose, Daimler was looking for new ways to utilise his engine; this is how the world’s first lorry came into being. Daimler’s first lorry looked like a horse-drawn cart with an engine instead of a drawbar.   

The engine in the first lorry was a 1.06-litre two-cylinder four-stroke engine and was known as the “Phoenix”.  

At 4.5m long and 1.5m wide and could carry up to 1500kg with a top speed of 7.5mph.  

It’s fair to say that haulage has come a long way since then, but it’s also interesting to note that the Daimler company grew to become the Mercedes Benz company that we know today.   

  

2 – Over 80% of all goods in the UK are transported by road using lorries.  

Adding even more to that figure, the goods not included in that 80% require some form of road transport to complete their journey. Even more so, 98% of all food and agriculture products in the UK are moved by road.  

Even if goods are moved by air or sea, they rely on road transport for at least part of their journey.  

Lorries really are the backbone of the economy of Great Britain.   

  

3 – In 2022, over 500,000 heavy goods vehicles were registered on UK roads.   

Just think, when these lorries are professionally vinyl wrapped, that’s a heck of a lot of people seeing your brand.  

2022 saw an increase from previous years, with 485,000 registered HGVs at the end of 2020. We are now seeing the number of registered HGVs increasing in the wake of the unprecedented challenges we faced over the previous two years.   

With that in mind, it is hardly surprising that the haulage sector is the 5th largest employer in the UK. Over 275,000 people within the industry are registered as HGV drivers, but less than 2% of those are female.  

 

4 – The methane gas passed by just one sheep could power a small lorry for 25 miles!  

The sheep population in the UK in 2021 stood at over 14.5 million, equating to over 362.5 million miles for that small lorry. In the same year, HGVs accounted for 15.5 billion vehicle miles on UK roads. So maybe harnessing that power could answer a lot of problems!  

Interestingly, scientists in the UAE invented a way of creating biodiesel from extracted lamb fat.   

Obviously, the industry is always looking for more environmentally friendly ways to move products around the country and, indeed, the globe. The most fuel-efficient lorry in the world at the time of writing this article is the Tesla Semi which can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge with a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour.   

  

5 – The amount of beer transported by lorries in one year in the UK could fill Wembley stadium.   

That’s seven BILLION pints of beer. With a world-class effort, UK lorries are keeping the thirst of our population well and truly quenched. Always remember to drink responsibly and never while driving… particularly if you are in charge of a lorry carrying such precious cargo.   

With the standard articulated lorry carrying 44 tonnes and travelling at an average speed of 65mph, it’s a huge leap forward from Daimler’s vehicle carrying 1500kg at a speed of 7.5mph!  

  

Brandfixx helps more people see your business.  

With so many lorries on the UK roads covering the length and breadth of our nation, branding up your livery stands to reason. Good design and a great fleet can spread the word and promote your business throughout the country.   

The Brandfixx modular system is a unique and cost-effective way to get your fleet of lorries on brand and represent your organisation in the best way possible.   

Vinyl wrapping your vehicles has multiple benefits. Not only providing great advertising and pushing your brand image, but the vinyl wrapping process can also help protect your vehicle from the ravages of the thousands of miles your HGV will be covering whilst going about its business. This then prolongs the condition of your vehicle, saving you money on repairing paintwork.   

The modular approach that Brandfixx has developed is also time-saving. For example, if only one or two areas of the vinyl wrapping are damaged, you would only need to replace these sections rather than the whole vehicle. This means that your lorry is off the road for as little time as possible, so you are not losing precious time on the road.   

Additionally, this approach is a much more environmentally friendly option, so it really is a win-win situation. If you want more information on how Brandfixx can help you brand up your fleet, get in touch with us today.