Local haulage with a 7.5 tonne lorry
Run one smaller lorry moving pallets and goods for local firms, paid per load or on regular runs.
- £15k-45k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
64,527 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 49410 “Freight transport by road”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A one-lorry haulage business using a 7.5 tonne vehicle for local and regional deliveries, such as pallets, building supplies, furniture and factory goods.
Your first three steps
- Check you hold (or can get) a category C licence and Driver CPC, and see how the operator licence process works on GOV.UK
- Speak to a few local firms and hauliers about the work they struggle to cover, and price your day rate against theirs
- Get quotes for a used lorry (buy or lease) and for hire and reward goods-in-transit and motor insurance
Who pays
Local manufacturers, builders' merchants, wholesalers, other hauliers and small businesses without their own vehicles.
How it makes money
Price per load, per mile or per day on regular contracts, plus extra work picked up from pallet networks and load-finding platforms.
Skills that help
- Category C (lorry) driving licence
- Route planning and time management
- Building trust with regular customers
- Keeping basic records and paperwork
Watch out for
- A goods vehicle operator's licence is usually needed to carry goods for hire or reward in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, so check the current rules for your part of the UK
- Driver CPC, drivers' hours and tachograph rules, check what applies to your vehicle and work
- Insurance for lorries is costly, so get quotes before you commit to buying
- Running costs such as fuel, tyres, repairs and MOT downtime can swallow income
- Late-paying customers can strain cash flow, so check credit terms
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: local haulage with a 7.5 tonne lorry
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a 7.5 tonne lorry haulage business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £15,000 to £45,000, depending on the lorry you buy, insurance and running costs. Lorry insurance is costly, so get quotes before committing to a purchase.
How much can a single 7.5 tonne lorry earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £4,000 to £12,000, depending on how many loads you win and how regular your work is. Fuel, tyres, repairs and MOT downtime can eat into this, so budget carefully.
Do I need a licence to run a 7.5 tonne lorry for hire?
A goods vehicle operator's licence is usually needed to carry goods for hire or reward in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, so check current rules for your part of the UK. Also check Driver CPC, drivers' hours and tachograph rules.
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