Why do 12 t and 18 t rigids take the same pallets but carry different payloads?

Payload, not space. A 12-tonner carries roughly 5-6 tonnes of goods, an 18-tonner 8-10 tonnes. Light goods across many drops fit a 12 t; heavy goods need an 18 t.

What is the maximum pallet weight the tail lift will raise?

Up to 1.5 tonnes per lift cycle. The limit covers the pallet together with the pallet truck and the operator if they ride the platform. Heavier single items need a ramp, a dock or a lorry crane.

Which lanes do the tail-lift vehicles run?

At OTSL, we run Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Austria as standing lanes, plus exhibition logistics across Europe. The vehicles are in constant service, so on repeat routes a fixed vehicle type and departure rhythm can be agreed.

Rigid truck with tail lift, 12 t and 18 t

Q: What do you need to quote a tail-lift delivery?

Four details: pallet count, weight of the heaviest single pallet, pallet height, and whether the consignee has a ramp. That last question decides whether a tail lift is needed at all and has the largest effect on price and lead time.

A rigid truck with a tail lift is the vehicle for deliveries where the consignee has no ramp or dock: a shop, a workshop, an office, a construction site or an exhibition hall. We run a large fleet of 12 and 18 tonne rigids with tail lifts, in constant service. Each vehicle takes 18 euro pallets and the lift raises up to 1.5 tonnes. We cover Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Austria, plus exhibition logistics across Europe.

A rigid truck is a lorry with one fixed body and no semi-trailer. A tail lift is a hydraulic platform at the rear that lowers the load to street level, so unloading needs neither a ramp nor a forklift at the consignee.

Specification

Parameter	Value
Euro pallets per vehicle	18
Tail lift capacity	up to 1.5 t per cycle
Variants	12 t and 18 t gross
Equipment	pallet truck on board
Regular lanes	DE, NL, BE, FR, AT
Exhibitions	across Europe

When this is the right vehicle

The consignee has no ramp or loading dock.
The load is palletised and the heaviest single pallet is under 1.5 tonnes.
Delivery goes into a city centre where an articulated combination cannot reach or is not permitted.
The route covers several drops and a full trailer would not pay.
A stand build goes into a hall where forklifts are tied up with other exhibitors.

When something else is needed

For single items over 1.5 tonnes, loads that must be placed deep in a yard or beyond a fence, and non-palletised goods, a tail lift is not enough. We then propose a lorry crane or consignee unloading, and we say so when quoting rather than on delivery day.

What the service covers

Choosing the 12 t or 18 t variant to suit weight and pallet count.
Checking unloading conditions at the consignee before departure: ramp, ground, access, hours.
Verifying access restrictions and low-emission zones along the route.
Delivery booking where required, including exhibition booking-in.
One coordinator running the job from loading through to documents.

What to prepare for a quote

Four details are enough: pallet count, weight of the heaviest single pallet, pallet height, and whether the consignee has a ramp. That last question decides whether a tail lift is needed at all and has the largest effect on price and lead time.

We run this service end to end: from the truck arriving, through the paperwork, to unloading at the consignee. You talk to one account manager. They own the whole route and hold the deadline, even when the plan changes.