What is considered a panel truck?
A panel truck is a light commercial vehicle with a fully enclosed cargo area built on a van or light-truck chassis, featuring solid side panels and typically no windows in the cargo space. In modern usage, these vehicles are often called panel vans or cargo vans and are used primarily to transport goods rather than people.
Historically, the term appeared in North American trucking and delivery contexts to describe a cargo body that lacks side windows along the freight area, creating a paneled, windowless facade. Today, many markets differentiate between the older “panel truck” label and the more common “panel van” or simply “cargo van,” but the defining trait remains an enclosed, paneled cargo area designed for hauling goods while keeping the cab and cargo area separate.
Core characteristics
To understand what defines a panel truck, consider these defining attributes that set it apart from passenger vans and open-bed trucks:
- Enclosed cargo area with solid panels, typically metal, and little to no side windows in the freight space
- Built on a van or light-truck chassis, with a bulkhead separating the cab from the cargo area
- Rear access via hinged or sometimes sliding doors; side access is generally not used for loading
- Limited or no seating behind the front row; the cargo area is designed primarily for transporting goods
- Intended for commercial use—delivery, trades, service work, and fleet operations
In practice, these traits shape how panel trucks are used in everyday commerce, from parcel and freight deliveries to tool-heavy trades such as plumbing, electrical work, and landscaping. The emphasis is on secure, weather-protected cargo space, not passenger transport.
Regional terminology and usage
Terminology and market conventions vary by region, but the underlying concept remains the same: an enclosed, paneled cargo space on a van or light truck chassis. Here is a snapshot of how the term is used in major markets today:
- United States and Canada: The historical term "panel truck" is less common in current consumer catalogs; the modern equivalent is typically a "panel van" or "cargo van." Examples of common models include full-size and mid-size vans used for cargo, such as Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana, which are designed with enclosed cargo areas and minimal rear side windows.
- United Kingdom and much of Europe: The term "panel van" is standard and widely used. These vehicles are built on van platforms from numerous manufacturers (e.g., Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter, Renault Trafic, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro) and are a mainstay for tradespeople and delivery fleets.
- Other markets (Australia, Asia, etc.): The panel van concept is common, and local terminology typically mirrors the regional usage—“panel van” or simply “cargo van”—with OEMs offering both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive configurations to suit local regulations and logistics needs.
In practice, the distinction between “panel truck” and “panel van” is fading in everyday language, with fleet operators and buyers focusing on payload capacity, roof height, wheelbase, and the presence or absence of side windows in the cargo area. The core idea remains the same: a windowless or lightly windowed, fully enclosed cargo space intended for goods transport.
Summary
Panel trucks are a class of light commercial vehicles characterized by an enclosed, paneled cargo area built on a van or light-truck chassis, typically with no side windows in the freight space and a bulkhead separating the cab from the cargo area. While regional terminology varies—panel truck is more historical in some markets, while panel van or cargo van is the common term today—the essential concept endures: a vehicle designed to transport goods securely and efficiently, with a cargo area separate from the passenger cabin. Modern fleets widely rely on panel vans for deliveries, trades, and service work across the globe.
