ELD HUB
Start Free

Straight truck

A truck where the cab and cargo box sit on one frame, instead of a separate tractor and trailer.

Also called: Box truck, Cube truck, Single-unit truck

Quick answer

What is Straight truck?

A straight truck is a commercial vehicle whose cab and cargo area are mounted on a single chassis, so it cannot be detached like a tractor-trailer. Box trucks, moving trucks, and many delivery vehicles are straight trucks. Ones over 10,001 lbs in interstate commerce still need an ELD.

Last verified by ELD Hub.

Straight truck vs tractor-trailer

The difference is the frame. On a tractor-trailer, the power unit and the trailer are separate vehicles connected by a fifth wheel, and the tractor can drop one trailer and pick up another. On a straight truck the body is bolted to the same chassis as the cab, so what you see is what you haul.

Common sizes

Straight trucks are usually described by box length. The most common commercial sizes run from 16 to 26 feet, with 26 feet being the largest that a non-CDL driver can typically operate because it can be spec'd at 26,000 lbs GVWR.

  • 16 ft box: roughly 800 cu ft, common for local delivery and small moves
  • 20 ft box: roughly 1,000–1,200 cu ft
  • 24 ft box: roughly 1,400 cu ft, common in LTL and expedited freight
  • 26 ft box: roughly 1,600 cu ft, the standard non-CDL maximum at 26,000 lbs GVWR

Do you need a CDL?

A CDL is required when the gross vehicle weight rating is 26,001 lbs or more, or when the load is placarded hazmat, or when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers. Many 26 ft straight trucks are deliberately rated at exactly 26,000 lbs so they can be driven without a CDL — but the driver still needs a DOT medical card if operating in interstate commerce over 10,000 lbs.

Do straight trucks need an ELD?

Yes, in most interstate cases. The ELD rule follows the records-of-duty-status requirement, which applies to commercial motor vehicles over 10,001 lbs in interstate commerce — not to whether the driver holds a CDL. A non-CDL 26 ft box truck running interstate freight generally needs an ELD.

Example

An expedited carrier runs a 26 ft straight truck rated at 26,000 lbs GVWR. The driver has no CDL but does hold a DOT medical card, and because the truck crosses state lines above 10,001 lbs, it runs an ELD and logs Hours of Service just like a tractor-trailer.

Why it matters for a small fleet

Straight-truck operators are the group most likely to assume the ELD mandate does not apply to them because no CDL is involved. The weight threshold, not the license class, is what triggers the requirement.

Running 1–20 trucks? Compliance starts at $15/truck/month

ELD Hub is an FMCSA-registered ELD with HOS logs, DVIRs, IFTA, and GPS included. No contract. PT-30 hardware is $150 with free ground shipping, or keep the PT-30 or IOSiX you already own.

Create my account 302-404-1177
FAQ

Common questions

Is a box truck the same as a straight truck?

Effectively yes. Box truck usually refers to a straight truck with an enclosed cargo box. All box trucks are straight trucks, but straight trucks also include flatbeds, dumps, and reefers built on a single chassis.

How much can a 26 ft straight truck carry?

A 26 ft box truck rated at 26,000 lbs GVWR typically has a payload capacity around 10,000 lbs after subtracting the empty weight of the truck, and roughly 1,600 cubic feet of cargo space.

Does a straight truck need an ELD without a CDL?

Usually yes. The ELD requirement is driven by the vehicle weight and interstate operation, not the driver's license class. A non-CDL truck over 10,001 lbs crossing state lines generally must keep electronic records of duty status.

Related