Used Cargo Trucks & Lorries for Sale — Box, Stake, Flatbed

Cargo Truck Body Types Explained

Not every lorry suits every job. Before you ask for a price, know which body type fits your cargo. Here is what each type does:

• Box truck / van truck (enclosed body): A rigid enclosed cargo box, usually steel or aluminium, mounted behind the cab. Keeps goods dry and secure — the right choice for packaged goods, FMCG, electronics, or anything that cannot get wet. Also called a box lorry or van lorry. See our used box trucks for sale for enclosed-body options.
• Fence / stake truck (open cage body): An open flatbed with removable steel fence or stake side rails. Easy to load from the top or sides with a forklift or crane. Popular for agricultural produce, livestock feed, timber, and market goods in East and West Africa. The sides fold or remove for oversized loads.
• Flatbed cargo truck: A flat, open deck with no sides. Maximum versatility for long or wide loads — steel coils, pipes, machinery, timber logs, bagged cement. Secure with straps or ratchets. Widely used on construction sites across Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.
• Curtain-side lorry: A flatbed frame with a sliding PVC curtain on each side. Quick side-loading, weather protection, common in urban distribution and fast-moving consumer goods.

All four body types are available across light 4x2 and medium/heavy 6x4 configurations. The 4x2 light lorry suits urban and peri-urban routes; the 6x4 cargo truck handles heavier payloads and rougher inter-city roads.

The HOWO Cargo Lorry Range

HOWO — manufactured by Sinotruk — is the most widely supported Chinese heavy truck brand in sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf. Parts are available in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra, Kampala, and Dubai. Mechanics who know the WD615 engine family and the HW transmission range are easy to find. That is why the majority of our cargo truck stock is HOWO.

Our cargo lorry range covers two main tiers:

• Light 4x2 cargo lorries (up to 5 tonnes payload): Compact cab, lighter-duty engine, 5- or 6-speed gearbox, cargo body 4.2–5.15 m long. Available as stake/fence or flatbed body. Ideal for last-mile distribution, market runs, and small-business freight in cities like Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and Accra.
• Medium and heavy 6x4 cargo lorries: Higher payload capacity, reinforced chassis, larger tyres (12R22.5), suited for longer routes and heavier loads — building materials, agricultural bulk, general containerised freight on inter-city corridors.

All trucks pass our inspection and refurbishment process before shipping. We can install a box body, stake sides, or flatbed deck to your specification during refurbishment if you need a body swap. Learn more about the full HOWO truck range.

Why Chinese Cargo Trucks Suit African Distribution

Buyers in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Iraq, and the UAE keep choosing Chinese cargo lorries for straightforward reasons:

• Price: A used HOWO cargo truck from China costs a fraction of a comparable used Isuzu, Hino, or Fuso — and significantly less than a used MAN or Mercedes. The lorries price gap is real and it widens further once you factor CIF shipping versus sourcing locally.
• Parts availability: Sinotruk (HOWO) has the widest spare parts network of any Chinese brand in Africa. Engine parts, gearbox parts, and body panels are stocked in major trading cities across the continent.
• Payload-to-cost ratio: Chinese 6x4 cargo trucks offer payload capacities that match or exceed European equivalents at a lower total cost of ownership for buyers who do their own maintenance.
• Adaptation for local conditions: We offer LHD-to-RHD conversion in-house for countries that require right-hand drive (South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana). The conversion is done before shipping so the truck arrives ready to license and operate.

For smaller cargo fleets in markets like the UAE or Iraq where LHD is standard, light HOWO cargo lorries arrive directly configured.

What to Inspect Before You Buy a Used Cargo Truck

Second hand lorries can hide problems that show up only after the first heavy load. Here is what we check — and what you should ask any seller to confirm:

At Sigma Truck, every lorry goes through a multi-point inspection before we quote. We send a detailed inspection report with photos covering all the above — so you know the condition before you wire a deposit.

Refurbishment, LHD/RHD Conversion & CIF Shipping

Buying a used lorry for sale from China involves more than just picking a truck. Here is how we handle the full process:

• Inspection and grading: Each cargo truck is inspected at our yard in China. We grade the engine, gearbox, chassis, cab, and body. Only trucks that meet our export standard move to refurbishment.
• Refurbishment: We replace worn parts — brakes, filters, belts, hoses — repaint the cab and body, and repair any body damage. You receive a truck that looks and runs like a working fleet vehicle, not a neglected yard find.
• LHD to RHD conversion: Steering column, instrument cluster, and pedal box are repositioned. Wiring is re-routed. The conversion is done by experienced technicians and tested on-road before shipment. Available for all 4x2 and 6x4 cargo models.
• Export documentation: We prepare the Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and inspection certificate. For buyers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, or Zambia, we can also arrange pre-export verification documentation.
• CIF shipping to your port: We ship CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) to over 40 destination ports — Durban, Mombasa, Lagos, Tema, Dar es Salaam, Aqaba, Jebel Ali, Umm Qasr, and more. You clear at your port; we handle everything from China to the gangway.

Need a second hand lorry price for a specific body type and port? Send us your requirements and we will quote within 24 hours.

Cargo Truck Buyer Checklist Before You Order

Use this list before placing an order for any used cargo truck from any exporter:

• Confirm body type (box/van, stake/fence, flatbed) and exact cargo dimensions you need
• Confirm drive configuration — LHD or RHD for your country
• Ask for the full inspection report with photos, not just marketing images
• Confirm tyre size and whether the tyres are included in the price
• Get the CIF landed price to your specific port — not just a FOB quote
• Ask whether the exporter holds stock in China or brokers from third parties
• Confirm the refurbishment scope in writing before deposit
• Check that export documents include the original title and chassis number

We publish our inspection process and ship from our own yard. If you are comparing trucks for sale in South Africa with import options, run the total landed cost — including duties and clearing — against our CIF price to your port before deciding. The maths usually favours direct import for buyers who plan to run three trucks or more. For enclosed-body options specifically, see our used box trucks for sale, or for temperature-controlled freight, our reefer trucks for sale.