Choosing the Right Beavertail Truck for the Construction and Civil Engineering Sector

Published on: 12th November 2025

In construction and civil engineering, having the right transport setup makes all the difference. Whether you’re moving excavators, dumpers, cabins or site materials, your vehicles need to be reliable, durable, and ready for daily use, especially when faced with demanding conditions.

From large infrastructure projects to tight urban sites, the right truck can improve efficiency, safety, and compliance – helping you keep projects running smoothly.

At Sterling, we work closely with contractors, utility providers and plant hire specialists across the UK. Our beavertail bodies are built with operator feedback and site experience at their core – designed to handle the workload and withstand the realities of modern construction.

Two of the most widely used body types in the sector are the Sterling Multiload and Sterling Combiload – each with its own strengths depending on your fleet requirements.

Why Vehicle Choice Matters in Construction & Civils

Every job site presents a new challenge – restricted access, uneven ground, mixed loads, or the need to handle both driven and non-driven plant. Choosing the right vehicle body isn’t just about capacity; it’s about being fit for purpose, ensuring safe and efficient loading, secure transport, and consistent uptime.

A poorly specified vehicle can quickly lead to:

• Extended loading and unloading times
• Increased manual handling and safety risks
• Access or terrain issues
• Equipment damage during transport
• Health & safety non-compliance
• Operational delays and downtime
• Under-utilised payload capacity
• Higher maintenance costs and reduced service life
• Missed delivery windows on critical projects

That’s why Sterling designs and engineers plant bodies specifically for the construction environment, taking insight from real-world operators and transport managers.

Sterling’s Top Picks: Multiload vs. Combiload

Both the Multiload and Combiload are proven performers across the industry, valued for their strength, reliability, and ease of use. Depending on your typical loads and working environment, one may suit your operation better than the other.

Here’s a quick comparison:

When to Choose the Multiload

If your work involves a varied mix of static plant, site cabins, containers, or non-driven machinery – particularly where crane assistance is part of your operation – the Multiload is an ideal choice.

With a low deck height and market-leading ramp angles, it allows for safe, efficient loading and unloading. Its flexibility to handle both lift-on and drive-on cargo makes it especially useful for civil and infrastructure projects where load types can vary from one job to the next.

When to Choose the Combiload

For operations centred around powered access equipment, dumpers, rollers, and general drive-on plant, the Combiload offers fast turnaround and simple operation.

Designed for heavy-duty, high-throughput environments, the Combiload features a full-width 2.5m double flip ramp, providing a stable platform for a wide range of self-propelled machinery. With a reinforced deck, galvanised steel ramp grating, and a low beavertail angle, it ensures smooth, secure loading even on uneven ground.

It’s a dependable option for contractors who need quick, consistent performance across multiple site moves each day.

Supporting a Variety of Construction Workflows

Both the Multiload and Combiload can be configured to suit a wide range of applications, including:

• Excavators, dumpers, rollers
• Site cabins, containers, welfare units
• Palletised materials, steel, and timber
• Fencing, scaffolding, modular components
• Specialist utilities or civils equipment

Sterling bodies are built not just to move plant, but to support the pace and pressure of real-world construction work. Whether it’s the first delivery on a housing site, the last lift from a civils job, or a same-day turnaround for emergency utility work, your vehicle needs to be reliable, straightforward to operate, and ready for anything.

That’s why our builds focus on practical efficiency – fast loading for tight schedules, robust restraint systems for mixed load types, and dependable road handling from site to depot. In this industry, if your truck isn’t moving, the job isn’t moving either.

Built for Harsh Sites, Tight Deadlines, and Demanding Clients

Sterling vehicle bodies are designed with real-site conditions in mind – from urban developments and new-build housing to public infrastructure and remote civil projects.

We support clients across:

• Civil Engineering – utilities, highways, rail, public works
• Commercial Construction – industrial, retail, office developments
• Residential Building – housing, regeneration, social schemes
• Specialist Trades – scaffolding, M&E, modular contractors

Trusted by Construction & Civils Professionals Nationwide

We’re proud to support contractors such as Clancy Group, Murphy Group, and Oliver Connell – companies that rely on Sterling bodies to keep their fleets productive and their projects on schedule.

From single builds to full fleet rollouts, every Sterling vehicle is backed by dedicated aftersales support and industry expertise – ensuring what we deliver performs just as well on site as it does on paper.

Our job doesn’t end when a truck body leaves the factory. Sterling Support is your central point of contact throughout the life of your vehicle, providing nationwide coverage through a network of over 160 specialist service agents. From Cornwall to the Scottish Islands, our team ensures your equipment is maintained to The Higher Standard™ – keeping your fleet operational, compliant, and ready for work whenever you need it.

Need advice? Talk to Sterling

If you’re reviewing or expanding your transport fleet, our team can help you specify the right beavertail for your operation.

We’ll work with you to tailor a Multiload or Combiload body that meets your exact requirements – keeping your equipment moving, your operators working safely, and your projects progressing efficiently.