Commercial Vehicles Introduction

Transportation by horse drawn vehicles was essential to the Roman Empire stretching, as it did over most of Europe and northern Africa. The Roman army, present thoughout the Empire, required supplies while dignitaries endured long journeys inspecting their territories.

For some twelve hundred years following the Roman Empire, however, road transport gave way to the packhorse and it was not until the Tudor period that carts and wagons appeared once again. With the outstanding improvement in road construction developed by Mac Adam and Telford the use of vehicles for private and public use increased rapidly.

Where previously deliveries were made by tradesmen on foot, or by packhorse, heavy and light commercial vehicles were introduced thus saving time and increasing profit. Grocers, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, coster mongers and tradesmen relied heavily on vans and carts, including hand carts. Railway companies, coal merchants, brewers, and furniture companies developed the lurry and waggon for their use while the carter was always available for hire.