A 40ft lorry in Singapore is not one vehicle. It is a prime mover, the tractor unit with the cab and engine, pulling a separate 40ft trailer that carries the container or the load. The tractor's log-card unladen weight sets the licence, and each part has its own parking rule.
On 25 October 2026, ABLINK's catalogue listed no rigid goods vehicle longer than 10.8 metres. A 40ft deck is 12.2 metres. The two prime movers ABLINK sells new are tractors of about 5.6 to 5.8 metres with no cargo space of their own.
Below: what a 40 feet lorry in Singapore really is, which licence class applies, where each part may park, which road rules change with a container trailer, and what ABLINK does and does not sell for this work.
What is a 40ft lorry in Singapore?
When people search "40 ft lorry Singapore" or "40 feet lorry Singapore", the vehicle that moves a 40ft load is an articulated combination: a prime mover in front, coupled to a trailer behind. The tractor has no deck. The trailer has no engine. The two are not fixed together: one prime mover can pull different trailers on different days.
LTA's rules treat the two separately. On the OneMotoring heavy vehicle parking page, LTA's heavy vehicle definition lists "any trailer, container trailer, low loader or flat-bed trailer" as its own class of heavy vehicle, apart from the goods vehicle that pulls it.
The length gap is the quickest way to see why there is no rigid 40ft lorry to buy. These are the overall lengths listed in ABLINK's compare catalogue on 25 October 2026, next to a 40ft deck:
| Vehicle | Type | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 40ft trailer deck | Trailer (no engine) | 12,190mm (40 feet) |
| Mitsubishi FV70 crane truck | Rigid, longest listed | 10,795mm |
| Isuzu FVR90 (10 ton) | Rigid 24ft truck | 9,255mm |
| Isuzu FSR90 (7 ton) | Rigid 24ft truck | 9,155mm |
| Isuzu FRR90 (6 ton) | Rigid 24ft truck | 8,625mm |
| Isuzu EXR52H | Prime mover (tractor only) | 5,791mm |
| Mitsubishi FP70 | Prime mover (tractor only) | 5,565mm |
If your cargo is not a container and fits a 24ft deck, a rigid lorry is one vehicle, one registration and one parking space. Our 24ft lorry guide covers that size. A 40ft container needs the tractor and trailer pair.
Which licence drives a 40 ft lorry in Singapore?
The licence follows the tractor's unladen weight and the fact that it is not built to carry a load. The Singapore Police Force driving licence class list, dated 15 June 2026, sets out three relevant lines:
- Class 4 (a) covers vehicles "constructed to carry a load or passengers" with an unladen weight over 2,500kg. That is the rigid lorry.
- Class 4 (b) covers "motor vehicles which are not constructed to carry any load and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 7,250kg".
- Class 5 covers vehicles not constructed to carry any load at any weight: up to 11,500kg unladen under (a) and above 11,500kg under (b).
Read together, these lines mean a tractor at or under 7,250kg unladen falls inside both Class 4 (b) and Class 5. Above 7,250kg, only Class 5 covers it. ABLINK's catalogue lists no cargo space on either of its prime movers, so these are the lines that matter.
On 25 October 2026, ABLINK's catalogue gave no confirmed unladen weight for either prime mover. The log card of the exact unit is the figure that counts, so ask for it before you match a driver to the truck.
Two more points for a haulage team:
- Clutch pedal or not. Class 4P and 5P cover the same vehicles without clutch pedals. The EXR52H is listed with a 7-speed manual gearbox, so a 4P or 5P holder cannot drive it. The FP70 is listed with an AMT gearbox; check the cab for a clutch pedal before you assign a 4P or 5P driver.
- The trailer is not in the list. The class definitions describe the tractor only. Before you put a driver on a prime mover with a 40ft trailer attached, confirm the class for that combination with the Traffic Police.
If you plan to train foreign drivers, the same SPF page says that, to enrol for Class 4 lessons, every work pass holder "must obtain an official declaration of support from their employer". Our Class 5 licence guide covers the next step up.
Where a 40 feet lorry parks: VPC for the tractor and the trailer
Plan parking for two vehicles, because LTA treats them differently.
The prime mover. LTA's commercial vehicles page classes goods vehicles by maximum laden weight: Heavy Goods Vehicles from 3,501kg to 16,000kg, and Very Heavy Goods Vehicles above 16,000kg. ABLINK's catalogue lists the EXR52H as a Very Heavy Goods Vehicle. For these vehicles, LTA requires a valid Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC), and the vehicle must sit in its own designated lot "when not in use at night between 12 midnight and 6 am".
You need the VPC before the truck goes on the road. LTA's release of 14 September 2026 says owners need their designated night-time lot (12am to 6am) in place "before they can register a new vehicle, transfer ownership, or renew road tax". From 15 September 2026, heavy vehicle owners may instead lodge an overnight parking place at private, non-residential premises, with the premises owner's written consent.
The trailer. A trailer or container trailer with a maximum laden weight over 5,000kg is a heavy vehicle in its own right. Two things are different for trailers. The same LTA release says: "Trailers are undergoing a two-year trial on the suspension of VPC requirement from 6 February 2026". The new lodgement service also excludes trailers. Check LTA's current terms for the trial before you decide where the trailer stays overnight.
Our VPC guide walks through getting a space and the lodgement step by step.
Road rules that change with a 40ft trailer
A container trailer brings route limits that a rigid lorry driver may not be used to. From LTA's commercial vehicles page:
- Tunnels. "Trailers hauling standard containers" may not drive in any tunnel, including expressway tunnels. Vehicles longer than 13m are barred too. Plan routes around them.
- Blind-spot mirrors. Heavy and very heavy goods vehicles over 12,000kg maximum laden weight registered from 1 April 2015 must carry extra mirrors or devices covering the blind spots. LTA names prime movers in that group. The vehicle must meet the requirement to pass its periodic inspections.
- Oversized loads. If the overall width exceeds 3m, or the weight exceeds the vehicle type's laden limits, you need an oversized vehicle movement (OVM) permit. Apply for it 3 days in advance.
Prime mover for sale in Singapore: what ABLINK lists
If you searched "prime mover for sale Singapore", here is the short answer: ABLINK sells the tractor half of a 40ft lorry. On 25 October 2026, its new vehicles page listed two prime mover models. These figures come from ABLINK's compare catalogue on that date:
| Model | Listed unladen weight | Length / width / height (mm) | Fuel tank | Gearbox | Listed range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu EXR52H | Not listed | 5,791 / 2,490 / 2,960 | 400L | 7-speed manual | 1,200km |
| Mitsubishi FP70 | Not listed | 5,565 / 2,490 / 3,190 | 350L | AMT | 1,050km |
The catalogue gives no maximum laden weight for either model, and the range figures are ABLINK's listed values with no test standard stated. For more on each truck, read the Isuzu EXR52H review and the Fuso FP70 buyer's guide.
What ABLINK does not offer for this work:
- No trailers. ABLINK's catalogue lists no 40ft trailer or any other trailer. You will need a trailer supplier for that half.
- No used prime movers today. The used marketplace had no prime mover listed on 25 October 2026. Stock changes, so check again before you decide.
- No prime mover lease. ABLINK's lease page lists panel vans, box trucks and lorries, pickup trucks and electric vehicles, not prime movers.
Prices on the new vehicles page include COE and GST, not insurance. Each model page has a WhatsApp button for checking stock, delivery timing and finance options with ABLINK. ABLINK also buys vehicles if you have one to trade in.
Before you buy a prime mover: what to check
Work through these before you commit to a prime mover truck for 40ft work:
- The log-card unladen weight of the exact tractor. At or under 7,250kg it sits inside Class 4 (b); above that, only Class 5 covers it.
- Clutch pedal or not. This decides whether drivers with 4P or 5P licences can take it.
- The trailer you will pull. Get its maximum laden weight, and ask the seller what combined weight the tractor is rated to pull. That rating is not in ABLINK's catalogue, so get it in writing for the unit you buy.
- The licence for the combination. Confirm with the Traffic Police which class your drivers need with the trailer attached.
- Parking for the tractor before registration. A VPC space, or from 15 September 2026 a lodgement at suitable premises, is needed before you can register it.
- Overnight parking for the trailer. Read LTA's current trial terms; lodgement does not cover trailers.
- Routes. Avoid tunnels with a container on, and check height, width and weight limits on the roads you use.
- Mirrors. If the vehicle is over 12,000kg maximum laden weight, check that the blind-spot equipment is fitted and meets LTA's standard.
If you are still choosing between a rigid lorry and a prime mover, compare the two prime movers side by side first, then look at the 24ft range.
Buying a prime mover through ABLINK
Start on ABLINK's new commercial vehicles page and open the Isuzu EXR52H or Mitsubishi FP70. Use the price request or WhatsApp button on the model page to ask ABLINK about the current price, stock and delivery timing.
Tell ABLINK the trailer you plan to pull and the licence classes your drivers hold, and ask for the log-card unladen weight of the unit on offer. Financing is subject to the lender's approval.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 40ft lorry just a longer 24ft lorry?
No. A 24ft lorry is a rigid truck: cab and deck on one chassis, one registration. A 40ft lorry is a prime mover pulling a separate 40ft trailer. The longest rigid goods vehicle in ABLINK's catalogue on 25 October 2026 was 10,795mm, while a 40ft deck is 12,190mm. The tractor and the trailer are planned as two vehicles, with their own parking rules.
Does a 40ft trailer need a VPC?
A trailer or container trailer with a maximum laden weight over 5,000kg is a heavy vehicle under LTA's VPC scheme. According to LTA, trailers have been on a two-year trial that suspends the VPC requirement since 6 February 2026. The overnight lodgement service that started on 15 September 2026 excludes trailers. Check LTA's current trial terms before you plan where the trailer parks.
Can a prime mover with a 40ft container use expressway tunnels?
No. LTA's commercial vehicles page lists "trailers hauling standard containers" among the vehicles not allowed in any tunnel, including expressway tunnels. Vehicles longer than 13m are also barred. A prime mover with a loaded 40ft container trailer has to be routed around the tunnels, so build that into delivery times and driver briefings.
Does ABLINK sell or lease 40ft trailers?
No. On 25 October 2026 ABLINK's catalogue listed two new prime movers, the Isuzu EXR52H and the Mitsubishi FP70, and no trailers. Its lease page does not list prime movers either. You can buy the tractor through ABLINK and ask about financing on WhatsApp, but the trailer for your 40ft lorry has to come from a trailer supplier.
Licence rules are from the Singapore Police Force class list dated 15 June 2026 and parking and road rules from LTA, as read on 25 October 2026. Vehicle figures are as listed in ABLINK's catalogue on that date and can change; the log card of the exact unit is the figure that counts. Financing is subject to lender approval.
