Tow tractors and platform trucks from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, works trucks, self-propelled, not fitted with lifting or handling equipment, of the type used in factories, warehouses, dock areas or airports for short distance transport of goods, and tractors of the type used on railway station platforms, heading 8709, carried 0% on goods from China for electrical and other vehicles and for parts, with no anti-dumping measure.

Trucks fitted with lifting equipment, such as forklifts and pallet stackers, are under heading 8427, and access platforms under 8428 (see our boom lifts and access platforms guide), so confirm the commodity code from what the truck does.

Machinery and electrical safety

Works trucks are machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and need UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity, a technical file and an English manual, with brakes, a horn, guarding, an emergency stop and a key or code to prevent unauthorised use. Battery chargers fall under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

Works trucks are for private sites; a truck used on public roads needs registration and road vehicle approval, which these trucks usually do not have.

Specifying works trucks

Specify drawbar pull and towing capacity, platform load, speed limits, gradeability, battery chemistry, voltage and capacity, charger and charging time, brakes, tyres (solid or pneumatic, non-marking), lights and warning devices, coupling type, and spare parts and service support.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 12 electric tow tractors, commodity code 8709 11 90 00, bought for £54,000 free on board, with £3,200 of freight and insurance, so £57,200 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on tow tractors; import VAT at 20% of £57,200 is £11,440. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Function: drive a sample loaded and unloaded, check drawbar pull, braking distance, the parking brake on a slope, speed limiting and the emergency stop.

Electrical: check battery capacity and charger output, wiring protection, the key switch, horn and lights.

Documents and packing: check the declaration of conformity, manual and spares list, and that trucks are secured on skids with batteries shipped as the dangerous goods rules require.

What goes wrong

Works truck orders fail on batteries, brakes and support. Battery capacity is lower than quoted and the truck will not finish a shift, brakes are weak under full tow load, controllers overheat on ramps, lithium batteries arrive without shipping documents, and no spare parts or diagnostics are available locally.

Test a sample under full load, check the battery documents, and agree spares before ordering. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources tow tractors and platform trucks for UK warehouses, factories and airports, checking the maker's test track and records first. See factory verification.