camion

Camion is a motor vehicle designed primarily to transport goods. In French, Spanish, and many other languages, the term denotes a truck or lorry; in English, the words truck or lorry are used depending on the region. The vehicle is typically built on a rigid frame or unibody and carries a cargo area behind or above the drive axle.

Truck classes range from light commercial trucks to heavy-duty tractor-trailers. Common configurations include box or cargo vans, flatbeds, tankers, dump trucks, and refrigerated units. Semi-trailer combinations use a tractor unit to tow a separate trailer; cab-over-engine designs place the cab above the front axle, while conventional designs position the engine in front of the cab.

Camions serve a wide range of applications, including freight transport, construction, waste collection, and service delivery. They are central to supply chains and regional distribution, with specialized bodies tailored to liquids, bulk materials, or hazardous goods.

The emergence of motorized trucks occurred in the early 20th century, with mass production enabling longer-haul freight and standardized components. Today, truck operation is governed by licensing, weight limits, and axle configurations; drivers may work under hours-of-service rules, and fleets employ telematics for tracking and compliance.

Technology and trends include electronic stability control, adaptive braking, and increasingly electrified or hydrogen-powered drivetrains. Autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features are being piloted in some markets, particularly for long-haul routes.