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Prepositions with nouns

By truck or of truck?

Use by truck to describe transport or delivery. Of truck is not a normal fixed combination in this meaning.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use by truck when you mean transport using a truck. The phrase of truck is generally not idiomatic unless of introduces a separate noun relationship, such as the driver of a truck.

The goods were shipped by truck overnight.
Most supplies arrive by truck from the port.
She prefers traveling by truck in remote areas.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
by truck

Transport method

Use by truck to describe how goods or people are transported.

Fresh produce is delivered by truck every morning.
2
truck driver

Jobs and roles

Use truck directly before another noun in compound nouns.

My uncle works as a truck driver in Texas.
3
the back of a truck

Parts of a vehicle

Use of with truck only when showing possession or a part-whole relationship.

The tools were stored in the back of a truck.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
by truck
The furniture was transported by truck.
correct way to describe transport using a truck
of truck
The driver of the truck waited outside.
of belongs to the larger phrase and shows possession, not transport method
in a truck
We slept in a truck during the storm.
location inside the vehicle
via truck
The company ships some items via truck.
formal alternative to by truck

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of truck for transport

Do not use of truck to mean transport method.

✕ The goods arrived of truck. ✓ The goods arrived by truck.

Missing article with truck

Use an article when talking about one vehicle.

✕ We traveled in truck. ✓ We traveled in a truck.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The machines were delivered ___ truck.
2. The boxes were in the back ___ a truck.
3. We crossed the region ___ a truck.

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Frequently asked questions

Is by truck the same as by lorry?

Yes. American English usually uses truck, while British English often uses lorry.

Can I say via truck?

Yes. Via truck is grammatical but more formal than by truck.

Is of truck ever correct?

Only as part of a larger phrase such as the engine of the truck. It is not used for transport method.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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