Common Types of Commercial Trucks | Transwest (2024)

Commercial trucks are utilized across countless industries for transporting goods of all kinds. Today, many of these trucks feature unique designs with built-in equipment to assist in specialized labor. From delivering packages to hauling concrete, commercial trucks are the backbone of the transportation industry.

The type of truck needed for any given fleet will depend a lot on the specific use of the truck. We’ll take a look at the common types of commercial trucks available today and the specialized ways these trucks are used.

Day Cab Trucks

Day cab trucks are one of the most common commercial trucks on the road, with these trucks often paired with a commercial trailer for hauling goods.

A day cab truck is perfect for hauling cargo of almost any kind, as it can be paired with a variety of trailer types. Available from Freightliner, Western Star, and other trusted manufacturers, these heavy-duty trucks are designed to offer long-term reliability and durability.

Sleeper Trucks

Similar to a day cab truck is a sleeper truck. Sleeper trucks are designed to tow a commercial trailer in the same way as a day cab truck. The main difference between the two is that a sleeper truck features a built-in sleeping space.

These trucks are designed to allow truck drivers to travel long distances with a dedicated place for rest. Depending on the size of the sleeper truck, the living space might include any of the following amenities:

• A bedroom
• Cabinets
• Overhead storage
• A dining space
• A living room area

Hydrovacs

Hydrovacs are specialized commercial trucks that are used to remove earth, clay, soil, ice, gravel, or dirt from an area using hot water and a vacuum. These specialized trucks are safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional digging methods.

Hydrovacs are commonly used by utility companies, construction businesses, and the oil and gas industry. With the use of a hydrovac, operators can accurately dig and tunnel into the ground. This makes them the best choice for exposing utility crossings, potholing, slot trenching, open trenching, excavation, and bore pits. They can also be used for spill cleanups, facility work, frac and rig cleans, and pipelines.

Package Delivery Trucks

Package delivery trucks are the backbone of the delivery industry. These trucks are utilized by delivery services of all kinds.

A package delivery truck can be designed with a separate cab and cargo space or with a walkthrough option, making it easy for delivery drivers to quickly grab an item from the back without ever leaving the vehicle.

Available as an upfit on either a van or truck body, these commercial vehicles are offered in numerous sizes.

Car Haulers

Transporting vehicles safely is no easy feat. A specialized car hauler is designed to accommodate multiple cars per load while protecting the vehicles in transit. These haulers often feature a combined trailer and tractor, with a high mount or stinger configuration. The size of a car hauler can vary from a single-level trailer to a double-decker.

Box Trucks

Box trucks are a chassis cab truck with an enclosed cargo space attached to the back of the vehicle. In most cases, a box truck features a separate cabin without access to the rear.

These trucks are also commonly called box vans, cube vans, or cube trucks. A box truck features a unibody design and is usually equipped with a rear roll-up door. Box trucks are beneficial for transporting cargo that cannot be exposed to the elements.

Dump Trucks

Dump trucks are designed to transport loads of goods, often aggregate materials, such as sand or gravel, from one location to another.

One of the key benefits of a dump truck is that its design makes unloading materials efficient. Utilizing hydraulics, a dump truck will release the contents carried to the ground through a variety of methods. A dump truck might feature a side-tip, end dump, or roll-off dump style.

Concrete Mixers

Concrete mixer trucks or cement mixers are specialty trucks utilized to transport the materials needed to pour concrete to a job site. These trucks are used by construction industries, landscapers, and in roadwork. What makes these trucks unique is that their mixing barrel keeps the cement mix in motion, preventing the mix from hardening before being poured.

These modern trucks have revolutionized the once tedious task of mixing cement by hand, and have created an instant process that can be delivered on-site.

Reefers

Reefers or refrigerated trucks are responsible for transporting temperature-sensitive goods. A reefer can be loaded up with perishables, frozen goods, produce, or any other item that requires a specific controlled temperature. Their refrigerated cargo space ensures that items are protected from the elements and helps prevent spoilage in transit.

Reefers are available in numerous sizes, allowing for the transport of everything from a small number of groceries on a local level to massive amounts of food across the nation.

Flatbed Trucks

Flatbed trucks feature a large open-air bed. These trucks are ideal for transporting goods that do not need to be protected against the elements. Additionally, due to the open-air space of a flatbed truck, they are the best truck for oversized hauling.

Flatbed trucks can also be designed with fence-like sides, referred to as stake bodies to help secure items in transit.

Refuse Trucks

Refuse or garbage trucks are specialized commercial vehicles designed to make hauling trash efficient and safe. These trucks feature a unique loading system that provides an on-demand compacting service. This allows for more garbage to be hauled at one time, improving the efficiency of waste removal in communities.

Additionally, refuse trucks can be designed with extra features, such as mechanical arms that lift garbage cans directly to the body of the truck where trash is disposed of. These arms can be operated from within the cab of the truck, doing away with the need for a second person to lift garbage into the truck.

Winch Tractors

Winch tractors or winch trucks are designed with a trailer bed featuring a built-in winch. This winch is a spool with a wound cable that can be used to lift or pull heavy cargo.

Heavy-duty winch tractors are often used in the oil and gas industry due to their ability to carry heavy equipment.

Septic Trucks

Septic trucks are specialized vehicles designed to empty out septic systems through the use of a vacuum. On the rear of these trucks is a tank with a large pump. This pump powers the vacuum. A septic truck is pulled up to a septic tank, where a hose is inserted into the septic system. The pump is activated and the truck then pumps and empties the septic system.

Visit Transwest for Your Next Commercial Truck Purchase

If you are thinking about adding a new commercial truck to your fleet, come visit our team at Transwest. We carry a quality inventory of commercial trucks and will be happy to assist you in finding the ideal type of commercial truck for your needs.

Additionally, we offer in-house financing options, as well as a parts and service center so you can continue to maintain your fleet.