When you think of a bucket truck, what comes to mind? Maybe you picture that one city worker who uses a bucket truck to safely decorate streetlamps for the holidays. Or maybe you think of construction crews doing work underneath a bridge. Or maybe you envision farmers using a cherry picker to literally pick cherries.
No matter what comes to mind, it’s important to realize that each type of job needs the right type of bucket truck.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know about bucket trucks. This way, you can select the best one for your project. With these pro tips, you’ll be ready to gear up and keep crews safe and productive.
What Is a Bucket Truck? When Do I Need One?
Bucket trucks are one part utility truck and one part boom lift. Sometimes known as a cherry picker or boom lift truck, bucket trucks are a type of aerial lift or mobile elevated work platform (MEWP).
They feature a center pole, known as a boom, that’s mounted to the back of a utility truck. At the end of the boom there is a bucketed work platform. However, unlike traditional boom lifts which need to be towed to a project, bucket trucks can be driven on the road to the jobsite. Bucket trucks help teams complete elevated work safely and efficiently, especially if it’s along a route. These machines are perfect for a variety of industries and projects, including:
- Forestry and tree work
- Construction and maintenance
- Electrical and utility line work
- Emergency services
- Events and photography
- Agriculture and fruit picking
Whether you need a bucket truck for one job or many, the pro tips below include the key things you need to know to make your bucket truck project a safe success.
Pro Tip 1: Know the Types of Bucket Trucks
You need the right bucket truck for your project to avoid costly inefficiencies or safety issues.
What you need to know about bucket trucks is that there are several types of bucket trucks available. Each one has unique features that could impact your operations. The following classifications help you understand how the boom moves, if the bucket will help prevent electrocutions and if the truck can navigate swampy terrain.
Articulated Overcenter
Articulated means the boom has a joint or “knuckle.” This joint allows it to have more range of motion than a non-articulated boom. Overcenter means that the boom can move outward, over and beyond the center of the truck. They can lift the bucket to the side of or behind the truck.
An articulated overcenter bucket truck has the greatest range of motion, allowing teams to reach many elevated positions before repositioning the truck itself. They also make it easier to navigate around obstacles, like branches or signs.
Ideal Uses for Articulated Overcenter Bucket Trucks:
- Because of their added flexibility, articulated overcenter trucks are great for forestry and utility work.
Articulated Non-Overcenter
Articulated non-overcenter bucket trucks keep the boom centered above the truck’s base. They only lift the bucket above the truck, which allows for more stability.
Ideal Uses for Articulated Non-Overcenter Bucket Trucks:
- Articulated non-overcenter bucket trucks are ideal for projects where the truck can get close to the elevated work area and where obstacles are not a concern.
Insulated
Bucket trucks are often used for utility work, making contact with power lines and electrocution very real hazards. Insulated bucket trucks are designed to help protect workers from electrical currents. The bucket is made of material that doesn’t conduct electricity. The boom and truck may also feature materials or mechanisms to keep the bucket truck from becoming electrified. If bucket trucks are not labeled as insulated, then consider them non-insulated bucket trucks.
Ideal Uses for Insulated Bucket Trucks:
- Insulated bucket trucks are a must-have when working with or near power lines and electrical systems.
Telescopic (Articulated or Non-Articulated)
The boom on a telescopic bucket truck has at least one section that can extend and collapse into itself like a telescope lens. This allows the bucket to have greater reach than other types of booms. The boom may also be jointed (articulated) or not (non-articulated). Articulating telescopic bucket trucks offer the greatest reach and range of motion.
Ideal Uses for Telescopic Bucket Trucks:
- Telescopic bucket trucks are best for project sites where the elevated work area is beyond the reach of a regular articulated bucket truck.
Track Mounted
Most bucket trucks can only be driven and positioned on stable, flat ground. If not, their wheels could sink in soft soil. Track mounted bucket trucks have tracks instead of wheels. Tracks give them lower centers of gravity and increased traction so they can handle small slopes and soft ground.
Ideal Uses for Track Mounted Bucket Trucks:
- Track mounted bucket trucks should be used on project sites with uneven, sloping or soft terrain, such as in swamps or farmland.
Pro Tip 2: What You Need to Know to Choose a Bucket Truck
Even if you know which type of bucket truck is best for your project, you’ll likely have multiple models to choose from. Here is what you need to know about bucket trucks to narrow down the options and choose the right model for your project and budget.
Factors to Consider:
- What You Need It For: Consider the job at hand and the features of the project site. For example, electrical work requires an insulated truck, while work on a busy roadway needs a truck with minimal tail swing.
- Weight Capacity: This is the maximum amount that the bucket can lift safely without causing damage to the machine or risk a tip-over. Overestimate the total weight of personnel in the bucket and their tools or materials. Make sure the truck you select can lift the workers and materials needed for the job.
- Maximum Bucket Height: The higher a bucket truck can reach, the more expensive it is likely to be. Know the maximum working height you need so that you don’t pay for more truck than you need.
- Side Reach and Tail Swing: If the site might not allow for optimal positioning of the truck, you may need an overcenter truck that can extend the bucket to the side. However, this can also mean the base of the boom will swing outward in the opposite direction (known as tail swing). Crowded project sites may not have room for significant tail swing.
- Learn More: How to Safely Operate a Bucket Truck
- Transmission and Driveline: For material handling bucket trucks lifting heavy materials or projects with rough-terrain, four-wheel drive is recommended. While automatic transmissions are popular, some operators may prefer manual.
- Fuel Type: Smaller bucket trucks often use gasoline while larger trucks generally run on diesel. Hybrid trucks use an electric engine to raise the boom, which uses less fuel. If your decision comes down to fuel type, consider the cost of fuel and any environmental or emissions standards you need to adhere to.
Pro Tip 3: The Right Rental Can Make All the Difference
If you need different bucket trucks for different projects, or only need a bucket truck for a short time, then be sure to rent from a reliable equipment rental provider. Renting gives you the flexibility to handle more projects without the hassle of large down payments or repair and maintenance responsibilities.
How to Rent a Bucket Truck:
- Choose a Provider Wisely: Look for flexible rental terms and other services to improve your safety and operational efficiency, such as safety training, equipment delivery and maintenance/repair support. Ensure that the company you choose performs all required maintenance regular and helps you meet all of OSHA’s aerial lift safety standards.
- Know How Long You Need the Truck: One of the biggest factors in the price of a bucket truck rental is the length of the rental period. Longer contracts offer a lower per-day cost than shorter contracts.
- Increase Efficiency and Cost Savings by Bundling Multiple Projects: Bundle several projects together to avoid lots of short-term, higher priced rental agreements. If you need the truck for many different projects, one long rental will save you money over a new rental for each project. Alternatively, bundling multiple trucks with other equipment under one rental agreement may also increase savings.
Experience the Difference with a Herc Rentals Bucket Truck
At Herc Rentals, our equipment experts will help you analyze your project and find the right bucket truck for your needs. With features such as insulated buckets and articulating booms, our bucket trucks are ready to help you handle the most challenging jobs. You get the maneuverability and height you need plus advanced safety features to protect workers as they take on potentially dangerous duties.
Renting a bucket truck from Herc Rentals does more than help you get the job done, it helps you maximize safety and operational efficiencies through our flexible terms and top-notch training and support. Our experts are ready to help you dive deeper into what you need to know about bucket trucks to get the job done right.
Explore our crane and bucket truck selection or give us a call at 888-777-2700 to discuss options with an expert today.
