At its core, a bucket truck is simply a utility truck fitted with a hydraulic pole (boom) that has a man-carrying bucket at its end. The bucket helps keeps the worker safe as the boom lifts him up to where he can comfortably use his tools and safely perform his job.
Having long been used to perform traditional aerial tasks in sectors such as telecommunication, utility, signage, forestry, and construction, bucket trucks are becoming even more commonplace. This is due to more stringent OSHA regulations mandating a decrease in use of ladders and scaffoldings to perform various off-the-ground jobs that may be unsafe and lead to accidents.
Types of Bucket Trucks
Telescopic Bucket Trucks
Telescopic bucket trucks are often referred to as “squirt booms” or “stick booms” in the heavy equipment industry. Unlike the articulated version, the straight booms on these trucks have no knuckles and therefore can only extend telescopically. The biggest advantage of telescopic bucket trucks is the greater horizontal reach they afford, compared to any other boom. This is a very useful attribute when working in limited access areas.
Telescoping Bucket Trucks include the Elliott H110F and the Elliott E-Line Series (i.e. Elliott E160).
Articulating Telescopic Bucket Trucks
Articulated/Telescopic Bucket Trucks are also known as “knuckle/squirt booms” because of their unique ability to unfold like the traditional knuckle booms with an added telescopic feature. This allows for increased side reach at higher elevations, while reducing tail swing on the opposite side of where the work is being performed. In many cases, this particular design limits the number of times a your bucket truck will have to be repositioned, which increases productivity.
The Terex LT40 and the Versalift VST-7500-E108 are examples of articulating bucket trucks.
Overcenter Bucket Trucks
Within the articulating category, you’ll find overcenter bucket trucks. Overcenter booms will allow the bucket to move beyond the center of the truck, extending the side reach, which can be very useful for forestry, utility, and construction jobs.
Check out the Terex HRX55 Overcenter Bucket Truck.
Non-Overcenter Bucket Trucks
Non-overcenter bucket trucks cannot move the bucket beyond the center of the truck and therefore are more restricted in their reach. However, often that that isn’t necessary, especially when your primary focus is working height.
Check out Custom Truck’s selection of Non-Overcenter Bucket Trucks such as the Terex TC55 or the Terex TM125.
Insulated Bucket Trucks
Insulated bucket trucks are mainly used by utility crews and those working around electrical cabling, because they help safeguard against accidental electrocution. Two components of these trucks are constructed of dielectric materials, like fiberglass, to prevent conduction of electricity: the boom and the bucket.
Non-Insulated Bucket Trucks
As the name suggests, non-insulated booms do not have a fiberglass coating on their booms and buckets, which means they don’t help protect from electrocution. These are used in applications where there is no need for this safety feature. Instead, they are simply made of steel.
The Posi-Plus 800 and the Versalift SST-36-NE are examples of non-insulated bucket trucks.
Material Handler Bucket Trucks
Along with lifting workmen, these trucks are designed to also lift a moderate load of material without additional equipment or special rigging. In other words, these do two jobs with one piece of equipment.
Track Bucket Trucks
Several factors, such as traction, ground pressure, suspension, and steering, make track bucket trucks an alternative in situations with rough, uneven, or swampy terrains. Traction, for example, is greater when the equipment moves on tracks instead wheels and exerts less ground pressure.
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