Commercial Trucks in the Construction Industry

For those who own or manage a construction business, one of the keys to successful day-to-day operations is acquiring the right trucks for your fleet.

While construction trucks vary in features and equipment, they share a common focus on durability and increased towing and hauling capacities. Construction trucks are the workhorses of the industry, allowing people to perform tasks ranging from laying concrete driveways to hauling lumber to a job site.

Here is our guide to trucks in the construction industry. Whether you’re buying your first truck or adding to your fleet, these trucks can get the job done.

Common Types of Construction Trucks

When searching for a new truck, your hunt will begin by narrowing down the type of vehicle you need. There’s no doubt that in the construction industry, commercial trucks spanning a variety of styles and designs are critical to getting daily work done.

Most construction vehicles are chosen based on the task needed to be done. Additional considerations might include the chassis the truck was built on and whether or not to purchase new or used. The following list breaks down the most popular choices for construction applications.

Concrete Mixers

Concrete mixers are critical for the construction industry. These trucks are often referred to as cement mixers or in-transit mixers, are designed on a durable chassis with a unique barrel that mixes cement, keeping it from solidifying until laid. Western Star is a common manufacturer of quality concrete mixers, known for its long-term durability and premium technology.

Custom Haulers

Custom haulers are designed to allow you to attach a trailer to the back of the truck via a ball hitch. These versatile commercial vehicles provide superior towing capabilities, allowing those in the construction industry to transport heavy goods and equipment. Whether you plan to haul a backhoe to a job site or a load of timber to a building location, these trucks are designed to handle the job at hand and can be customized to meet your needs. Freightliner, Ford, and Chevrolet are popular choices for those purchasing a customer hauler.

Dump Trucks

In the construction industry, a lot of aggregate materials, such as gravel and dirt, need to be transported. Placing these materials on a standard hauler would make it difficult to secure the load. Designed specifically to haul materials of any kind, dump trucks can feature side dumps, roll-offs, or back dumps.

Freightliner and Western Star are two of the most trusted brands.

Flatbeds

With an open-air bed, flatbeds are one of the most used vehicles in the construction industry. These trucks can haul large equipment and are often designed with lowboy profiles, making it possible to transport excessively tall equipment.

Choose from popular manufacturers such as Freightliner and Western Star.

Sleeper Trucks

For some construction work, the hauling of materials and equipment requires long cross-country trips. In these situations, sleeper trucks make for a great solution. Similar to a standard custom hauler, these trucks allow you to attach a trailer of your choosing to the back of the vehicle.

One of the best features is an additional space with sleeping quarters which makes it possible for drivers to rest comfortably between hauls. Western Star and Freightliner lead the way in creating premium quality sleeper trucks.

Water Trucks

Often, construction sites will require water to reduce dust on the job site and to prepare roadways for asphalt. Water trucks are utilized to not only haul water but to dispense the water via a network of spray nozzles. These trucks can be equipped with a tank of almost any size, allowing you to customize the vehicle for your business needs.

Winch Trucks

When moving large equipment or heavy materials, it is often necessary to have access to an industrial-strength winch. Winch trucks are designed with a built-in winch system. This makes it easier to load large items onto the back of the truck. For construction fleets, Western Star designs a variety of quality winch trucks featuring unique towing capabilities and designs.

How to Service Your Construction Truck

Beyond simply acquiring the right trucks for your construction fleet, it’s a necessity to keep your construction trucks in safe operating condition. The following tips can help you streamline your maintenance program.

1. Find a reputable service center. Ideally, if you can have your commercial trucks serviced at the same location where they were purchased, you can ensure that these vehicles adhere to all make and model maintenance requirements.
2. Use onboard telematics. Gone are the days of keeping track of maintenance and repairs on a paper trail. Today, you can implement the use of onboard technology to keep track of important maintenance intervals. Consider investing in telematics that will inform you of when a truck needs maintenance or repairs.
3. Teach drivers to prioritize safety. The construction industry can be rough on vehicles. And when these vehicles begin to wear down, it can put your drivers at risk. Train drivers to inspect their vehicles daily and report any service needs immediately.

Finding a New or Used Construction Truck

As your construction business grows, your fleet will also need to grow. One of the main tasks of any fleet manager is to acquire new trucks based on operational needs and budget availability. The key to picking a new or used construction truck is to work with a reputable dealer.

At Transwest, we have years of experience assisting fleet managers and owners of construction businesses. Our team will be happy to assist you in finding a new or used construction vehicle. Search for a location near you and visit our team to learn more about our inventory options. Or, feel free to reach out to our team with any further questions. From dump trucks to haulers, we can assist you in picking a durable, reliable vehicle for your work.