Trucks come in many shapes and sizes, each designed for specialized purposes in transportation, construction, mining and other industries. This definitive guide examines 30 different types of new and used trucks, tracing their evolution and highlighting their key features, pricing, popular models and ideal applications.
Light-Duty Trucks
Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks can trace their origins to early 20th century Model T cars converted with a rear cargo bed for lightweight hauling. They have evolved into a universally popular personal and commercial vehicle thanks to their versatility, range of sizes, cab configurations and towing capacities up to 12,000+ lbs.
Key Features: Cargo bed, extended/crew cab options, 4WD/AWD capability, towing capacity
Pricing: From $25,000 for basic full-size models up to $70,000+ for heavy-duty pickups
Popular Models: Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra 1500
Best Use Cases: Construction, landscaping, agriculture, personal transport
Sport Utility Trucks
Blending SUV space and comfort with pickup truck hauling capability and body-on-frame durability, sport utility trucks appeal to personal and commercial buyers alike. Most models can tow over 8,000 lbs and carry 1,500+ lbs.
Key Features: Enclosed cabin with extra rows of seating, cargo bed, high ground clearance
Pricing: $28,000 to $60,000
Popular Models: Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Avalanche
Best Use Cases: Personal/family transport, commercial landscaping, construction
Medium-Duty Trucks
Flatbed Trucks
Featuring an open cargo area and heavier-duty components compared to light pickups, flatbed trucks are favored for commercial transportation thanks to their payload capacity up to 20,000 lbs.
Key Features: Open flat cargo area, heavy-duty rear axles/suspension, tie-down points throughout bed
Pricing: $55,000 to $125,000
Popular Models: Ford F-650, Chevrolet 6500XD, International CV, Freightliner M2
Best Use Cases: Construction/building supply delivery, heavy equipment transport
Box Trucks
Box trucks enclose their cargo area within rigid walls and a roof for security, weather protection and easy sidewalk loading. Durability, medium-duty components allow payloads typically ranging from 7,000-26,000 lbs.
Key Features: Enclosed box-style cargo area with truck cab/engine upfront, loading dock/ramps on many models
Pricing: $50,000 to $80,000+
Popular Models: Isuzu NPR-HD, Ford Transit, Freightliner MT55, International MV607
Best Use Cases: Furniture delivery, supermarket/retail supply transport
Tow Trucks
With mechanisms to lift and haul disabled or illegally parked vehicles quickly and safely, tow trucks perform an essential service for motorists and municipalities alike. Durability and medium-duty design allows towing capacity up to 30,000+ lbs.
Key Features: Wheel-lift system, hook/chain system or flatbed design; heavy-duty drivetrain for pulling weight
Pricing: $60,000 to $150,000
Popular Models: Ford F-550, Chevrolet 4500HD, Dodge 5500
Best Use Cases: Roadside assistance fleets, municipal impound/law enforcement
Refrigerated Trucks
Safe temperature-controlled transportation of perishable foods and pharmaceuticals relies on refrigerated straight trucks and tractor-trailers. Insulated cargo areas and dedicated refrigeration units allow precise temp control from -20F to over 100F.
Key Features: Fully insulated box with refrigeration unit, front-mounted truck cab, diesel auxiliary power for refrigeration unit
Pricing: $70,000 to $150,000
Popular Models: Freightliner M2 112, International MV 507, Kenworth T370
Best Use Cases: Foodservice delivery, pharmaceutical/medical supply
Heavy-Duty Trucks
Concrete Mixer Trucks
With rotating steel drums that mix concrete during transport, concrete mixer trucks deliver freshly-mixed concrete wherever needed for construction. Heavy-duty drivetrains, extra axles and specialized drum/chute designs enable precise concrete delivery.
Key Features: Large rotating concrete mixer drum, chutes for precise concrete pouring capability
Pricing: $100,000 to $200,000
Popular Models: Mack Granite Mixer, Kenworth T880 Mixer, Peterbilt 365 Mixer
Best Use Cases: Transport and pour concrete at residential/commercial construction sites
Dump Trucks
Dump trucks live up to their name thanks to an open-topped cargo bed that hydraulically raises to dump its heavy contents. With ultra-durable frames, extra axles to handle over 50-ton payloads and off-road capability, they take on the toughest terrain and biggest jobs.
Key Features: Hydraulic pistons raise and lower large open-topped square cargo bed for quick unloading of up to 50 tons
Pricing: From $100,000 to $150,000 for medium-size models up to $500,000 for Caterpillar 7495 High-Capacity model
Popular Models: Mack Granite, Peterbilt 567, Kenworth T880
Best Use Cases: Construction sites, road paving, demolition, mining
Garbage Trucks
Garbage trucks do the dirty work of collecting trash and recyclables from homes and businesses. With automated lift/dump arms, huge hauling capacities and compaction mechanisms to crush and compress loads, today’s garbage trucks maximize collection efficiency and minimize dumps.
Key Features: Automated side-loading arms to collect bins or extra-large rear loading hoppers, internal trash compaction mechanisms
Pricing: From $150,000 up to $500,000
Popular Models: Mack LR, Peterbilt 320, Freightliner E1
Best Use Cases: Municipal waste and recycling collection
Tanker Trucks
Safe bulk transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous liquids including gasoline, chemicals, water, oil and waste fluids relies on tanker trucks. Tank capacities range from 4,000 gallon semi-tankers to specialized 20,000+ gallon trucks for hauling fuel and industrial liquids.
Key Features: Large cylindrical holding tanks made of specialized steel, internal baffles and air circulation valves for safe fluid transport
Pricing: $50,000 to $150,000+ for a new truck; tanks also installed on flatbeds and other trucks
Popular Models: Kenworth T680 Chemical Tanker, International DuraStar Fuel Tanker
Best Use Cases: Bulk fuel delivery, industrial/commercial chemical transport
Fire Trucks
Fire trucks are custom-built with specialized gear for fire suppression including tall ladders, water pumps, hose reels and water tanks carrying up to 1,500 gallons. Stability, strength and all-terrain capability enables them to save lives and property under urgent conditions.
Key Features: Fire pump powered by dedicated diesel engine, extensive water/foam tanks and hose reels, outriggers and reinforcements to handle 100 ft. aerial ladders
Pricing: $500,000 to $1 million+ per truck
Popular Models: Pierce Enforcer Pumper, KME Predator Panther Pumper, Ferrara Inferno Pumper & Aerial
Best Use Cases: Municipal and wildland firefighting
Logging Trucks
With ultra heavy-duty frames, specialized self-loading/unloading trailers and 30-ton+ payloads, logging trucks efficiently transport cut trees from forests to sawmills. Their durability handles off-road conditions during loading and extreme torque for steep climbs.
Key Features: Reinforced cab, frame and suspension for off-road durability, high-torque drivetrains; specialized self-loading logging trailers
Pricing: $100,000 to $250,000
Popular Models: Mack Granite Logging Truck, Western Star 4900 Log Truck
Best Use Cases: Forestry/logging extraction and timber transportation
Car Carrier Trucks
Specialized car carrier trailers hauled by durable trucks maximize car transportation efficiency thanks to adjustable upper and lower decks for the right mix of full-size and smaller vehicles. Cost-effective enclosed designs protect cargo from weather and road debris.
Key Features: Bi-level or tri-level trailer decks carry anywhere from 5 to 15+ vehicles, hydraulically adjustable decks, enclosed transport area
Pricing: $100,000 to $250,000
Popular Models: Fontaine Magnitude 55 Car Hauler, Manac 53′ Enclosed Auto Hauler
Best Use Cases: New and used car transport for dealers, rental fleets, auctions
Semi-Trailer Trucks
The familiar “eighteen wheelers” of America’s highways, Class 8 semi-trailer trucks provide efficient long-haul capabilities unmatched for massive payloads up to 80,000 lbs. Tractor cabs offer every comfort for long-distance driving while specialized trailers serve liquid tankers, auto carriers, and refrigerated goods alike.
Key Features: Aerodynamic cabs with living quarters/sleepers, advanced telematics and entertainment; paired with specialized box, tank or flatbed trailers
Pricing: $80,000 to $150,000+
Popular Models: Freightliner Cascadia, International LT Series, Peterbilt 579, Kenworth T680, Mack Anthem
Best Use Cases: Long-distance transportation of goods, hazardous materials and bulk liquids
Off-Road Haul Trucks
With towering four-wheel drive platforms 30 feet tall and payloads over 300 tons, ultra-class haul trucks tackle the world’s largest mining and heavy construction projects. Diesel-electric drivetrains deliver thousands of horsepower for climbing steep grades in quarries and open-pit mines globally.
Key Features: Massive 63-tonpayload capacity and higher, high- torque diesel-electric drivetrains, four-wheel drive with independent suspension for stability
Pricing: From $3 million up to $6 million per truck
Popular Models: Caterpillar 797F, Liebherr T-284, Komatsu 930E
Best Use Cases: High-production mining, quarries, and the largest earthmoving construction projects
Specialized Trucks
Concrete Pumper Trucks
Specialized concrete pumper trucks use powerful boom arms with long articulating pipes to pump, pour and precisely place liquid concrete, with truck-mounted concrete mixers allowing quick mobility between sites. Secondary boom arms and pipe extensions reach over 200 feet.
Key Features: Powerful boom arms for high pumping capacity and precision concrete pouring, secondary "S" articulating arms greatly extend concrete placement reach
Pricing: $200,000 to $325,000
Popular Models: Schwing S 39 X Boom Pump, Putzmeister 70Z-Meter Truck Pump
Best Use Cases: Concrete pouring/placement at high-rise and remote construction sites
Crane Trucks
Self-contained mobile crane trucks lift and precisely place heavy construction materials thanks to powerful hydraulic boom arms and telescoping extensions reaching 200 feet high with heavy loads. Superior lifting capacity and mobility compared to alternatives like tower cranes.
Key Features: Hydraulically-powered articulating crane booms for lifting/placing up to 8 tons at long distances, outrigger legs add stability
Pricing: $200,000 to $400,000+
Popular Models: National Crane NBT30H, Terex Comet 100 Truck Crane
Best Use Cases: Construction sites, installation of HVAC/Cell towers and heavy equipment
Boom Lift Trucks
Providing work platforms for easy access at height, articulating boom lifts provide stable lifting for 1-2 workers safely up to 130 feet or more. Truck-mounted mobility brings aerial access wherever required.
Key Features: Hydraulically powered articulating booms arrange in various configurations for optimal aerial work access, bucket/platform safety enclosures
Pricing: $100,000 to $200,000
Popular Models: JLG 1500SJ Boom Lift, Genie Z-135/70 Articulating Boom Lift
Best Use Cases: Construction/equipment installation/maintenance, event production
Bucket Trucks
Sometimes called cherry pickers, bucket trucks provide final-mile utility access thanks to hydraulically-powered booms lifting bucket-shaped work platforms 40 to 200 feet in the air. Outrigger legs stabilize the truck, allowing precision control.
Key Features: Aerial hydraulic boom lifts bucket work platform for servicing overhead lines/cabling; tool storage and liners provide utility functionality
Pricing: $50,000 to $200,000
Popular Models: Altec AT37G Bucket Truck, Terex Hi-Ranger XT60 Bucket
Best Use Cases: Electric/Telecom utility maintenance, tree trimming
Vacuum Trucks
Vacuum trucks handle challenging liquid and loose material cleanup with powerful vacuum systems and large debris/storage tanks. Boom arms provide reach and articulation for precision vacuuming truck applications ranging from hydro excavation to spill remediation.
Key Features: Powerful vacuum pump systems reach 25 inches of mercury, boom offloaders, and storage tanks from 1,000 gallon to over 4,000 gallon capacity
Pricing: $200,000 to $300,000+
Popular Models: Vac-Con V311L Hydro Excavator, Freightliner M2 Vacuum Truck
Best Use Cases: Sewer/water repair, oil & chemical spill response, hydro excavation
Electric Trucks
Hybrid & Electric Light-Duty Trucks
With a surge in hybrid and battery-electric pickup truck options, fuel efficiency is meeting utility in models like the Ford F-150 Hybrid and Lightning BEV, delivering 500+ HP and 300+ mile range without emissions for personal and commercial use.
Key Features: Battery/electric drivetrains eliminate/reduce emissions and noise while providing instant torque and long range thanks to large battery packs
Pricing: From mid $30,000’s up to $90,000+
Popular Models: Ford F-150 Hybrid/BEV Lightning, Rivian R1T Electric Pickup
Best Use Cases: Suitable for typical pickup needs, while eliminating emissions/noise
Medium-Duty Electric Trucks
New electric drivetrain options for larger delivery vans and trucks eliminate emissions while cutting noise and total cost of ownership. Short-range urban models offer sub-200 mile range while long-haul sleeper cabs top 500 miles per charge and recharge quickly.
Key Features: High-output electric motors replace diesel engines while large battery packs store overnight charging energy for heavy-duty range and capability
Pricing: $250,000 to $375,000
Popular Models: BYD 8TT Heavy Duty Box Truck, Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 Sleeper
Best Use Cases: Urban delivery and short/medium-range Class 4-8 freight tasks
Conclusion
This guide has examined 30 types of new and used diesel, gas, hybrid and electric trucks spanning light, medium and heavy-duty applications across transportation, construction, mining, infrastructure maintenance and emergency response. Each class of truck brings specialized capabilities to safely and efficiently move materials, goods and people via public roads and the most challenging off-road environments globally.
