Utility trucks are hugely popular and widely known to improve operational efficiency. The global utility truck market size is growing and is expected to reach $163 billion by 2032. Both small businesses and large trucking fleets can benefit from switching to utility trucks. However, there are many options out there to consider, so it’s important to do your research and seek professional advice to find which is best for you.

Why Utility Trucks Are a Staple for Any Fleet

Utility trucks have become essential across a range of industries—from construction and telecommunications to plumbing and electrical work—due to their versatility and efficiency. These vehicles are purpose-built to support demanding tasks, providing organized storage, easy access to tools, and robust performance under tough conditions. For fleet managers, investing in utility trucks means improving job site productivity, minimizing downtime, and ensuring each vehicle is equipped to handle specialized tasks.

With utility truck customization, these trucks can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different job roles. This flexibility is key to maximizing each vehicle’s usefulness, whether that means adding crane attachments for heavy lifting or configuring storage compartments for better organization. Additionally, modern advancements, such as telematics systems and hybrid options, allow for improved fleet management, tracking, and cost-efficiency, helping companies stay competitive in today’s market.

Simply put, utility trucks enable crews to work smarter, not harder. With the right configurations and equipment, a well-optimized fleet of utility trucks enhances operational efficiency, keeps essential tools secure, and allows teams to complete projects more effectively—all essential factors for maintaining a productive and reliable fleet.

What is a Utility Truck?

Utility trucks differ from other types of trucks in that they typically have a collection of compartments to store various tools and supplies. This makes utility trucks extremely convenient and practical for jobs requiring a lot of tools and easy access to them. Utility trucks are sometimes referred to as service trucks or work trucks. 

Different Types of Utility Trucks

Choosing the right utility truck for your business is an important investment that can save you time and money in the long run. There are many types of utility or service trucks available, all with compartments for transporting and storing tools and equipment, but with different bodies for different needs:

Aluminum Utility Body 

Aluminum utility bodies are popular for their lightweight construction, making them easier on the truck’s chassis and reducing overall fuel consumption. The lighter weight not only improves fuel efficiency but can also increase payload capacity, allowing for more tools or equipment without overloading. Aluminum is naturally resistant to rust, providing a longer lifespan with minimal maintenance even in harsh environments. This makes aluminum bodies ideal for industries exposed to moisture or chemicals, such as landscaping or construction. Despite being lightweight, aluminum utility bodies are durable and designed to handle daily wear, making them a practical for fleets looking to balance longevity with efficiency.

Steel Utility Bodies 

Steel utility bodies are known for their superior strength and durability, making them the go-to choice for demanding jobs that require a heavy-duty setup. Steel bodies offer the highest weight-bearing capacity, which is critical for crews carrying heavy equipment or working in rough conditions. While steel is heavier than aluminum, it provides unparalleled durability against impact and can withstand tougher conditions without compromising structural integrity. This makes steel utility bodies ideal for demanding industries like construction, towing, and utility work, where the trucks need to handle heavy loads and endure frequent, rigorous use. Steel bodies may require regular maintenance to prevent rust, but their strength and durability make them a staple for high-demand fleets.

Crane Body 

Crane bodies are specialized utility truck bodies designed to support mounted cranes, providing essential lifting capabilities for heavy loads on job sites. Crane bodies are constructed with reinforced steel frames and compartments to accommodate the crane’s weight and torque, allowing them to handle both light-duty and heavy-duty lifting. Available in a variety of lifting capacities, crane bodies are ideal for construction, HVAC, and electrical industries where moving large equipment or materials is a routine part of the job. Crane bodies can be customized with stabilizers, tool storage, and remote controls to enhance efficiency and safety, making them a reliable choice for industries that require on-site lifting solutions.

Enclosed Utility Body

Enclosed utility bodies, often referred to as canopy bodies, provide a secure, covered environment that serves as a mobile workstation. This body type is particularly beneficial for professionals needing a protected space to store tools and equipment, shielded from the elements. Enclosed bodies are popular among service technicians, electricians, and plumbers who require easy access to organized storage and a safe place to work on the go. These bodies can be fitted with shelves, drawers, and custom lighting, transforming the truck into a fully functional workspace. The enclosed design also offers an added level of security, keeping valuable tools and equipment out of sight and protected from theft or weather-related damage.

For larger fleets of utility trucks, you may want to consider looking for utility trucks with telematics, or GPS systems, which can improve the tracking and management of your fleet. More recently, hybrid and electric trucks have become an option for utility trucks, so this may be something you want to consider.

Keep in mind that no matter what trucks you choose for your business, you can always customize them to better suit your specific needs.

Utility Truck Bed Types

Choosing the right bed type for your utility truck can enhance efficiency, increase carrying capacity, and better support your crew’s specific needs on the job. Each bed type offers unique features and advantages, whether you’re in construction, landscaping, or general contracting. Below, we break down the most popular utility truck bed types to help you determine the best fit for your operations.

Utility Flatbed

Utility flatbeds feature an open, flat surface ideal for transporting oversized materials, equipment, and items that are difficult to secure in a standard enclosed space. Commonly used in construction and landscaping, flatbeds allow for easy loading and unloading of bulky items like lumber, concrete blocks, or landscaping materials. The open design also allows for maximum flexibility, accommodating cargo of varying shapes and sizes without height or width constraints. Flatbeds can be fitted with additional accessories, such as side rails or tie-down points, to safely secure loads, making them a versatile choice for industries that require frequent hauling of large or irregularly shaped items.

Utility Dump Truck

Utility dump truck beds are equipped with hydraulic lifts that allow the bed to tilt, making it easy to unload materials like sand, gravel, soil, or debris at the job site. These beds are especially popular in construction and landscaping, where frequent dumping is required to complete projects efficiently. The hydraulic lift mechanism ensures precise dumping control, reducing manual labor and improving overall safety on the job site. Available in different sizes and weight capacities, utility dump truck beds are a powerful asset for transporting and unloading heavy or loose materials quickly and effectively.

Stake Beds

Stake beds are designed with removable stake sides, providing flexible containment for loose materials and easy loading and unloading. Often used in agriculture, landscaping, and hauling, stake beds offer the convenience of converting between an open flatbed and a contained space. The removable sides allow crews to load larger items when needed and then reattach the stakes to secure smaller, loose materials. This adaptability makes stake beds an excellent choice for businesses that require versatile hauling options for different types of cargo, from pallets and equipment to brush and bulk goods.

Utility Beds

Utility beds are general-purpose truck beds that are typically paired with service or contractor bodies to provide ample storage space for tools, equipment, and supplies. These beds are commonly found in industries like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, where easy access to tools is essential. Utility beds often come with built-in compartments, drawers, and cabinets, allowing workers to keep their equipment organized and accessible. This setup makes it easy to transport all the necessary tools for a job, reducing downtime and ensuring that crews have everything they need on hand. Utility beds can be customized with additional storage or security features to meet specific job requirements.

Hooklift Beds

Hooklift beds are equipped with a hooklift system that enables quick switching between different types of containers or attachments, making them one of the most versatile bed types available. With a hooklift bed, operators can easily swap out various containers, such as dump bodies, flatbeds, and box containers, depending on the task at hand. This adaptability is ideal for industries with varied daily demands, such as waste management, construction, and municipal services. The hooklift system simplifies equipment changeovers, reduces the need for multiple specialized vehicles, and allows businesses to maximize the functionality of a single truck for multiple applications. Check out our hooklift truck guide for more details and customization options. 

Each bed type has unique advantages that can be tailored to support your specific industry needs. By selecting the right truck bed type, you can ensure that your utility truck fleet is fully equipped to handle the tasks required, increasing efficiency and productivity on the job site.

Custom Utility Truck Beds

When you go custom with your utility truck bed, you ensure that each compartment and function is tailored to your specific needs. This way, you’ll be confident that you’re getting the most out of your investment. 

Here are a few ways to customize and transform your utility truck bed: 

• Design your utility truck bed based on your industry and the specific jobs you’ll be performing. As an example, an electrician may need a crane and special storage for cables added to their utility truck bed. 
• Choose the exact number and size of compartment boxes to meet your specific storage needs.
• Add drawers and dividers to your compartment boxes for easy access and improved organization. 
• Enclose the entire truck bed body for more security and protection from the elements or to create a mobile workstation. 
• Level up the appearance of your utility truck with custom finishes and vehicle graphics or full truck wraps. 

Consult with a truck customization expert to come up with a custom truck bed design that meets all your needs.

Buying a Utility Truck

For a general sense of what a utility vehicle might cost you, consider that in 2016 the average price of a 4×2 utility service truck was $69,161, and the average price of a 4×4 truck utility service truck was $75,807. Keep in mind, the price can vary significantly based on the type of truck and the level of customization you decide to invest in. 

Here are a few important questions you’ll want to consider when buying a utility truck:

• How much weight will you need to carry? If you’ll be hauling heavy equipment or materials, it will be worth it to pay extra for additional horsepower.
• How many passengers do you need to carry? For example, most vehicles have space for 2-4 passengers, but you can pay extra for vehicles with more cabin room.
• Which is best: rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive? Consider how much weight you’ll be carrying and what weather and conditions you’ll be driving in.
• Which safety features do you need?
• What tools and supplies will you be carrying and how easily accessible do these need to be? Do you need a special compartment layout for your tools or customized accessories?

Truck Utility Rack

Whether your utility truck is custom or not, you can make it even more functional and versatile with a few key utility truck accessories. Utility racks, often called ladder racks, are one of the most popular accessories for work trucks. They can be used to safely transport ladders, lumber, and other long or bulky cargo above your truck bed. Adding this simple yet effective storage solution can maximize cargo capacity, free up valuable space in your truck bed, and make loading and unloading easier and more convenient.

More Utility Work Truck Accessories

Here are some additional accessories to consider for your utility or service truck: 

• Toolboxes to safely and securely store and protect your valuable tools and equipment. 
• Hoists to help your crew vertically lift heavy loads. 
• Liftgates to make loading and unloading your utility truck bed easier. There are many different types of liftgates available depending on your needs. 
• Tuck caps, tonneau covers, or truck canopies to improve security and protect your cargo from the elements. 
• Electric or hydraulic cranes to transport heavy loads over short distances without additional manpower or trucks.
• Hooklifts to maximize the utility and versatility of your work trucks.

Customization for Utility Trucks

If you are in Oregon and want to explore your utility truck options, Pacific Truck Colors is a one-stop shop for utility truck customization. Our Custom Truck Equipment Sales and Installation Department is one of the largest in the Northwest and carries high-quality truck equipment at competitive prices to meet all of your specialized needs. Contact us today to get started!