If you have ever seen someone working high in a bucket attached to a long pole that is attached to a truck, then you have seen bucket trucks in action. "Cherry pickers" or "aerial lifts" are what many people refer to them as. As for a definition, they are made to work at heights where ladders cannot safely reach. Bucket or boom trucks are very prominent in today's modern society because they are used to work on lots of different jobs.
History of Bucket Trucks
Bucket trucks were designed as a tool to easily pick fruits in orchards (thus the nickname cherry picker). The first one was a bucket truck in California, it was a wood ladder attached to a truck. Technology grew rapidly and demand as well as adaptations for cherry pickers grew accordingly. Wiring for electricity and telephones exploded in the early to mid 1900's. During that time, cherry pickers were what revolutionized the business. They allowed workers to be more efficient and helped linemen get more accomplished in one day than they could have done in 20 days with out one.
Utility Trucks in Today's World
Modern cherry pickers are used for thousands of jobs and even recreation. Most of the jobs today are line-work (telecommunications, cable, electricity industries), forestry, painting, sign & light repair / installation, window washing, photography, and a lot more. The increase in demand has required utility trucks to adapt to each industry's needs. Now you're looking at forestry trucks that have cab guards, line trucks with insulated booms, etc. These trucks in particular allow companies and workers to be the safest and most efficient they possibly can.
Buying Bucket Trucks
Bucket trucks are considered under the market threshold... what that means is, it is hard to find good bucket trucks for sal or rent. If you are looking for quality equipment, I suggest renting or purchasing from a bucket / boom truck reconditioner. What reconditioner you choose to do business with will be the deciding factor between quality and junk. Buying used equipment comes with considerable risk. Risk does not go well with the already dangerous part of operating a cherry picker. If you buy new, be ready to pay a much higher price. New bucket trucks are expensive and a lot like cars, they lose money as soon as you take ownership of it.
Conclusion
Maybe this article has helped further your knowledge of bucket/ boom trucks. The idea of it was for you to appreciate them as well as understand what they are used for. If nothing else, cherry pickers are some of the most useful and practical machines in todays world. Utility trucks are relatively dangerous. taking the proper safety precautions is absolutely necessary before operating or being near a bucket truck.
