Find services
Trucks and operators near your job site
Dump trucks, hydro-vac, cranes, bucket trucks, sign and lighting crews and more, matched to your ZIP code.
What is a vocational truck?
A vocational truck is a medium- or heavy-duty truck built to do a specific job, not just haul freight. The chassis carries a working body such as a dump bed, concrete mixer, refuse packer, aerial bucket, snow plow, wrecker or vacuum tank. Builders, utilities, cities, fire departments and farms rely on them every day. VTA covers more than 60 types of vocational trucks, grouped into 12 featured industries. See every type of vocational truck.
Every trade. One crew.
Featured industries that buy, drive and depend on vocational trucks, chosen by market size by application, truck sales reporting and the size of each American workforce. Featured spots rotate, and every vocational trade has a home at VTA.
Workforce figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (industry employment, Sept. 2026 preliminary; firefighters and logging workers, 2025); U.S. Census Bureau (towing, 2023); USDA NASS (farms, 2025); EPA (septic).
The work behind the trucks.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Mack Trucks via Truck News (Oct. 2023).
The people behind the wheel.
Every vocational truck has a crew behind it. Drivers, mechanics, equipment operators, lineworkers and material haulers, plus the dispatchers, fleet managers and office staff who keep them rolling: these are their stories, told in their own words.
Free tools for haulers
Run the numbersbefore you quote.
Free, no sign-up, and they work on your phone. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Running a crew meeting? Free toolbox talks for truck crews →
A day on the job
Out before sunrise. Home for supper.
- 6:00 AM Clock in & pre-trip Tires, brakes, lights, hydraulics and tarp. Every truck, every morning.
- 6:30 AM Load one First in line at the quarry. Paper scale ticket in hand, tarp up and roll.
- 12:30 PM Lunch break Four loads down, three to go. A quick break, then back in line.
- 4:00 PM Last load out Load seven heads for the job site. A spotter's signal, a clean dump, then back to the yard.
- 5:00 PM Wash-down, post-trip & tickets Wash off the dirt, walk the post-trip and drop the paper tickets at the office. Clock out by 5:30.
Seven loads on 90-minute cycles · 11.5 hours on duty. This local day fits the federal 150 air-mile short-haul rule. Learn how the hours work →
Free 150 Air-Mile Time CardTrucks in action.Watch and read.
NewsState trucking associations work for work trucks too · 6 min read
Buyer GuidesTri-axle, quad or quint? How many axles your dump truck needs, state by state · 10 min read
HistoryThe trucks that built America: American truck manufacturers, then and now · 9 min read
Nominate a Driver of the Year →
Read the blog →
Example video.
Then & now
From dirt roadsto the interstates.
The highways, dams, bridges and skylines of America were hauled, poured and lifted into place by working trucks. Explore the machines and the generations of crews behind them.
Read the HistoryFor truck manufacturers, dealers and body builders
Built, sold and upfitin America.
Vocational Trucks of America brings together the crews from every vocational industry, and puts them in front of the companies that build, sell and upfit their trucks.
Founding Partner launch rates: about 50% off, locked 12 months →Truck manufacturers
Show your vocational lineup to crews in every industry you build for. Sponsor driver stories, a day on the job and the industry pages that match your trucks.
Partner as a truck manufacturer →Dealers
Get listed in Find a Dealer by industry and region. Host crew nights, ride-and-drives and hiring events for local fleets.
Partner as a dealer →Body builders & upfitters
Get listed in the Spec & Upfit directory, which shows the bodies, booms, beds and tanks that turn a chassis into a work truck.
Partner as an upfitter →Partners get the Proud Partner badge for showrooms, spec sheets, trade-show booths and fleet decals.
For state trucking associations
Create a free partner profile
VTA sends work truck owners and drivers to their state trucking association. All 50 are listed, and a profile costs nothing.
Founding Partners
Backing VTA from day one
These companies signed on before anyone else. Thank you for supporting the crews who run America’s work trucks.
LeatherNex Contracting. Lighting and sign installation, upgrades and maintenance. 100% veteran-owned, founded by Marine Corps veterans Jonathan and Joshua Hamby.
Visit leathernex.co →
Your company here
Founding Partner rates run about half the standard rate card, locked for 12 months.
Become a Founding Partner →
FAQ
Vocational trucks,answered.
Quick answers about vocational trucks, CDLs, buying, DOT rules and how VTA works. Each industry guide has its own FAQ too.
All resources →What is a vocational truck?
A truck built to do a job, not just haul freight. The body or equipment does the work: dump bodies, mixer drums, refuse packers, booms, pumps, plows, wreckers and vacuum tanks.
How is a vocational truck different from a freight truck?
Freight trucks move trailers between docks, mostly on highways. Vocational trucks work on job sites, routes and roadsides, carry specialized bodies and are spec’d for the job they do.
Why does VTA feature these industries?
They lead in vocational truck market size, truck sales and workforce. Featured industries rotate over time, and VTA covers every vocational application, not only the featured ones. Learn more →
Is Vocational Trucks of America free?
Yes. Guides, videos and tools are free for drivers, crews and fleet buyers, and Join the Crew membership is free. During launch, the first 1,000 members get a free VTA cap or T-shirt and pay only $5.99 shipping. Join the Crew →
What free tools does VTA have for truck owners and drivers?
Four free tools run in your browser: a hauling rate calculator that prices a haul per ton, per hour or per load; a fuel surcharge calculator tied to the EIA weekly diesel price; an axle and payload calculator that compares a tri-axle and a quad; and a 150 air-mile time card for short-haul drivers. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Do I need a CDL to drive a vocational truck?
Single trucks rated over 26,000 lb GVWR need a Class B CDL, and combinations over 26,000 lb towing more than 10,000 lb need a Class A. Farm and firefighter exemptions vary by state. Learn more →
How does Buy a Truck work?
Describe the job, and VTA sends your request to up to three matched manufacturers, dealers or upfitters. It is free for buyers, with no obligation. Learn more →
Should I buy new or used, or finance or lease?
It depends on how long you keep trucks, how hard you run them and how you manage cash. The Buyer’s Guide compares each option and includes a payment estimator. Learn more →
What are the most important DOT rules for vocational trucks?
Registration, CDL and medical cards, drug and alcohol testing, hours of service, inspections, size and weight limits, and keeping loads from spilling. The DOT Compliance Center explains each one. Learn more →
How can my company advertise or become a partner?
Manufacturers, body builders, parts suppliers, service shops, software, finance and many other companies can buy placements or join a partner program on the Advertise page. Learn more →
Is sponsored content labeled?
Yes. Every paid placement is labeled Sponsored, and VTA guides stay independent of advertisers.
Can I share a video or story about my crew?
Yes. Post your video on the Trucks in Action page, or pitch a story for the blog. VTA reviews every submission before it goes live. Learn more →
When will the jobs board launch?
The jobs board and CDL training listings are in development. Employers can join the waitlist on the Leads, Marketplace & Events advertising page. Learn more →
Where can I find work zone and jobsite safety resources?
The VTA Safety Center covers work zone, jobsite, highway and weather safety, with the rules behind each practice, free toolbox talks and a safety calendar. Visit the Safety Center →
How do I hire a dump truck, or a truck with an operator, for a job?
Search the VTA Truck & Operator Directory by state, truck and job, from dump trucks and roll-offs to vac, crane and bucket trucks with operators, then contact companies directly. Every listed company is a Join the Crew member. Find a truck & operator →
America needs operators. Start here.
How to get a CDL, CDL schools and technical colleges, career paths and pay. A vocational jobs board is coming soon.