Category: vacuum trucks

The U.S. generated over 292 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018 alone, according to the EPA. Add to that the waste from industrial sites, sewers, oilfields, and construction zones—and the cleanup challenge becomes massive. That’s where vacuum trucks come in. However, new units can put serious pressure on budgets.

That’s why more companies and municipalities are looking at pre-owned vacuum trucks to meet demand without overspending. The catch? Not every used unit is worth the savings. If you don’t know what to look for, you could end up with a truck that underperforms, breaks down, or costs a fortune in repairs.

Let’s break down the top features you should be evaluating before buying a used vacuum truck—so your team can handle heavy jobs without setbacks.

Suction is the heart of every vacuum truck. Look at the two main metrics:

• CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute)– How much [...]

Hitting a gas line during excavation can cost lives—not just money. According to the Common Ground Alliance, over 532,000 excavation-related utility damages were reported in the U.S. in 2019 alone, costing around $30 billion.

The root cause is traditional digging methods that tear through the ground without seeing what’s underneath.

That’s where vacuum trucks are perfect for precision excavation.

Backhoes and shovels might be fast, but they’re blunt tools in a job that demands accuracy. When utilities like fiber optics, gas lines, or water mains are buried just inches below the surface, even a minor miscalculation can cause a major setback.

Mechanical digging can:

• Severe utility lines.
• Delay timelines.
• Inflate repair costs.
• Put workers and nearby residents at serious risk.

Manual digging is safer—but painfully slow. That’s why smart contractors are switching to vacuum trucks for precision excavation—specifically for hydro-excavation.

Vacuum trucks use [...]

Construction margins are tight. And with inflation pushing equipment prices up by nearly 20% since 2020 to March 2023, many crews are rethinking their spending strategy.

Yet one question keeps coming up: Can used drills and diggers for construction really keep up with demanding projects?

If you’ve ever shelled out top dollar for new equipment only to watch it sit idle during off-peak seasons—or worse, break down mid-job—you’re not alone. Today’s construction pros are done paying full price for what they can get for less—without compromising output or uptime.

Buying used isn’t about settling—it’s about buying smart. But it only works if you know what to look for.

Here’s what matters:

Shiny doesn’t mean dependable. Ask for maintenance records and check for signs of frequent repairs or major overhauls. Good records mean fewer surprises on the jobsite.

In the U.S. alone, over 13 million large trucks are registered for business use, and thousands are bought and sold each year in the pre-owned market. But not every used truck deserves a spot on your job site.

At Big Truck & Equipment Sales, we know that a quality used heavy-duty vehicle isn’t just about paint or mileage—it’s about whether it can handle tough work from day one. Whether it’s a used vacuum truck for industrial spills, a digger derrick for utility lines, or a street sweeper truck for sale keeping municipal roads clean—performance is non-negotiable.

Here’s how we make sure every truck on our lot is ready to perform, not just park.

Before we even think about putting a truck on our lot, it goes through a checklist based on the actual jobs it’s built for. Used vacuum trucks? We check tank integrity, suction [...]

Did you know that in 55% of truck accidents resulting in injury, the vehicle involved had at least one mechanical failure?  This is exactly why buying pre-owned trucks requires more than just a glance under the hood. You need complete confidence in the vehicle’s safety, reliability, and performance.

Therefore, at Big Truck & Equipment Sales, we don’t believe in “good enough.” We hold every unit to high standards with a rigorous inspection checklist. We’ve built our reputation by refusing to cut corners, and that’s exactly why our pre-owned trucks stand apart from the rest.

We start with what matters most—the heart of the truck. Our mechanics check for:

• Compression levels
• Oil pressure
• Coolant leaks
• Emissions compliance
• Turbocharger operation (if applicable)

We also look at service history where available, to catch signs of past neglect. If the engine doesn’t deliver consistent output under load, [...]

Want to grow your fleet without draining your cash flow? Whether you’re eyeing a used bucket truck, a vacuum truck, or looking to buy sweeper trucks, the truth is: upfront costs can slow your business down if you don’t plan your financing the right way.

Here’s how to finance a used truck that supports your business goals—without sacrificing your bottom line.

You’ve found the truck—it’s the right model, condition, and price. But one glance at the sticker and you’re second-guessing the purchase. Sound familiar?

High-quality used equipment is in demand, and if you wait too long, you risk losing out. But you also can’t afford to take on a loan that traps you with sky-high payments or rigid terms.

That’s why how you finance a used truck is just as important as what truck you’re buying.

Big Truck & Equipment [...]

When your business depends on safe, efficient digging, equipment failure isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a liability. Buying used is the only financially sound move for many operators.

However, not all used hydro excavation trucks are worth the savings.

From worn-out blowers to mismatched tank sizes and outdated control systems, a bad choice can quickly turn into thousands in repairs and lost contracts. So before you start searching for a used hydro excavation truck for sale, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Your blower or vacuum pump is the heart of the operation. If it’s under powered or past its prime, expect slower digging and higher maintenance.

• Confirm CFM and vacuum pressure ratings meet your job requirements
• Look for brands with proven longevity (e.g., Roots, Hibon, Robuschi)
• Ask for service records—rebuilding or replacing blowers can cost $15K–$30K

According to reports, over 70% of all freight and heavy-duty work in the U.S. is done by trucks. However, when businesses turn to used heavy-duty trucks to cut costs, there’s a hidden risk: one faulty component can halt operations, drain budgets, and trigger safety issues.

Therefore, quality control isn’t optional. It’s the difference between a smart investment and a costly mistake. Here’s what to look for before you buy.

A full, verifiable service record is your best indicator of how a truck has been treated. Trucks that skip routine maintenance often have hidden wear — from engine strain to failing suspension components. If a seller can’t provide a clean, detailed service log, that’s a red flag.

Pro Tip: Ask for oil change intervals, transmission service dates, and DPF cleaning logs. These are signs of regular care.

The frame carries the [...]

Hydro-excavation is no longer a niche service—it’s become the preferred method for digging near utilities, pipelines, and sensitive infrastructure. And with the U.S. vacuum truck market projected to hit $3.32 billion by 2033, there’s no question about demand. But here’s the thing: not every truck can handle the grind.

When it comes to hydro-excavating, the right vacuum truck can save time, reduce risk, and cut operating costs. However, it needs to have the muscle and configuration to do the job right. Let’s break down what actually makes a used vacuum truck perfect for hydro-excavating tasks.

Hydro-excavation isn’t just about water—it’s about suction. After high-pressure water breaks up the soil, the vacuum system has to lift that slurry quickly and efficiently.

Look for used vacuum trucks with positive displacement blowers delivering at least 3,000 CFM and 15-27” Hg. Anything less slows down your work, especially in clay or frost-heavy ground.

When sludge, spills, or heavy-duty debris clog up your site, you don’t need a shiny new truck—you need serious suction power that doesn’t break the bank. Used vacuum trucks for industrial cleanup are giving cities, factories, and contractors the performance they need at a price that makes sense.

With industrial waste volumes hitting 7.6 billion tons annually in the US, the demand for high-capacity cleanup isn’t slowing down—and neither should your operations.

Vacuum trucks are built to suck up heavy sludge, contaminated liquids, and even solids from tanks, basins, pits, and sewers. But buying one new can feel like buying a small aircraft.

Used vacuum trucks slash that upfront cost, giving companies access to serious cleaning muscle without compromising performance.

This means you can:

• Handle tank clean outs and spill responses faster
• Expand your fleet affordably
• Bid on bigger cleanup contracts
• Meet EPAand OSHA compliance without the long wait for new [...]