What is a garbage truck called?

Are you wondering about those big trucks that take away our trash? Let’s learn about them! Garbage trucks have many names. Let’s look at what people call them and how they work.

Different Names for Garbage Trucks

Garbage trucks go by many names. Here are the most common ones:

• Garbage truck
• Refuse truck
• Sanitation vehicle
• Waste collection truck
• Trash truck

These are all the same type of truck that picks up our trash from our homes and takes it away .

Types of Garbage Trucks

There are many different kinds of garbage trucks. Each one does a special job:

Front Loaders

Front loader trucks pick up big trash bins from stores and schools. They have big arms in the front to lift the bins. Companies like Amrep make these trucks .

Rear Loaders

These trucks are good for city streets. Workers put trash in the back of the truck. Autocar makes good rear loader trucks that work well in tight spaces .

Side Loaders

Side loader trucks have a robot arm on the side. The arm picks up your trash can from the side of the road. You don’t have to lift anything! New Way makes these kinds of trucks .

Roll-Off Trucks

These are very big trucks that carry large trash bins. The 2025 Mack GU813 can carry 60,000 pounds of trash! That’s as heavy as 30 cars .

Hooklift Trucks

These special trucks can pick up different kinds of containers. The 2025 Peterbilt Hooklift Trucks are very good at this job .

How Garbage Trucks Work

Have you ever wondered how a garbage truck works? Let’s find out!

Garbage trucks use strong machines to crush trash. This makes more room for trash in the truck. Some new trucks in 2025 use power from batteries instead of gas. This is better for our air .

Table: How Different Garbage Trucks Work

Type of Truck	How It Picks Up Trash	Best For
Front Loader	Uses front arms to lift big bins	Big stores, schools
Side Loader	Uses side arm to grab home trash cans	Houses on normal streets
Rear Loader	Workers put trash in the back	Tight city streets
Roll-Off	Carries very large bins	Construction sites
Hooklift	Can change what it carries	Many different jobs

Who Makes Garbage Trucks?

Many companies make garbage trucks. The best ones are:

• Heil
• McNeilus
• Amrep
• New Way
• Peterbilt
• Kenworth
• Mack

The 2025 models have new things like quiet electric motors and smart computers to help drivers .

New Garbage Truck Technology

Garbage trucks are getting better and smarter:

1. Electric trucks – No more smelly gas! These trucks are quiet and clean.
2. Robot arms – Trucks can pick up trash cans without people having to lift them.
3. Smart computers – Help drivers find the best way to go.
4. Better crushing – Can fit more trash in one truck.

Garbage Trucks Around the World

Different places have different names for garbage trucks:

• In the UK: “Bin lorry” or “Dustbin lorry”
• In Australia: “Garbo truck”
• In Canada: “Waste collection vehicle”

Fun Facts About Garbage Trucks

Did you know these cool facts?

• A garbage truck can pick up trash from over 800 homes in one day!
• The first garbage trucks were just horse-drawn wagons.
• New electric garbage trucks are as quiet as a normal car.
• Some garbage trucks have special container systems for different kinds of trash.

Questions People Ask

Final Thoughts

Garbage trucks have many names and do a very important job. They keep our homes and streets clean! From side loaders to roll-off trucks, these big helpers make our lives better. Next time you see a garbage truck, you’ll know just what to call it!