Last Updated on February 16, 2026
Like any equipment rental, a long-term bucket truck rental is often more cost effective than a short-term rental.
But what should you do if you only need the bucket truck for a few projects here and there? Can you use your bucket truck rental for other tasks? Or to expand your services?
The answer is, yes! In fact, equipment can serve several purposes so long as you are always operating it safely according to the owner’s manual and proper safety training.
Whether you’re in construction, municipal maintenance or another industry, this article will help you maximize your projects. In it, you’ll find 13 possible uses for bucket trucks designed to spark ideas for how to get the most value and use out of any bucket truck rental.
Why Choose a Bucket Truck Over Other Aerial Lifts?
While there are many types of mobile elevated work platforms and aerial lifts out there, bucket trucks fill an important role. They offer more mobility and flexibility than scaffolding, and more maneuverability than scissor lifts. And, unlike traditional boom lifts or atrium lifts, bucket trucks can be driven on the road.
Bucket trucks are also known as boom lift trucks, cherry pickers or utility trucks. They feature a boom lift that’s attached to the back of a vehicle. This allows workers in the bucket to move up and over obstacles to reach elevated work areas. There are several types of bucket trucks which come in a wide selection of sizes and are ideal for many industries.
13 Possible Uses for Bucket Trucks
The following ideas for bucket truck applications are great for almost any industry, from construction to municipal maintenance to entertainment and more. Just keep in mind that OSHA regulations state that only trained and authorized aerial lift operators can operate a bucket truck.
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1. Construction
Bucket truck uses in construction are nearly limitless. Bucket trucks allow construction industry pros to access hard-to-reach places throughout a project site. Actually, they can be used for any elevated task that is within the truck’s reach and weight capacity.
Compared to scaffolding, bucket trucks are quicker to reposition and set up, increasing efficiency. Plus, material handling bucket trucks can lift extremely heavy loads, making them perfect for building projects.
2. Landscaping, Tree Care, and Forestry
Working with trees can be dangerous. For example, trimming branches while in the tree can be unsteady, putting those in the tree at risk of falling and ground crews at risk of getting hit by falling branches or tools.
Using a bucket truck gives arborists, landscapers and tree trimmers a stable platform that’s not reliant on the tree at all. Additionally, you’re not limited to trees that are near paved roads. With a track-mounted bucket truck you can reach trees in soft, swampy areas.
- Learn More: Why Are Bucket Trucks Ideal for Tree Work?
3. Sign and Lighting Installation and Maintenance
Commercial signs and lights are most helpful if they’re elevated and always working. But reaching them can be a challenge. Ladders may be too labor-intensive to use and unbalanced, especially in busy areas or in wet weather. Alternatively, small bucket trucks and insulated bucket trucks are ideal for this type of work. Small bucket truck uses include any project on a busy city street or small tasks like changing light bulbs.
4. Holiday Decoration Installation and Removal
Installing holiday decorations often means adding lights and décor to streetlamps, windows, roofs and other crowded areas. Using a bucket truck makes it easier for crews to reach those locations safely with minimal disruption to nearby businesses and traffic.
5. Exterior Painting and Masonry Work
Mid-size buildings can be impossible to repair or paint using a ladder, and scaffolding can disrupt the flow of business. Using a bucket truck lets painters and masons reach up to five stories high without scaffolding or having to lean against the surface they are painting. In fact, bucket trucks can also help reduce fall risks and dropped objects because the work platform has solid walls.
6. Window Washing
Many commercial buildings (and some residential buildings) are between two and five stories tall. Like painting, using a bucket truck to wash windows is a flexible and safe alternative to ladders and scaffolding.
7. Emergency Response and Animal Rescue
The classic image of a firetruck is one with a long ladder, but now many modern fire departments use bucket trucks, instead. The bucket makes it faster to reach the right height than climbing a ladder. Plus, the bucket lets the emergency responder keep their hands free while offering rescued people or animals a contained, stable way to get to safety.
8. Electric Utility Maintenance
One of the most common uses of a bucket truck is working with power lines. Bucket trucks can be easily repositioned, enabling quick and safe work along a route. The boom’s maneuverability also enables workers to bypass objects like trees, fences or homes to reach the power lines.
However, insulated bucket trucks are required to help protect line workers from possible electrocution.
9. Telecommunications Installation and Maintenance
Like utility work, bucket trucks offer a couple of advantages when working with telecommunication lines. First, they can be insulated to protect against electricity. Since telecommunication lines are often near power lines, this feature can save lives. Second, ascending and descending poles takes a lot of time. Being able to move quickly from pole to pole can make the job take hours instead of days or weeks.
10. Agriculture and Fruit Harvesting
Some of the earliest uses of bucket trucks were for agriculture. Often the ground around the trees is rarely suitable for scissor lifts or other types of lifts that were not attached to a truck. Farms still use bucket trucks to quickly harvest fruit without damaging trees. (This is where the name “cherry picker” comes from.) Bucket trucks allow workers to quickly start picking and reach the best fruit without falling or damaging branches. They can also be used elsewhere on a farm for many elevated tasks.
11. Entertainment, Film and Television Production
From jumbotron maintenance to building sets and getting the perfect shot in remote locations, the entertainment industry needs the versatility bucket trucks offer. When production requires photography or lighting from specific, elevated angles, bucket trucks offer the stability and flexibility that crews need.
12. Bridge Inspection and Maintenance
Bridges are often built to prevent people from climbing on the underside and outside, so inspecting and working on them can often be a challenge. If an inspector or maintenance crew needs to see the underside of the bridge, they may need a specialty bucket truck called a snooper. These bridge inspection trucks stay parked on top of the bridge while the boom is extended downward and below the bridge. This is great for bridges that span deep ravines, rivers or other inaccessible areas. Safety is most important in these scenarios.
13. Natural Disaster Response and Cleanup
After a hurricane, tornado or flood, debris will be everywhere. There likely won’t be space for towing traditional boom lifts or scissor lifts to the work zone. Because bucket trucks provide their own stability by being attached to a heavy, roadworthy truck, they can often be used in situations that would be too dangerous for other types of lifts.
Get More Done with a Bucket Truck from Herc Rentals
You just learned 13 of the many possible uses for bucket trucks and when it makes sense to use a bucket truck for your job. These versatile, powerful pieces of equipment can help you expand your services and take on almost any elevated task.
When it’s time to gear up and get more done, contact the equipment experts at Herc Rentals. Our fleet of reliable, high-quality bucket trucks include features that maximize productivity and safety.
With a bucket truck from Herc Rentals, you can rapidly deploy crews and take on a variety of tasks without the additional expense of renting several pieces of equipment.
Explore our crane and bucket truck selection or give us a call at 1-800-432-6215 to discuss options today.
