Roll-Off Truck Buying Guide

What should you look for when buying a used roll-off truck?

Look for a truck whose hoist system matches your containers and whose chassis suits your loads. Check the hoist rating documentation, hydraulic cylinders and hoses, frame condition and service records, watch the hoist lift a loaded container, and confirm in writing whether containers and a tarp system come with the truck.

• The container sizes and loaded weights you handle
• Route length, stops per day and site access
• Chassis weight ratings and axle configuration for your loads
• State weight and registration requirements where you operate
• Whether containers are part of the purchase

Roll-off or hook lift truck: which do you need?

Both load and unload containers, but they use different systems. Cable roll-off trucks winch containers onto the frame, while hook systems engage a bail on the container, and the two are not always compatible with the same containers. Choose the system that matches the containers you own or plan to buy.

Roll-off and hooklift trucks

Confirm your containers match the system on the truck before you buy, including hook height and rail spacing where they apply.

Refuse collection trucks

A separate category with its own configurations and questions. Tell us which configuration you are considering.

How much does a roll-off truck cost?

A roll-off truck's price depends on its age, configuration, condition and seller. Hoist type and rating, chassis miles, axle setup, a tarp system and any included containers all affect the number. Get a written quote for the exact unit, and price containers, delivery and registration as separate lines.

How do you inspect a roll-off truck before buying?

Inspect a roll-off truck in four parts: containers, the hoist or hook system, the chassis and the paperwork. Watch the hoist load and unload a container, look for hydraulic leaks and frame cracks, check the weight ratings on the door label, and confirm the title and any liens. Record each item on the checklist below.

Questions to ask the seller

1. Which containers is this truck set up to handle?
2. Can you show the hoist rating documentation and service records?
3. Are any containers included, and in what condition?
4. Can I see the hoist or hook system operate under load?

What to have ready for a quote

• The listing link or written quote
• Who is selling it: a dealer, a private seller or an auction
• Year, make, model and hours or miles, if known
• The price and exactly what it includes
• When you need the equipment working

Tell us whether the purchase includes containers and share the quote. Options depend on your business, the equipment and the financing provider's review. See roll-off truck financing for what lenders commonly look at.

Frequently asked questions

How does a roll-off truck work?

A roll-off truck uses a hydraulic hoist to tilt its frame and pull a container onto the truck with either a cable or a hook, depending on the system. At the customer site, the hoist tilts the frame again and rolls the container off on its rails, so one truck can swap containers throughout the day.

What is a hook lift truck used for?

A hook lift truck uses a hydraulic arm to load and unload containers and interchangeable bodies, such as dump bodies, flatbeds and roll-off style containers. Contractors and municipalities use them when one truck needs to handle several kinds of work. Confirm the hook height matches your containers.

Is a roll-off truck Class B?

It depends on the truck. The license class required is based on the vehicle's weight ratings and any towed unit, not on the body type. Check the ratings on the specific truck's door label and your state's commercial driver license rules before hiring or assigning drivers.

Can you finance a used roll-off truck?

Used roll-off trucks are commonly financed through third-party lenders, who look at the year, miles, hoist condition and service history along with your business. Requirements vary by lender. See roll-off truck financing for what lenders look at.

Can you lease a roll-off truck?

Some lenders offer leases on roll-off trucks and containers alongside loans. Which fits depends on how long you will run the truck and what you want at the end of the term. See equipment leasing vs financing to compare the two.

Confirm each item in writing for the specific unit you are buying.

Roll-off and refuse trucks financing

Read: Roll-Off Truck Financing for a Dumpster Rental Business