Finance digger derricks, aerial work platforms, cable placers, vacuum trucks, and specialty utility equipment. Altec, Custom Truck One Source, Elliott, Terex Utilities, and 20+ brands. Specialty lenders who understand your equipment.
Custom truck and specialty aerial equipment is fundamentally different from standard aerial lifts sold by JLG (Hagerstown, Maryland) and Genie/Terex (Norwalk, Connecticut). A standard scissor lift or boom lift is a wheeled or tracked self-propelled machine for general jobsite use. Custom specialty equipment is truck-mounted — built on a commercial truck chassis like an International, Ford F-550, or Peterbilt — and is engineered for specific industries and tasks.
Utilities, telecommunications companies, municipalities, and tree services require truck-mounted aerials because they need to travel at highway speeds between job sites, access locations that self-propelled machines cannot reach, and carry the tools and materials needed for each specific job type. A self-propelled boom lift cannot drive on public roads. A bucket truck can travel 60 mph between the yard and the work site.
The custom nature of this equipment creates unique financing challenges. Each unit is typically ordered to specific requirements: boom length, insulation rating (0 kV, 14.4 kV, or 46 kV), bucket capacity, chassis type, tool body configuration, and auxiliary systems. A digger derrick for a Midwestern electric utility is configured differently from an aerial truck for a telecommunications subcontractor. This specialization creates a smaller pool of potential used buyers — which makes lenders nervous because repossession and resale are more complex than with standard equipment.
The two primary markets for specialty aerial equipment are utility and telecom work (underground and overhead line construction, distribution line maintenance, fiber optic installation) and tree and vegetation management (tree removal, line clearance trimming, urban forestry). Both markets require truck-mounted aerials for productivity and safety.
| Equipment Type | Model Examples | New Price Range | Used Price Range | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digger Derrick (small, 30–40k ft-lb) | Altec DM47, Elliott D38, Terex/Genie BHM | $80,000–$150,000 | $32,000–$65,000 | 48–72 mo |
| Digger Derrick (mid, 50–80k ft-lb) | Altec DM55/DM65, Elliott D65/D80, Terex RS100 | $150,000–$280,000 | $58,000–$128,000 | 48–84 mo |
| Digger Derrick (large, 100k+ ft-lb) | Altec DM1185, Elliott D100/D120 | $280,000–$500,000 | $118,000–$210,000 | 60–84 mo |
| Aerial Work Platform (1-man, 35–55 ft) | Altec AT40G/AT48G, Elliott B50, Versalift SST-40 | $55,000–$140,000 | $22,000–$62,000 | 36–72 mo |
| Aerial Work Platform (2-man, 55–75 ft) | Altec AA55/AA75, Elliott 80/100, Terex HTA75 | $90,000–$200,000 | $38,000–$88,000 | 48–84 mo |
| Forestry/LRV Aerial (over-center) | Altec LRV55/LRV60, Elliott V55/V85, Hi-Ranger LT-46 | $55,000–$145,000 | $22,000–$68,000 | 36–72 mo |
| Large Platform Aerial (75–100+ ft) | Altec AA100/AA150, Elliott 100-135, Bronto Skylift | $150,000–$350,000 | $65,000–$155,000 | 60–84 mo |
| Cable Placer / Hydraulic Tensioner | Altec PC105/PC110/PC200, Sherman + Reilly, Condux | $120,000–$280,000 | $42,000–$98,000 | 48–72 mo |
| Vacuum Excavator Truck | Vactor 2100, Ditch Witch FXT, McLaughlin, GapVax | $150,000–$500,000 | $55,000–$200,000 | 48–84 mo |
| Hydrovac Truck | Vactor HXX, Hydrovac, Vacall, GapVax | $200,000–$600,000 | $72,000–$250,000 | 48–84 mo |
| Crane/Boom Truck | Manitex TC50, National Crane 600E, Elliott ECrane | $80,000–$600,000 | $30,000–$250,000 | 48–84 mo |
| Line/Service Truck | Custom Truck One Source (CTOS), Maintainer, Reading | $50,000–$180,000 | $18,000–$75,000 | 36–72 mo |
| Street Sweeper | Elgin Pelican/Street King, Tymco 600, Schwarze | $150,000–$400,000 | $55,000–$165,000 | 48–72 mo |
| Water/Sewer Jetter Truck | Vactor 2100 Plus, Hydra-Flex, CUES, Haaker | $80,000–$300,000 | $30,000–$125,000 | 48–72 mo |
Custom Truck One Source (headquartered in North Kansas City, Missouri) is the largest specialty truck dealer in North America. Founded in 2015 through the consolidation of several regional specialty truck dealers, CTOS is not a manufacturer — they source, upfit, and finance specialty truck equipment across all major brands.
What makes CTOS unique in the financing landscape is their dual role: they are both a dealership and a lender. equipment lenders (their in-house financing arm) is often the best route for buyers because CTOS has access to real-world resale data on specialty trucks that most banks lack. A bank underwriter may have never financed a digger derrick before. equipment lenders has done thousands of them and knows precisely what an 8-year-old Altec DM55 is worth in the used market.
CTOS also maintains a massive rental fleet. For contractors who don't want to commit to purchasing — or who need equipment while their financing is being arranged — CTOS rental is available at $3,500–$15,000/month depending on equipment type. Many new contractors use CTOS rental for 6–12 months to build revenue history before transitioning to purchase financing.
The CTOS used equipment inventory is another major advantage. With 40+ locations across the US and Canada, CTOS maintains hundreds of used specialty trucks at any given time. Used digger derricks ($60,000–$250,000) and used aerial trucks ($35,000–$180,000) are their volume business. equipment lenders can finance used CTOS inventory in-house, often with faster approval than independent lenders.
CTOS product categories with typical price ranges: new digger derricks $180,000–$500,000; used digger derricks $60,000–$250,000; new aerial trucks $90,000–$350,000; used aerial trucks $35,000–$180,000; new crane/boom trucks $150,000–$600,000; used crane/boom trucks $50,000–$300,000; new vacuum/hydrovac $200,000–$600,000; and rental at $3,500–$15,000/month.
Altec Industries (Birmingham, Alabama — private American company since 1929) is the dominant manufacturer of aerial work platforms and digger derricks for the utility and tree service industries. Altec's equipment is considered the gold standard by most major US electric utilities — Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, NextEra Energy, and hundreds of municipal utilities specify Altec or equivalent in their procurement standards. This brand recognition translates directly into better financing terms and higher resale values.
| Model | Working Height | Notes | New Price | Used Price (5–8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT Series — Aerial Trucks (Telescopic) | ||||
| AT37G | 37 ft | Most common entry model | $65,000–$85,000 | $28,000–$48,000 |
| AT40G | 40 ft | Popular tree/municipal | $72,000–$95,000 | $32,000–$55,000 |
| AT40P | 40 ft | Platform version | $78,000–$102,000 | $35,000–$60,000 |
| AT48G | 48 ft | Good all-around height | $88,000–$115,000 | $40,000–$70,000 |
| AT55G | 55 ft | Popular utility model | $105,000–$138,000 | $50,000–$85,000 |
| AT60G | 60 ft | Extended reach | $118,000–$155,000 | $55,000–$95,000 |
| AT200A | 60 ft | Fully insulated (46kV) for hot line | $145,000–$185,000 | $65,000–$115,000 |
| LRV Series — Forestry/Landscape Aerial (Over-Center) | ||||
| LRV55 | 55 ft | Most popular tree service model | $118,000–$155,000 | $52,000–$88,000 |
| LRV60 | 60 ft | Extended reach version | $128,000–$168,000 | $58,000–$98,000 |
| LRV65 | 65 ft | Large commercial tree work | $148,000–$192,000 | $68,000–$115,000 |
| AA Series — All-Around / Two-Man Platform Aerials | ||||
| AA55 | 55 ft | Popular utility 2-man | $128,000–$168,000 | $55,000–$92,000 |
| AA75 | 75 ft | High reach 2-man | $168,000–$215,000 | $72,000–$118,000 |
| AA100 | 100 ft | Very high reach | $215,000–$278,000 | $95,000–$155,000 |
| AA150 | 150 ft | Transmission line work | $295,000–$385,000 | $135,000–$210,000 |
| DM Series — Digger Derricks | ||||
| DM47 | 45,000 ft-lb torque | Entry-level digger | $95,000–$135,000 | $42,000–$72,000 |
| DM55 | 55,000 ft-lb torque | Most popular mid-range | $135,000–$178,000 | $58,000–$98,000 |
| DM65 | 65,000 ft-lb torque | Large distribution work | $158,000–$210,000 | $68,000–$115,000 |
| DM785 | 78,000 ft-lb torque | Heavy-duty version | $210,000–$275,000 | $92,000–$148,000 |
| DM1185 | 118,000 ft-lb torque | Transmission line work | $295,000–$395,000 | $130,000–$195,000 |
Elliott Equipment Company (Omaha, Nebraska — private American manufacturer since 1951) is Altec's primary US competitor in the aerial work platform and digger derrick market. Elliott is particularly popular with telecom contractors and fiber optic installation crews due to the boom geometry of their V-Series (aerial ladders).
| Series | Model | Capacity/Height | New Price | Used Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B Series (Bucket Trucks) | B50 | 50 ft | $95,000–$128,000 | $42,000–$58,000 |
| B Series | B60 | 60 ft | $115,000–$150,000 | $50,000–$70,000 |
| B Series | B80 | 80 ft | $145,000–$188,000 | $64,000–$88,000 |
| D Series (Digger Derricks) | D38 | 38,000 ft-lb | $88,000–$118,000 | $38,000–$52,000 |
| D Series | D65 | 65,000 ft-lb | $155,000–$205,000 | $68,000–$90,000 |
| D Series | D80 | 80,000 ft-lb | $195,000–$258,000 | $86,000–$114,000 |
| D Series | D100 | 100,000 ft-lb | $255,000–$338,000 | $112,000–$150,000 |
| D Series | D120 | 120,000 ft-lb | $310,000–$415,000 | $136,000–$184,000 |
| V Series (Aerial Ladders) | V55 | 55 ft | $110,000–$145,000 | $48,000–$64,000 |
| V Series | V85 | 85 ft | $158,000–$208,000 | $70,000–$92,000 |
| Feature | Altec Industries | Elliott Equipment | Custom Truck One Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Manufacturer | Manufacturer | Dealer/Upfitter |
| HQ | Birmingham, AL | Omaha, NE | Kansas City, MO |
| Founded | 1929 | 1951 | 2015 |
| Ownership | Private (American) | Private (American) | Private (American) |
| OEM Financing | equipment lenders | Limited | equipment lenders (strong) |
| Rental Available | Limited | No | Yes — large fleet |
| Used Inventory | Through dealers | Through dealers | Massive inventory |
| 5-Year Residual | 40–52% | 35–46% | Varies (dealer) |
| Lender Recognition | High | Moderate | High (own financing) |
Founded 1929. Largest US manufacturer of aerial work platforms and digger derricks for the utility industry. AT, LRV, AA, and DM series cover every application. American-made in Birmingham, Alabama and St. Joseph, Missouri.
Largest specialty truck dealer in North America. Sources, upfits, finances, and rents all specialty truck types. equipment lenders is the preferred lender for CTOS equipment. 40+ US and Canada locations.
American manufacturer of aerial trucks (B Series), digger derricks (D Series), and aerial ladders (V Series). Founded 1951. Particularly popular with telecom and fiber contractors.
Terex Utilities produces Hi-Ranger aerial trucks, TM and RS series digger derricks. Competitive pricing vs. Altec. Strong presence in municipal fleet purchases. Terex Financial Services provides OEM financing.
Manufactures the SST and VST series aerial work platforms. Popular with cable TV, telecom, and utility contractors. Competitive pricing relative to Altec. Part of Time Manufacturing Company.
American manufacturer of aerial work platforms. DA series bucket trucks and material handlers. Popular with municipalities and smaller utilities. Less well-known than Altec but quality US-made construction.
Manufactures boom trucks and crane trucks. TC50, TC80, and TC110 models are popular for construction lifting, sign installation, and light crane work. Also sells under the Badger Equipment brand. Manitex Financial provides OEM programs.
Manufactures the Vactor 2100 Plus combination sewer cleaner (the dominant brand in municipal sewer maintenance), Vactor HXX hydrovac trucks, and FX series vacuum excavators. Equipment finances through specialty municipal lenders and Vactor dealer networks.
Class B CDL required for vehicles exceeding 26,001 GVWR — which includes most aerial trucks and digger derricks (typically 33,000–80,000 GVWR). Class A CDL required if towing a trailer with combined GCWR over 26,001 lbs and trailer over 10,000 lbs. Air brake endorsement required if the vehicle has air brakes (most large specialty trucks do). CDL training: $3,000–$8,000 for a commercial driving school program.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 — mandatory for utility line work (electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution). OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1407–1408 — cranes and derricks in construction. ANSI A92.2 — vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms (aerial device operator training). Violations can result in fines up to $156,259 per willful violation.
IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) qualifications for union utility work. NCCCO certification for crane operators on derrick trucks. State contractor licenses for utility work (varies by state). Most major utilities (Duke, Dominion, Entergy, PSEG) have their own vendor qualification requirements for contractors working on their infrastructure.
Commercial auto insurance for specialty vehicles: $10,000–$40,000/year for a digger derrick. General liability: $2M+ per occurrence for utility work. Workers compensation: utility tree trimming and line work has some of the highest NCCI class codes in any industry. Surety bonds required for government and utility contracts. Total insurance cost for a 1-truck utility contractor: $25,000–$65,000/year.
General contractor license required in most states for utility work. Electrical contractor license for work on energized systems in many states. Arborist license or certification may be required by municipalities for tree work on public property. ISA Certified Arborist credential ($395 exam) significantly improves access to commercial contracts.
Specialty lenders for custom trucks require: 3–6 months bank statements, 2 years business tax returns, CDL number for primary driver, proof of contracts or letters of intent from clients (utility companies, municipalities), and details of the specific equipment (chassis, body, boom rating). equipment lenders can often work with less documentation for CTOS equipment purchases.
The real startup cost for a legitimate utility or tree service operation is higher than most new contractors expect. A realistic budget for a single-crew operation:
The CTOS rental strategy is worth serious consideration for new contractors: rent equipment through Custom Truck One Source for 6–12 months while building contract revenue, then use that revenue history and contract documentation to qualify for purchase financing at better terms than a startup would otherwise receive.
$180,000–$380,000/year
Residential tree work, small commercial, municipal subcontracting. Owner-operator model.
$500,000–$1,200,000/year
Utility subcontracting, commercial tree work, municipal line clearance contracts.
$1,500,000–$5,000,000+/year
Prime utility contractor with multiple utility company relationships. Storm work significant revenue driver.
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