Garbage Trucks For Sale in Florida
Browse garbage trucks for sale, including rear loaders and automated side loaders, with key specs, body options, and refuse fleet buying tips.
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About Garbage Trucks in Florida
Low-entry chassis are common in the garbage truck market because they improve driver access over hundreds of stops per day. Buyers should pay close attention to GVWR, wheelbase, packer body capacity, hopper size, and hydraulic system condition. Body capacities often range from around 20 to 40 cubic yards depending on application, and front axle and rear axle ratings need to match the intended payload and route density. On used units, body brand matters because parts support, cylinder design, tailgate sealing, arm components, and control systems vary by manufacturer. Refuse trucks also live hard lives, so frame condition, body floor wear, packer panel integrity, tailgate pins, and PTO operation deserve close inspection.
For Florida operations, corrosion is still a factor even without northern road salt. Coastal humidity, leachate exposure, and constant washdowns can accelerate rust on body seams, electrical connectors, hydraulic lines, and rear door structure. Air conditioning performance matters more than many buyers expect because these trucks spend long hours in slow traffic with constant door cycling and cab heat load. Turning radius, overall height, and legal axle weights also matter when routing through neighborhoods with low trees, gated communities, transfer stations, and tight commercial alleys. If the truck is an automated side loader, inspect arm wear points, joystick or multiplex controls, camera systems, and cart tipper compatibility.
A good garbage truck purchase comes down to matching the truck to the route instead of buying only on age or price. A rear loader built for dense commercial stops is different from an ASL designed for standardized residential carts, and a low-entry cab can make a measurable difference in driver fatigue and safety. Look at engine hours as closely as odometer miles, confirm transmission behavior in repeated stop-start service, and review maintenance records for hydraulics, brakes, steering, suspension, and emissions systems. Refuse trucks are specialized assets, and the right one should fit your collection method, payload target, service area, and technician support network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a rear loader and an automated side loader garbage truck?
A rear loader is loaded from the back of the body and is commonly used for manual bag pickup, commercial containers, or routes that require a crew on the ground. An automated side loader uses a hydraulic arm to grab and dump standardized carts from the side of the truck, allowing one driver to run a residential route from the cab. The best choice depends on route density, labor model, container type, and how standardized your customer setout process is.
What should I inspect first on a used garbage truck?
Start with the packer body, hydraulics, and chassis structure because those systems take the most abuse in refuse service. Check the body floor, packer blade or ejector condition, tailgate seals, hinge points, cylinders, hydraulic leaks, PTO engagement, and frame rails for cracks or heavy corrosion. After that, review axle ratings, suspension wear, brake condition, steering play, transmission operation, and engine fault history. On automated units, inspect the arm assembly, pins, bushings, controls, and cameras.
Are low-entry garbage trucks better for city routes?
Low-entry garbage trucks are often a strong fit for municipal and residential collection because they make repetitive entry and exit easier and faster for the driver. That design can improve visibility, reduce fatigue, and support safer operation in dense neighborhoods with pedestrians, parked cars, and tight turns. They are especially common in stop-intensive refuse work where ergonomic advantages matter every day.
How important are engine hours on a garbage truck?
Engine hours are very important because refuse trucks spend much of their life in low-speed operation with frequent idling, PTO use, and hydraulic cycling. A truck with moderate miles can still show heavy wear if it has high hours and a demanding route history. Buyers should evaluate hours alongside mileage, maintenance records, transmission condition, and the overall state of the body and hydraulic system.
What body capacity is typical for a garbage truck?
Typical refuse body capacity depends on the truck type and route, but many garbage trucks fall in roughly the 20 to 40 cubic yard range. Residential automated side loaders and rear loaders often vary within that range based on wheelbase, axle setup, and legal payload targets. Capacity should be matched to route density, transfer distance, and container type so the truck can carry productive loads without becoming overweight.