You may hear someone talking about box trucks or pickup trucks while using the word straight trucks.
That double meaning confuses people and brings up the question "what is a straight truck?"
What do these types of medium-heavy vehicles have in common that makes it ok to call them straight trucks?
Below, find the meaning of a straight truck and other characteristics it may have.
What does a straight truck mean?
The word "straight truck" is used as an umbrella name for a group of certain types of medium-heavy trucks.
After researching and writing for a while on this topic, here is my definition of a straight truck:
A straight truck is a medium-heavy vehicle with all axles attached to a single frame.
For example, the main difference between a straight truck and a semi-truck is that a straight truck can’t detach its cargo area while a semi-truck can.
Now, let us compare it with the straight truck definition on the FMCSA website:
Straight Truck:
A truck is generally one-half the size and capacity of a tractor-trailer. Straight trucks are single cab and body vehicles (as opposed to a tractor-trailer on which the cab can be separated from the trailer).
Do you need a CDL to drive a straight truck?
The answer to this question hides in the GVWR of the straight truck, which stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the vehicle.
You can find the GVWR number on the sticker of the driver side door.
So, if the GVWR of the straight truck is 26,000 lbs or less, then a non-CDL driver can drive it.
But, if the GVWR of the straight truck exceeds the 26,001 lbs mark, the driver needs a CDL to operate this type of vehicle.
And, if you own a box truck, find out more about whether you need a CDL to drive a straight truck or not.
The difference between a straight truck and other types of trucks
Examples of different types of straight trucks are delivery trucks, city buses, box trucks, cargo van trucks, dump trucks, etc.
You can find some of them below.
1. Straight truck VS tractor-trailer
The most recognizable difference between these two types of trucks is the vehicles cargo area.
A straight truck cannot hook and unhook the cargo area because it is attached to the same frame as the driver cabin.
On the other side, a semi-truck can hook and unhook semi-trailer whenever needed.
2. Is a straight truck a box truck?
A straight truck is considered to be a box truck because it has the cargo area and the driver cabin attached to the same frame.
3. Is a pickup truck considered a straight truck?
For the pickup truck to be considered a straight truck, its weight should be less than 26,001 pounds.
Most pickup trucks have a GVWR below 10,001 lbs, which means they are considered straight trucks.
4. Is a dump truck considered a straight truck?
A dump truck is a straight truck.
That is because the cargo area of a dump truck and the driver cabin are attached to the same frame.
The dump truck usually has a length under 26 feet.
Can you make money with a straight struck?
Many people think of starting a straight truck business because it doesn’t need being on the road so much as driving a semi-truck.
The expenses of managing a straight truck are much lower compared to managing a semi-truck.
And you can earn up to $30,0000 - to $50,0000 a year if you work hard to make money with a box truck, for example.
I hope that you understand what is a straight truck right now:)
