The Impact of the Utility Truck on Commercial Vehicles

Does your current job require that you travel from one location or jobsite to another with all kinds of equipment to perform your services? If so, having an organized system by which you can securely store your tools in your vehicle without constantly digging around for them or fearing that something gets lost is of the utmost importance. Thankfully, there is a specific type of vehicle that was designed specifically to solve these problems, the utility truck.

The origins of the utility truck come from the Australian State of Victoria in the 1930’s. Allegedly, a farmer’s wife wrote to the Ford manufacturing plant and inquired as to why the company had not invented a vehicle that could simultaneously be used to haul the family to church on Sunday, while transporting the pigs to market on Monday. Part of her inspiration had to do with the fact that at that time, the Australian banks would provide loans for farming vehicles, but not passenger vehicles. Thankfully the good people at Ford liked the idea, and the first Utility Truck was born.

Today you can find utility trucks for sale at new and used automobile dealerships throughout the United States and the entire world. Who uses these trucks today? All kinds of people use them. For example, if you worked as a cable installer burying fiber optic cables into the ground, you might need a truck with extra towing capacity to lug around your heavy machinery, as well as storage space for all of your cable. Voila – the utility truck solves both of these needs.

Alternatively, a plumber typically has to carry all kinds of equipment, whether it is wrenches, elbow joints, piping, a plumbing ‘snake’, and other tools. Specially designed utility trucks come with lockable storage containers mounted onto the sides of the vehicle that are perfect for storing all of this various equipment. Today the utility truck has expanded from the original Aussie ‘Ute’ to take on many forms. It is the prototype for the modern parcel van, single or dual rear wheel utility truck, contractor flatbed, service truck, and a whole host of other vehicles that are used for commercial use today.