Commercial and Specialty Vehicle Manufacturers Key Terms

Learn the specialty vehicle manufacturers language to make the right business choices

By Lori Carver

Commercial and specialty vehicles have a language all their own and it pays to learn it before you buy your business vehicle. Do you need a coach or a bus? Know the difference or you may end up with the wrong application, thus hindering your business.

Manufacturers of commercial and specialty vehicles usually concentrate on either the commercial end or the specialty end. Some specialty vehicle manufactures may only manufacture one type of unit. Know the terms before you deal with specialty manufacturers.

Buses

Buses are commercial vehicles that take many people from one location to another. They can follow a regular route or they can be chartered for an excursion. Specialty vehicle manufacturers make buses.
Try: Collins Bus Corporation makes school and commercial buses. Click on the picture of any bus shown to look at the specifications and information.

Coaches

Coach is another name people use when referring to buses. Coaches are usually more luxurious than regular buses and groups of people primarily use coaches for taking trips together. Only certain specialty manufacturers make coaches so know whether your business needs a bus or a coach.
Try: Coach Crafters provides information on refurbishing coaches and buying and leasing pre-owned coaches.

Dump trucks

Dump trucks are vehicles equipped with a special body that can dump the load they are carrying by lifting the body up on one end with hydraulic power. Commercial manufacturers make dump truck bodies that can be mounted on semis.
Try: JMH Trailers offers extensive information about dump trucks, including specifications and uses.

Flat bed

Flat bed trucks, as the name implies, are trucks with a flat bed body loaded on a pick up truck cab. The uses for these vehicles are endless. Specialty or commercial manufacturers make flat bed bodies and will either put this on your pick up or arrange for you to buy a pick up from a dealership.
Try: UTE offers ideas on how to use flat bed trucks and other information about flat beds.

All terrain vehicles (ATVs)

Specialty manufacturers make all terrain vehicles (ATVs) for off-road use. Activities may include riding on dirt trails or racing.
Try: Western ATV offers important safety tips for ATVs.

Catering trucks

Catering trucks are special vehicles that take food to industry workers so they do not have to leave the work site. Specialty manufactures build catering units to be mounted onto a pick up cab.
Try: Wyss offers information on manufacturing catering trucks along with detailed pictures of the process.