Yard Spotter Trucks For Sale & Lease

Yard Spotter Trucks Are Powerhouses In a Small Package

Seeing a big rig truck rolling down the highway with a 53' trailer in tow is a familiar sight to many. These beasts crisscross the nation's byways and keep America fed, fueled, and merchandised - while most of us are busy doing other things. These big rig trucks are designed to keep drivers comfortable and protected during long hours on the road. Once these drivers get to their destination, however, those box trailers must be disconnected and are frequently left at that final point in the journey. These trailerable containers are then organized at the destination point and merchandise is distributed from there. But the question is -- how are those heavy, loaded containers moved around if the tractor-trailer unit is long gone? The answer is with a yard spotter truck. As the name implies, these trucks are pretty much at home on the yard, or the location that serves as the final destination for cargo trailers. Once the trailers have arrived, the yard spotter truck takes over and can move the trailers to wherever it is convenient at the moment. These trucks must be strong, durable, and maneuverable, as the working conditions on a trucking yard can be strenuous.

Characteristics of a Yard Spotter Truck

Yard spotter trucks are frequently powered by diesel motors that are tuned for lower horsepower but higher torque values. This is because the trucks themselves rarely see speeds higher than what one would encounter in a parking lot. The ability to move a 50,000 lb. trailer from a dead stop does require a significant amount of low-end torque. These engines are frequently mated to heavy-duty automatic transmissions, instead of the normal multi-speed manual transmissions that frequently appear in heavy-duty trucks. This allows for the driver to spend more time focusing on maneuvering around a tight truck yard, versus having to row his or her own gears. Other features of a yard spotter truck include a high lift hydraulic lifting system that has an integrated fifth wheel trailer coupling. This allows the yard spotter truck to engage the trailer tongue and lift the entire unit vertically -- thereby eliminating the need to raise the front semi-trailer legs. This saves an incredible amount of time -- especially considering many operators of these trucks are tasked with moving five or six trailers per hour!

Search For Your Next Yard Spotter Truck Today!

Ottawa and Capacity are the two main builders of yard spotter trucks today. These units are equally durable and capable, and have proven themselves by logging thousands of hours of work moving trailers around the yard. Searching for yard spotter trucks on our site will uncover a wide assortment of units for sale. Our sellers and advertisers offer machines that are nearly new, to units that are several years old. No matter what type of truck will work best for you, there is a price point available to meet just about any budget. If you can't find the exact unit you're looking for, simply complete the "Want To Buy" section on the listings pages and our network of sellers will go to work for you. Your yard spotter truck is just a click away!