Used Stake Trucks For Sale

What are cargo trucks?

Cargo trucks are medium- to heavy-duty commercial vehicles built to haul freight, materials, and supplies over short and long distances. They typically feature an enclosed box, flatbed, or stake body mounted to a chassis cab, with payload capacities ranging from roughly 2.5 tons up to 15 tons depending on configuration. Common builds include box trucks, straight trucks, refrigerated units, and stake-bed cargo trucks from manufacturers such as Kenworth, Freightliner, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, and Chevrolet.

Buyers searching for used trucks for sale gravitate to cargo trucks because they sit in a productive middle ground between a cargo van and a full tractor-trailer rig. They offer high payload volume, accessible loading heights, and the ability to operate in urban delivery zones without requiring a Class A CDL in many jurisdictions. That versatility makes them one of the most actively traded commercial truck categories on the secondary market.

Common uses for cargo trucks

Cargo trucks move freight across virtually every sector of the working economy. Logistics and last-mile delivery fleets rely on box trucks to handle parcel routes, furniture and appliance delivery, and regional LTL freight. Construction contractors use stake-bed and flatbed cargo trucks to transport lumber, drywall, scaffolding, and jobsite tools between yards and active builds. Farmers and agricultural operators haul feed, grain, livestock supplies, and produce to market. Moving companies, beverage distributors, equipment rental yards, municipal services, event production crews, and food service suppliers all depend on cargo trucks as the daily workhorse of their fleets. Refrigerated cargo trucks specifically serve cold-chain operations including grocery resupply, pharmaceutical distribution, and floral logistics.

What to look for when buying used cargo trucks

• Mileage and engine hours: Light- and medium-duty cargo trucks often run reliably to 250,000+ miles, while heavy-duty diesel units like a Kenworth T270 or Freightliner M2 can exceed 500,000 miles with proper maintenance. Cross-check odometer readings against documented service history.
• Chassis and frame condition: Inspect the frame rails, cross-members, and suspension mounts for cracks, rust perforation, or signs of welded repairs — especially on trucks operated in road-salt regions.
• Box, body, and door integrity: On box truck variants, check the cargo area floor for soft spots, the roof for leaks, and roll-up or swing doors for smooth operation. Translucent roof panels should be intact and free of UV cracking.
• Powertrain and emissions systems: Verify the engine, transmission, DPF, and DEF systems are functioning correctly. Diesel emissions repairs are costly, so confirm regen history and look for fault codes during inspection.
• Liftgate, refrigeration unit, and accessories: If equipped, test the liftgate capacity and cycle operation, and check refrigeration units (Thermo King, Carrier) for run hours, refrigerant charge, and recent service records.
• Title, GVWR, and registration class: Confirm gross vehicle weight rating matches your intended use and that title status is clean — critical for fleet buyers registering vehicles across multiple states.

Buy used cargo trucks at Ritchie Bros.

Ritchie Bros. is the world's largest industrial auctioneer, connecting buyers and sellers in more than 40 countries through live and online auctions on rbauction.com and IronPlanet.com. Whether you're searching for a single box truck for a growing delivery operation, a Kenworth tractor for regional hauling, or a fleet of refrigerated cargo trucks, you'll find inventory backed by detailed inspection reports and transparent condition data. With billions of dollars in equipment sold annually and trucks for sale near virtually every major market, buyers can bid with confidence and source the right unit for the job. Browse current cargo truck listings and place your bid today.