What each name usually means
| Name | What people usually mean | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry picker | A boom with a basket. The name comes from orchards, where early lifts were used to pick fruit. | Informal name for boom lifts of any size. |
| Bucket truck | A truck with a boom and a small bucket for one or two people, often insulated. | Power lines, street lights, signals, tree work, telecom drops. |
| Man lift | Any lift that carries people: boom lifts, and also small vertical personnel lifts. | General term on job sites and in rental catalogs. |
| Boom lift | The equipment term for a platform on a boom: articulating, telescopic, self-propelled, towable or truck-mounted. | Construction, facades, maintenance, industrial sites. |
| Aerial lift, AWP, MEWP | The umbrella terms used by OSHA (aerial lift) and the standards (MEWP). | Safety rules, specs and training. |
For the full family of machines, see what is an aerial work platform.
How they really differ: height, basket and chassis
- Height. Typical bucket trucks and small boom lifts work in the 30 to 60 ft range. Large self-propelled booms reach up to about 185 ft. Truck-mounted boom lifts like ours reach 150 to 300 ft.
- Basket. A utility bucket holds one or two people. Our 12 ft baskets carry up to 1,322 lb: a crew, their tools and materials together.
- Side reach. Small machines reach a few dozen feet out; our lifts reach up to 135 ft to the side, up and over roofs and lower buildings.
- Chassis. A bucket truck and a truck-mounted boom lift drive to the job on the road. Self-propelled booms arrive on a trailer and need firm, level ground.
- Insulation. Many utility bucket trucks are insulated for work near energized lines. A standard boom lift is not, so it has to keep its distance from power lines.
Which one should you rent?
- Low work near the street, one or two people, light tools: a small bucket truck or boom lift.
- Work on or near energized lines: an insulated bucket truck with a qualified line crew.
- Construction sites with firm ground and mid-range heights: a self-propelled boom.
- High work, long side reach, heavy loads or obstacles: a truck-mounted boom lift.
Measure the height and the distance from where the machine can park, then check the working envelope. See how to pick the right lift size or try the reach calculator.
On a 165 ft monopole in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, a contractor who usually rented manlifts and cranes needed radio modules swapped in one day. With our A‑175 and operator, the job took 6 hours, including setup and takedown.
Our lifts
Whatever you call it, we rent truck-mounted boom lifts from 150 to 300 ft, with a certified operator, permits and traffic control. Compare the fleet or see boom lift rental with an operator.
Quick answers
Is a cherry picker the same as a boom lift?
Usually, yes. Cherry picker is an informal name for a boom lift with a basket. Boom lift is the equipment term.
What is the difference between a bucket truck and a boom lift?
A bucket truck is a truck with a boom and a small bucket for one or two people, often insulated for utility work. Boom lift is the broader term, covering self-propelled, towable and truck-mounted machines of all sizes.
Is a man lift the same as a boom lift?
Man lift is a general term for any lift that carries people. It often means a boom lift, but can also mean a small vertical personnel lift.
How high does a bucket truck go?
Typical bucket trucks work in the 30 to 60 ft range. For more height, truck-mounted boom lifts reach 150 to 300 ft.
Which is better for high work, a bucket truck or a boom lift?
For high work, long side reach or a crew with materials, a large truck-mounted boom lift is the better choice. Bucket trucks are built for lower work, often near power lines.
