Every week, a powerful machine rolls through your neighborhood, handling one of the most important jobs in your community—keeping your streets clean. From your curb to the transfer station, your trash takes a journey and it all starts with the truck.
Let’s take a closer look at the inner workings of a garbage truck, exploring the technology and safety features that make this essential service run seamlessly!

Think of the hydraulic arm as the muscle of the truck. With the push of a joystick, the driver can grab your cart, lift it high, and tip the contents inside—all without leaving the cab. This keeps collection quick, efficient, and safe while handling loads too heavy for any person to lift.

The Curotto Can sits at the front of the truck, acting as a large bucket that holds trash from multiple household carts. When the bucket fills, the truck lifts it to the top and dumps the trash into the body. This system lets our drivers service multiple houses on your block without stopping.

Inside the truck, a massive hydraulic ram (sometimes called the blade, hopper, or crusher) presses all the trash together. This compaction creates space for more loads, so the truck can keep collecting through several neighborhoods before heading to the transfer station. Efficiency is our goal!

Garbage trucks are built with safety in mind. Backup cameras and wide mirrors cut down on blind spots, while bright flashing lights make the truck impossible to miss. Many trucks can even switch between left- and right-side driving, which means drivers can stay closer to the curb, avoid reversing, and keep your neighborhood safer!

Check out this page to learn more about our mascot, Wendy the Waste Truck and his whereabouts!