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Make The Right Material Decision For Durability & Performance: Aluminum vs. Steel Truck Bodies in Canada

Posted on September 10, 2025

Why Truck Body Materials Matter More Than Ever

When it comes to work trucks, choosing the right truck body is more than just about looks, it’s about performance, safety, durability, and cost efficiency. Whether you’re outfitting a custom service truck, investing in a flat deck truck body, or equipping your crew with a mechanic service truck, the choice of aluminum truck bodies vs. steel truck bodies can make or break the long-term value of your investment.

At General Body & Equipment Ltd., with locations in Edmonton, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, we’ve spent decades helping Canadian businesses make the right decisions on truck bodies, truck parts, truck accessories, and heavy-duty repairs. Our expertise goes beyond supplying Canadian truck parts, manufacturing truck bodies, and building custom service trucks, we are also trusted aluminum work truck manufacturers and fully custom work truck manufacturers. We guide our customers through detailed material comparisons, helping them evaluate weight, cost, corrosion resistance, and long-term serviceability to ensure they make the best decision for durability and performance.

This article will dive deep into aluminum vs. steel truck bodies, explore flat deck, service, and crane truck builds, and show you how General Body & Equipment stands apart as the trusted source for work trucks, accessories, and repairs across Western Canada.

Section 1: Understanding the Truck Body Material Debate

Aluminum Truck Bodies

Pros:

  • Lightweight: Up to 40% lighter than steel, which improves fuel efficiency.

  • Corrosion Resistant: Essential for Canadian winters, where road salt accelerates rusting.

  • Low Maintenance: Fewer long-term repairs required compared to steel.

  • Higher Payload Capacity: Reduced body weight allows for greater load-carrying ability.

Cons:

  • Higher Upfront Cost: More expensive initially than steel.

  • Structural Flex: Less rigid than steel under extreme heavy-duty applications.

Steel Truck Bodies

Pros:

  • Strong & Durable: Steel is unmatched in rugged strength, especially for oilfield truck beds and mechanic service trucks.

  • Lower Cost: Typically more affordable at the initial purchase stage.

  • Proven in Heavy Industry: Trusted for industrial trucks, truck cranes, and custom flat decks for trucks.

Cons:

  • Prone to Rust: Requires frequent maintenance and coatings, especially in Alberta and Saskatchewan climates.

  • Heavier: Reduces fuel efficiency and overall payload capacity.

Key Takeaway

If fuel efficiency, corrosion resistance, and lower maintenance costs are your top priorities, aluminum truck bodies are the clear winner. If strength, impact resistance, and lower initial investment matter most, steel truck bodies may be your best bet.

Section 2: Truck Body Applications in Canada

Different industries require different solutions. Here’s how aluminum vs. steel performs across applications:

  1. Flat Deck Trucks / Custom Flat Decks for Trucks

    • Aluminum: Ideal for hauling lighter, high-volume loads with less corrosion risk.

    • Steel: Best for heavy-duty construction and oilfield applications.

  2. Service Trucks & Utility Trucks

    • Aluminum Service Bodies: Reduce weight, increase payload, and resist winter salt.

    • Steel Service Bodies: Perfect for mechanic trucks and work trucks requiring welding rigs and mounted cranes.

  3. Crane Trucks & Truck-Mounted Equipment

    • Steel Crane Service Trucks: Necessary for durability and safety under load stress.

    • Aluminum Cranes-on-Truck: Rare, but sometimes used for lightweight lifting applications.

  4. Welding Decks & Welding Rig Trucks

    • Steel Welding Decks: Provide stability and resistance under the weight of welders and rigging.

    • Aluminum Welding Decks: Increasingly popular for mobile welding crews needing lightweight mobility.

Section 3: Local Considerations, Canadian Winters & Corrosion

Canadian climates are tough on vehicles, and truck bodies Canada face:

  • Snow & Salt: Accelerated corrosion on steel bodies without proper protection.

  • Temperature Extremes: Freeze-thaw cycles cause steel fatigue and cracking.

  • Maintenance Burden: Steel requires more ongoing upkeep.

That’s why aluminum truck bodies are increasingly being chosen for fleet managers and operators in Canada who want reduced maintenance, longer life cycles, and overall ROI.

Section 4: Supporting Equipment & Truck Accessories

A truck body is only as good as the equipment, accessories, and parts that support it. At General Body & Equipment Ltd., we specialize in:

  • Truck Cranes & Service Truck Cranes

  • VMAC Air Compressors, Truck-Mounted Air Compressors & Air Compressors

  • Truck Lift Gates & Hydraulic Systems

  • Truck Welders, Welding Decks & Custom Welding Rig Trucks

  • Truck Decks Alberta & Custom Truck Parts Edmonton

Whether you need truck body parts, heavy duty repair, or custom truck decks, our team provides best-in-class service and long-term warranty support.

Section 5: Why Choose General Body & Equipment?

  • Experience: Serving Canada for decades in truck body builds, service truck customization, and heavy-duty repair.

  • Customization: From flat deck trucks to mechanic service trucks, we tailor each build to your unique industry requirements.

  • Local Support: Two fully equipped locations in Edmonton, AB and Saskatoon, SK.

  • End-to-End Service: We provide everything, truck parts, accessories, repairs, service bodies, welding decks, and cranes.

Start The Conversation With General Body & Equipment

Looking for the right material for your next truck build? We can help.

  • Book a Consultation: Speak with one of our materials experts to compare aluminum vs. steel truck bodies for your application.

  • Request a Quote: Get a tailored build plan for your flat deck, service body, or crane truck.

Website: www.generalbody.com 

Call Us: 1-800-410-1613

Make the Right Decision for Durability & Performance

Choosing between aluminum and steel truck bodies is about more than cost, it’s about ensuring your service trucks, flat decks, welding rigs, and crane bodies last longer, perform better, and reduce downtime.

At General Body & Equipment Ltd., we take pride in being the trusted partner for Canadian truck parts, custom truck bodies, and accessories in Edmonton and Saskatoon. With our expertise, you’ll not only choose the right material but also get a complete, high-performance build backed by warranty and long-term support.

Make the right choice. Contact General Body & Equipment Ltd. today to discuss your next truck build.

www.generalbody.com 

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