Your bucket truck or picker only earns when it's up and working. We fix the whole machine — diesel chassis, PTO and hydraulics, booms, outriggers and controls — and keep it serviceable between certified inspections. Straight diagnosis, and a written quote before we touch it.
A bucket truck or picker truck is really two machines bolted together: a hard-working diesel chassis and a piece of aerial or lifting equipment on top. When either side goes down, the whole unit stops earning — and that hurts most when you're a utility, telecom, sign, tree-service, oilfield or municipal fleet with a crew standing around. At Eskimo Auto Repair in Edmonton we service both halves under one roof: the truck (engine, transmission, brakes, air system, DEF/DPF, electrical) and the equipment (aerial device, boom, hydraulics, PTO, outriggers and controls). We work on all makes of chassis — Ford, Freightliner, International, GMC/Chevrolet, Peterbilt, Kenworth — and on the common aerial and crane brands including Altec, Versalift, Terex, Elliott, National Crane, Palfinger, IMT, Manitex and Dur-A-Lift.
Hydraulics, PTO & the aerial device
Most of the equipment problems we see are hydraulic. The PTO takes power off the transmission and drives a pump; that fluid runs through control valves, hoses, a rotary joint (hydraulic swivel) and slip ring at the turret, and out to the cylinders that raise the boom and level the bucket. A boom that moves slowly or jerks, a lift that won't hold, a platform that drifts down on its own, or a system that whines and runs hot usually traces back to worn seals, a tired pump, a sticking valve, contaminated fluid, or a leaking cylinder or holding valve. On picker and boom trucks — knuckle-boom and stiff-boom cranes alike — we add the winch, the extension and lift cylinders, the slew bearing and boom wear pads, and the remote or manual controls. We diagnose the actual fault before we start replacing parts, and you get the price in writing before any work begins.
Diesel chassis, brakes & cold-weather service
The chassis underneath still needs everything a working diesel truck needs, and Edmonton's climate is unforgiving. Minus-30 and minus-40 cold starts are rough on batteries, grid and glow systems, DEF and after-treatment, and hydraulic oil that turns to molasses before it's warm. Road salt and sand chew up brake lines, air-system fittings, wiring and outrigger pads, while freeze-thaw finds every weak seal and mount. We handle diesel diagnostics and repair, transmissions, air and hydraulic brakes, DEF/DPF/SCR after-treatment, charging and electrical, and the preventive maintenance that keeps a unit dependable through an Alberta winter.
Certified inspections & dielectric testing
One thing we're straight about: aerial devices and cranes require periodic certified inspections, and insulated bucket trucks need dielectric (insulation) testing on a set schedule — that certification is a specialized, accredited function we don't perform in-house, and we won't pretend otherwise. What we do is keep your equipment mechanically and hydraulically serviceable so it passes, repair anything an inspection turns up, and coordinate or refer the certified testing when it's due. On parts, our sister company Eskimo Auto and Truck Parts is one of Edmonton's largest parts operations, which gives us direct access to genuine OEM components and fast sourcing of the hard-to-find hydraulic, driveline and chassis parts these trucks need — so your unit isn't sitting for weeks waiting on a fitting. We keep commercial and fleet accounts moving with clear communication and honest turnaround.
Signs you need this service
- Boom or bucket moves slowly, jerks, or hesitates when you engage a function
- Boom or platform drifts or settles down on its own instead of holding position
- Visible hydraulic leaks — oily film on the boom, cylinders, hoses, or under the truck
- Whining pump, overheating hydraulic oil, or a burnt smell during operation
- Outriggers or stabilizers won't deploy or retract fully, or won't hold the truck level
- PTO won't engage, drops out under load, or the equipment has no power
- Erratic upper or lower controls, or a bucket that won't self-level the way it should
- Diesel warning lights, DEF/DPF regen problems, hard cold-weather starts, or low air-brake pressure
What's included
- Aerial device and boom hydraulic repair — pumps, control valves, cylinders, hoses, rotary joints/swivels and holding valves
- PTO and hydraulic pump-drive service, installation and repair
- Outrigger and stabilizer repair — cylinders, valves, pads and leveling
- Upper and lower control diagnosis and repair, plus bucket leveling systems
- Picker and boom crane service — winch, extension and lift cylinders, slew bearing, wear pads and controls
- Chassis diesel repair — engine, transmission, air and hydraulic brakes, DEF/DPF/SCR, charging and electrical
- Preventive maintenance and pre-inspection service to keep aerial and crane units serviceable between certified inspections
- Genuine OEM and hard-to-find parts sourced fast through Eskimo Auto and Truck Parts
Brands we service
Our Red Seal–certified technicians work on all makes — including:
- Altec
- Versalift
- Terex
- Elliott
- National Crane
- Palfinger
- ETI
- Dur-A-Lift
Manufacturer names are used for identification only. Eskimo Auto Repair is an independent shop and is not affiliated with, or an authorized dealer of, these manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bucket truck or picker truck repair cost in Edmonton?
It depends entirely on which side of the truck is down and what we find. A hydraulic hose or seal repair is usually a few hundred dollars; a full pump, cylinder or control-valve rebuild, PTO work, or major diesel and after-treatment repairs run higher. As a rough guide, most diagnostics and smaller hydraulic jobs land in the CAD $300–$1,500 range, with larger boom, crane and engine work above that — but those are typical ranges only. We inspect first, tell you what's actually wrong, and give you a written quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises.
Do you work on Altec, Versalift and other aerial and crane brands?
Yes. We service the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical side of the common aerial and crane brands — Altec, Versalift, Terex, Elliott, National Crane, Palfinger, IMT, Manitex and Dur-A-Lift — on all makes of chassis including Ford, Freightliner, International, GMC/Chevrolet, Peterbilt and Kenworth. If you're not sure whether we cover your specific unit, give us a call and we'll tell you straight.
Can you do the annual aerial-device certification or dielectric testing?
The certified annual inspection and dielectric (insulation) testing on aerial devices and cranes is a specialized, accredited function that we don't perform in-house — and we won't pretend otherwise. What we do is keep your equipment mechanically and hydraulically serviceable, repair anything that would fail, and coordinate or refer the certified testing when it's due. That way your unit is ready and safe when the inspector arrives.
My bucket truck won't lift, or the boom drifts down — what's wrong?
Those are classic hydraulic symptoms. A boom that lifts slowly or has no power often points to the PTO, the pump, or a control valve; a boom or platform that drifts down on its own usually means a worn cylinder seal or a failing holding/counterbalance valve. We won't guess — we test the system under pressure to find the real fault, then quote the repair in writing. Don't keep operating a unit that won't hold a load; that's a safety issue.
Do you handle fleet and commercial accounts?
Absolutely — utility, telecom, sign, tree-service, oilfield and municipal fleets are a big part of what we do. We work to honest turnaround times because we know a unit sitting in the shop is a crew that isn't billing, and our sister company Eskimo Auto and Truck Parts lets us source parts fast to get you back up. Talk to us about setting up a commercial account.
Book your bucket truck & picker truck repair
Call for a straight answer on cost and timing, or book online.