Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle preschool buddy tale celebrates imagination.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
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Trash Truck
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 40 parent reviews
Parents say the show is a delightful, calm, and endearing experience for young children, promoting themes of friendship and imaginative play without being overstimulating. Many reviewers appreciate its simplicity, relatable stories, and gentle lessons, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults, although some note that certain scenes may be mildly scary for sensitive children.
- calm and gentle
- promotes friendship
- relatable stories
- suitable for all ages
- educational value
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Trash Truck is about a 6-year-old boy, Hank, and his best pal Trash Truck (an anthropomorphic truck with a face and emotions who doesn't actually talk). It takes place in an idyllic rural area where Hank can roam free without grown-ups. Every morning, Trash Truck picks up Hank outside his house, scoops him up with his robotic arms, and plops him on top of the cab. They spend the rest of the day following a curiosity or solving a problem, along with their talking animal friends Donny the raccoon, Walter the Bear, and Miss Mona the mouse. The storylines follow both the everyday (learning how to ride a bike, going to the doctor) and the more fantastical (trying to fly). While the stories are inspired by things real-life preschoolers wonder about, there's always a touch of whimsy or make-believe that will inspire kids to stretch their imaginations.
Is It Any Good?
Trash Truck stands out from most modern preschool shows in that its pacing is slow, and that "gentle" is the adjective that describes it best. This isn't an action-packed vehicle show (a la Mighty Express or Blaze and the Monster Machines, which are both great, but just different). Instead, it's a buddy show in which one of the pals happens to be a giant trash truck. It's refreshing that the traditionally boy-leaning topic of trucks features the counter-stereotype of a sensitive and inquisitive young boy as its protagonist. Since each scene develops slowly, there's space for young viewers to do their own wondering.
Kids, especially those into vehicles, will love imagining that all the trucks around them are alive and could be their playmate. Parents will love that Trash Truck inspires their kids to use their imagination and be kind to their friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about using your imagination. What parts of the story do you think were just pretend, and what were real?
Did this show make you wonder about anything? Is there anything you'd like to learn more about, whether it's cars, trucks, or another interest?
Do you see trash trucks where you live? What sorts of adventures would you go on if one of those trash trucks became your friend?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 10, 2020
- Cast : Jackie Loeb , Lucas Neff , Henry Keane , Glen Keane , Brian Baumgartner
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Adventures , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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