Just looking at buying my own rig and wondering if its worth it to get a late modle truck or not.
I could pay cash for some freightliners I have seen with less than 600K miles on them with the good old 12.7 detroit in them.
But I have also been told that there are some companys out there that wont lease you on to them unless you have a 200x year truck. Most of the ones Ive been looking at are from 2000 to 2004. I dont care about being pretty I just want to make mney without any overhead
thanks for all the help this fourm is awsome
ps. I dont plan on going to CA and am only looking for a truck to last 3 years
what year trucks do yall run
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Fullforce, Feb 5, 2012.
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D-A-R-T Transit! Age isn't as important here as the mechanical condition and appearance of the truck..
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I got an 02 Freightshaker classic xl with the good old 12.7 Detroit and a 13 speed, I just got a complete in-frame (approx 3500 miles on her now) with new turbo, new clutch and input shaft with re-surfaced flywheel and new kingpins. Shes got 1,006,000 miles on her and California can kiss my butt when it comes time. I run a 2010 Manac 53 ft drop deck with slider spread.
A truck like this is good to go as long as you keep up with the maintenance and dont drive like a ###### on crack. These things are a dime a dozen so parts are easy to find and not as expensive as others. You also dont have all kinds of sensors that will fail and shut you down. Get an older truck but be a little picky about it so you dont get someone else's lemon -
id much rather have something without a payment! I have no debt other than my little $550 a month mortgage So I could save save save with no extra bills coming out of my gross income.
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I hear ya but you also need write-offs otherwise you will pay uncle sam. My first truck I had I thought I was doing myself a favor by not spending so much on the truck. I was on a dedicated run making good money. I ended up giving the tax man almost 5 grand that year. I then got myself a good acct. that knows trucking so I know how much I need to spend on truck/trailer supplies/repairs instead of giving it to the tax man,
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how much reserve you have...you going for your own authority or leasing on to a company...whats your credit like... lots of variables and its getting harder to buy a truck these days due to the economy and if you dont have alot of commercial experience you might have to have a big downstroke to get into one...im trading in my big sleeper truck tues for a new 2012 kw w900L...i will keep the Volvo with the 130 inch ict sleeper though...
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We bought a 97 classic and paid cash no note. Ours has the 12.7 detroit with a straight 10. I like it because it didn't take a lot to get into the truck plus the room and are easier to work on than the newer trucks.
Last edited: Feb 5, 2012
1958Pete Thanks this. -
hey JJ you got the larger sleeper classic...
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Been said here many times, if they have a certain year requirement on equipment. 10 years, 8 years, 6, 5 or whatever - they are a sorry company not worth leasing on with. And most of the companies with those requirements, from what I have seen, pay very CHEAP flat mileage rates that will not cover your costs - so I tend to agree with the sentiment. They must figure since they don't pay enough for you to maintain an older truck that maybe you will be fool enough to buy a newer one with some type of factory warranty, or even worse an aftermarket one that is not worth the paper it's printed on, cause you think you will make it and they hope your new truck doesn't break as much. So look for the companies with no age requirements on equipment. There are literally thousands of good small carriers and a few large ones like Mercer, Landstar who could care less how old the truck is as long as it'll pass DOT inspections. Those are the companies you should seek out.
Semi Crazy and jjranch Thank this. -
TheRoadWarrior Thanks this.
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