10+ year old trailer ok for most companies?

Some shippers have age requirements for trailers like GM.

 

I assume that you are referring to a van? If so, most could care less about the age as long as it is in good shape. You could be turned away from a paper mill. There are some other commodities which will do a physical inspection and if they see light through the floor, they will turn you away. I think most will look at the general condition of the trailer. If you have a weak floor or holes in the floor, then most will not want to drive a forklift on it.

 

It would depend on what freight you plan on hauling but I think you should in fact have a newer van to keep from limiting yourself. I don't care how many guys come in here saying it's never been a problem using an older van. Maybe that has worked ok for them but I would have missed out on a LOT of lucrative freight the past 3 years without a newer van. In fact I'm about to get rid of the one I'm pulling now for a new one.

Here's an idea for you. Buy something that's around 7 or 8 years old and see if it's ever an issue in your first couple of years, then go from there.... I guarantee you if you get into hauling a lot of auto parts freight it will be an issue. Maybe it won't be an issue and so you can do fine with an older van trailer. You really can't know until you go to work.

 

My trailer is a 1998 and I have not been turned away once since I started running in July. I can recall only 1 load on the boards that I was interested in that required a 10 year or newer trailer. Most shippers never even look at the outside & my inside looks like any other composite-walled dry van.

That said, my floor probably ought to be replaced after winter. The wood is still structurally solid, but I spend at least an hour each weak sealing daylight cracks between planks that open and close with weather & vibration. And I religiously sweep before and after each load. Yes twice -- driving empty between loads will often shake dirt out of the cracks so it needs to be swept again...

I sometimes avoid food grade loads, in part because the chance they may find a new daylight crack I missed, & in part because the receivers tend to use lumpers, take forever, & just suck in general.


On the whole, I'd really like to have a new trailer. I think about how I could have just financed a new hyundai every time I struggle to close the left door, or to get the tandems to release, or sweat on my hands & knees inside filling cracks... But mine cost $6250 ($7000 after new hinges, a tire, & ABS sensor) & is paid for. And if I spend $4-5,000 putting in a new floor it'll probably last another 5-10 years... It has no rust & is better built that most of the trailers sold today. I don't have to pay insurance on it, I've already paid its taxes, etc...


There is no free lunch, but its a good way to start unless you have customers lined up who require newer trailers

 

I can tell you never accept anything going to Ford, GM, or Dodge plants with a trailer more than 10 years old. Some of them don't check closely. Some of them do. If you take that chance and get caught what will happen is you will be turned around at the gate and sent down the road. The scramble will be on to find a cross dock to offload your freight. Your rate will likely get docked. You'll be charged whatever the truck coming to rescue your load charges to come to the cross dock and pick/deliv to the plant. You'll never haul any good paying auto freight again for that customer and most likely be blacklisted among a bunch of others who have it too lol.

 

Never done anything to GM, Ford, or Dodge, but I have done a load for Jeep/Warner. I've also done loads for Caterpillar, Navistar, Paccar, Meritor, & Bendix with no problems.

My rate won't be getting docked as long as I adhered to the terms and conditions in my carrier and rate agreements. "Clean, dry, no holes or odors" -- check, check, check, & check...

If a receiver sprung some arbitrary age limit on me after the fact, I'd be getting a hefty detention payment & let the broker/shipper eat the costs.

 

automotive isn't the only freight,

copper wants to see your regristration and will turn you away if it's older then 10 years. least, the mines in arizona do that.

 

^ The one load I mentioned being interested in, but that specified a 10 year old or newer trailer, was a copper load out of AZ going to Utah...

 

The 10 yr. old deal is usually a problem at union places. The union workers say it's a safety issue. I've had them check the data plate. Often thought of getting a data plate off a newer trailer at a junkyard. If they checked the registration that wouldn't work though.