How to spec a low maintenance expediter

[Kinghunter]

Good day ladies and gentleman,

I have seen plenty of information thrown around in this forum and have decided to star a thread to provide a good spec'd expediter. It is like a burger, getting all your flavor into juicy combo. We will start with the make and model. All manufacturers build a decent size sleeper with a midroof or condo like Kenworth with their 86in combo and Volvo with their VNL780. To me a comfortable sleeper is at least a 72 or bigger. After all it is your home away from home.

Now onto engine selection. A tech for intl has advised staying with Cummins as the Maxxforce is very terrible in reliability like its evil twin sister the Mercedes and its evil brother, the Volvo engine. So either stick to a CAT, Detroit (freightliner) or Cummins for good reliability. Also, these engine manufacotorers have big dealer networks compared to Volvo, Mercedes and Maxxforce.

Also, if you have the dough buy a APU. There are grants for these; just search apu grants. It will save you money on idling and you get to live more luxiourous.

Most I have seen have one lift axle and one stationary as this combo allows them to haul more weight. I agree and think it is necassary as this gives you more options.

For the box, get a reefer thus expanding your options. I prefer Carrier but Thermoking is good as well but my experience says their mx hogs. For tractor trailers, get a utility 3000R as that is the lightest trailer out there so far per three dealers I randomly called.

Now for your interior you have several options. You can ditch the standard sleeper and get made by Bentz, ICT or ARI sleepers. also, you have your existing sleeper lengthened.

My ideal expediter would be a Freightliner Business Class with a Bentz sleeper (84 or bigger) Cummins engine, auto tranny, drop down axle, carrier apu and reefer, and a 26ft box.

KH

[badsey]

being expedited I am assuming you are running team -so the auto tranny makes some sense. Never liked the expedited trucks that seem to sit high (unstable) = get one that sits low. Get a good lift on the back of it.