O/o help needed!

Saving the money to buy your truck is always the best way to go brother... If you lived east of the Mississippi, I would have a lease offer for you but, you don't so, I would advice you go with your gut. If you can actually save the money, do that. Having a paid for truck is better than paying for one. I wouldn't advicate you buy a newer one, pre-admission truck would be better. Look in the Truck Paper and feel it out. As far as the extra cost's, you wouldn't have to buy all the IFTA, Plates, INS and things outright. The company you contract your truck to would cover the costs up front and deduct payments from your settlements. Lots of information on here, on the topic of doing exactly what your talking about...good luck driver.

 

GrizzlyBear.. Since you like hauling Refer's, look into John Christner trucking... Lots of good info on their thread..
From their posts, I think that they don't run up in the Northeast much, if at all...

Another L/P to check out is Schneider Choice.. Plenty of info on their threads too.. You pick your area since you dispatch yourself...

 

For a mix of simplicity of repair, cost to maintain, and universality at repair shops, I'd suggest something running a Pre-EGR detroit (it will disquality CA too). Also, OOIDA suggests that you also have 60-90 days of operating capital in the piggy bank just in case. I just spent a few minutes on TP and there's quite a bit out there within your proposed budget.

 

This topic is already well covered in the O/O threads. Get to reading. It will take you weeks to read it all.