Depreciation of the aerodynamic trucks?

I didn't save the link but it was laid out very well a few years back that the resale value on a 389 well outstripped the fuel savings of a Aero when done in a 4-5 year operating model.

389s, W900s and 589s hold their value, others do not do that as well. That's just the way the market works.

 

Right now on Truckpaper if you search 579/389 with a Cummins at a minimum 500hp and around 300k miles and there’s only about a $40k spread on 3 year old trucks. But there’s no telling what the purchase price was on the 2022’s during Covid either. The 579’s could’ve been around $190k and the 389’s could’ve been $230k.

People should just drive what they want and not try and justify it to others. I like the 579’s I’ve had, I don’t expect others to. I like the cab. It’s comfortable and quiet, the fuel mileage is a bonus. If someone wants to drive a hood then that’s what they should do.

 

Many fleets do the bare minimum then give the junk to a lease purchase guy. After a few failed lease purchases, it gets sold to a new starry eyed owner operator. This is not how it’s done everywhere but it is very common.

 

The small company my neighbor drives for does heavy haul , special orders W-900s , and does meticulous maintenance

their trucks and trailers get an annual DOT inspection every week , and get the oil changed every 10k , new tires when they are worn half way , new brake shoes and drums if the driver has to make a panic stop

they replace them with a new W9 when the warranty is getting close to expiring , every five years or 500k miles .

They sell them for right at half what they cost new .

they idle alot , their company policy is the engine doesn’t get tuned off if they have cargo on the trailer .

 

I want to work there. There is ZERO maintenance here.

 

I want the pickup you have for your profile picture.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. Buy a truck that you like, can afford and see yourself living and working in. Go forth and conquer the market!

 

It is a business, I get it, but there’s really no better feeling then rolling through the likes of Montana or North Dakota or such, a little after sunset, stretched out, polished up, chicken lights on, reefer running a little overweight, cruise set at 85, windows down and the radio cranked, almost makes it all worth it, just doesn’t have that same feel in something plastic

 

When I was looking for a truck again back in late 2018 I was looking at some new W9’s at MHC in Joplin. They didn’t want to deal with me at all because I didn’t need their in house financing. I couldn’t find anything else on the lot anywhere that I wanted. Used hoods were pretty high and I didn’t want a glider. I knew the guy who traded in the 579 I used to have and I knew what kind of shape it was in. It was light. It had some frame because of the lift axle that was on it. So I decided what the heck. After all the years spent driving T800’s and my FLD it didn’t really bother me to drive something different. I was barely out of Missoula back in 2019 and I knew I had no interest in driving a narrow cab ever again. Depending on what I’m doing I could see myself getting a 567 or a 589 in the future, but currently I do enjoy my 7.43 lifetime mpg with my current truck.

All of that said, I’ve spent all but a couple years of my career driving something that’s not “cool”. 10 years in T800’s, 4 years in my old FLD hauling cattle, and going on 6 years now in my 579’s. I only had my POS W900 for about a year and a half.