Broken carpenter looking to make a change

On a different topic, we buy our pickups from Ford(diesels) and extend the bumper to bumper warranty to 5 years and purchase a full maintenance plan. It is good for us in as much as snow removal is all stick, no carrot for the trucks. It’s not a good life for them. This gives a completely fixed cost to operate them for the five years, save for fuel and insurance and registration. It also allows better value on trade in with a complete service history.
Are there similar programs with semi trucks? Having a fixed cost with no “surprises” make’s managing funds easier, along with the advantage of depreciation benefits tax wise.
I just had my front brakes and scheduled maintenance done for my truck, I signed an invoice for $2000 and didn’t pay a cent, our cost for the plan is less than that per year.
After 5 years we trade them in regardless, have been getting north of 40000 for them on the trade in, hoping the semis have something similar, obviously the figures involved will be larger.
Thanks

 

The maintenance plan has saved us thousands of dollars on some repairs, have had blocked exhaust filters replaced (6000) and every spring they need ball joints, tie rod ends, idler and pitman arms every two years. They will even replace broken leaf springs without asking the usual” what the heck are putting back there “ questions

 

Thanks for the knowledge! As far as those Musk trucks…ewwww!

 

Thanks for the information, I’m pretty handy….but these machines are more complex now than ever. I think keeping them past 5 years is inviting unreliability, and that’s no way to make money

 

Thank you, I will definitely be looking into that at some point, my end goal is to be driving something with my name on it. Not to make a fortune, but to be able to say “no”. I work to live, I don’t live to work

 

It seems quite cyclical in the trucking sector, it is similar in the renovation business, our company found a niche working on old homes. Most of the homes we are doing work on are between 75 and 120 years old. The permitting is an onerous process but it usually involves a client with a healthy budget. We have been able to insulate ourselves from recessions and economic slowdowns. We will only work on new buildings for existing clients, usually the children who are now grown and married and need an actual honest skilled tradesman. Hopefully I will be able to establish a transport niche the same. “I’m the gringo who always delivers”. I miss budget sometimes, but that’s what you get when you open up 100 year old walls!