The journey begins - purchased a truck.

I went and got the new truck and have that payment. I have now run three month and the only repairs or maintenance was an oil change and greasing the truck before every trip. I always said I would never buy a new truck, but the last two places I drove for had older trucks and the repair costs seemed to be higher than my truck payment every month. Also with running Alaska a breakdown will cost double than in the lower 48. A tow bill starts at about $5000.00 in the Yukon. The only worry I have is the emission components that could rear their ugly heads. If this truck would have not come with a huge discount I would think the glider would be the best choice.

 

It really does get better at some point but from one truck to the next who can really say. I can say that I have been there and done that with the repair bills. When things are right and you're not always fixing something it sure is nice. I've had some to replace some heim joints (I think that's what they are called - look like ball sockets) on my clutch pedal linkages and a clutch pedal spring that broke - which I have yet to replace. 6 months into the year I am happy with that. 2012 was well over $30,000. Really sucks having to get an inframe done but I wasn't checking samples so when coolant started going into the oil, well, that was a nasty surprise lol.

My choices were 1) sell the truck. That has obvious motors problems - so basically it's a million+ mile truck with a bad motor - would have been lucky to get scrap value for it then buy another used truck - I'm not keen on starting over again with another fixer upper. I had the money to either do an inframe or get another "starter truck" Or 2) Buy new. Didn't have the courage to do that then and besides it would have been a bad choice out of the three lousy choices I had. Option 3) was inframe what I had. It was the devil I knew. I decided to go all out and replace lots of extras. And I haven't regretted that choice with the benefit of hindsight. It's a good truck. Reliable.

I've got time on my side now and I definitely sample every oil change at 12,000 miles lol, so no surprises. Next up is a brand new tractor either current emmissions or glider with pre-emissions if they're still legal. That's a couple of years out. Business should be turning, or have turned, for the better by then. The way it is now I would be nervous with a big payment. I could do it but I'd rather not in such weak conditions. Couple of years from now things will be much more secure for me.

 

On thing about a paid off older truck is if your not working it the repair costs should be very low........

New truck no work = same payment ....

 

While you have been slacking I had to cover your flatbed freight.
So far 19,000 miles this year.

 

What most dont understand is that a new truck is only new for a period of time. At some point your making payments and paying repair bills.
Thats when it really sucks.

 

Sweet Dick,

Here is your next truck:

 

Cycle into new every 3 years like the big companies. By truck # 2 it ought to be paid for outright by the trade (or private sale) and cash on hand. Drive a new one where all you have to do is pm's and let someone else bother with expensive repairs after you've gotten the easy life out of the unit.

 

It's toot truck and your money so your decision, but if I had my head off for injector cups, it's spend the extra three hundred and do a valve job. But then again, for how cheap new heads are today, I'd probably just put a new head on. That's what I did when I rebuilt this Detroit last year

 

It's actually getting an inframe now...

 

Blair,
When looking at a week or month I always look at loads ran vs. revenue for those loads. Never go by checks recieved unless you are looking at an entire year.

example - if I run loads 768-785 in May. My mileage should be from delivery of 767 to delivery of 785. My gross should be confirmed rates for 768-785 whether paid or not.
This is my opinion, but you are gonna drive yourself and others nuts with this revenue from other loads vs. miles for these loads vs. what is still coming in talk.
just what loads you ran and what rates you agreed to on those loads.