Team truck drivers need advice!

Well your going to get a ton of opinions here. That said, first you are teaming that is going to help a lot with making payments. Especially if you get on with an outfit that pays well, i dont know any off the top of my head but im sure someone like @slow.rider does.

Next i would HIGHLY recomend new in your situation ESPECIALLY if you pay 40%-50% up front. The reason is simple. A team can and will put upwards of 250k+ miles on a truck per year. And even being conservitive at $2 a mile and 250k a year thats a half million a year. If you get a high MPG truck you could easily pay the truck off in a year and run it till it blows then buy a new one on profit alone.

As for getting declined on credit if you joint sign it its unlikely you will get declined with even 25% up front let alone 50% and i assure you companys will fight to the death in an arena against a horde of rabid bears for the chance to snap up an established team. Teams are rare, estabished husband-wife/father-son ect teams are rarer still and are like gold to these places. Which trust me if included in a business olan will help a lot.

However, used is still very viable. Though if you go used anything 2006-2016 should be avoided like the pluage if it has ERG or DEF those trucks were known to be unreliable and bankrupted entire fleets. So if you get emissions go 2017 or newer. Next go to diesel laptops or the like and get a code clearing/reading tool if you go emissions truck as it will save you a LOT of downtime because you will be able to clear minor errors and 1 time derates cause by stupidity.

Older glider trucks are also useable and even desireable though caution should be used as many are likely ratted out and should get a clean bill of health on the frame, oil test, and blowby buy TWO 3rd party shops befofe you buy. Also even if used trucks are down more the trade off is as a team you will make enough money it shouldnt matter on anything thats not a blown engine as long as you can do some maintaince.

 

Interest rates are really high for first time owner operators, even if you have A+ credit. If you can afford a new truck I would buy new. Keep it until 500K and trade it back in, it will still be worth a decent amount at trade in.. Reason being is you are running as a team. So basically you are doing double the miles a solo driver does. If you were to buy a used truck it would be worn out before you paid it off.

 

I would recommend a new one regardless but as a team it’s a no brainer. A used one may seem more affordable but in reality it will cost you much more in repairs and lost revenue.

 

There's some fairly new gliders out there to be had. They only stopped making them last year. Landstar is said to have decent team freight, and some of the solo freight is even said to be worthy of a hard-running team's attention too. I hear FedEx teams do well also, but I'm not sure if they pull semis or only straights.

 

Running those kind of miles, go to a new truck. Talk to Mike Stringer at Freightliner of St Cloud MN, they have a lease program that should get you started without delay. Note, Freightliner of St Cloud is owned by Anderson Trucking Service who also controls Warren Transport plus other companies. Mike works at Truck Power, but his office is in the Freightliner Dealership.

 

Have you talked to any dealerships about getting a new truck? Make a call or three in Monday. Your best chance is with a peterbilt or KW. Freightliner no trucks till December.

 

Everyone has to make their own decisions - just be sure your decisions are both informed and intentional...

Having said that - I personally believe used trucks are a far better and far more affordable deal. But you must understand trucks and know what you are getting into - and any older truck IS going to need work (money) put into it to get it right and keep it right.

Even so - you can buy FIVE decent used trucks for what ONE new truck will set you back.

With a used truck - once the engine is rebuilt - and so long as all else it kept up and maintained - it should be good for another million miles or more. Consider the revenue that can be generated (especially as a team) and you can EASILY afford to build/rebuild and maintain any used truck of your own choosing.

Also, keep in mind late-model used trucks can be purchased with some factory warranty remaining - and still cost under $50k total.

 

@Stefan94 go call a freightliner dealership and ask. There is a ECM shortage globally. Or to be more accurate a chip shortage. Video cards for gaming computers are in short supply too, lots of things because of chips. Go call volvo and freightliner. See what they say.