Mercer

well I'll call when Mr "lost in TX" gets off the phone.....

 

Actually wait a couple hours! I got to go clean the "to much info" area. Then go hook up to my trailer. Do my log.... Then I'll be sitting in traffic & ready for a call!

 

....ok the lost in TX voice is still in my ear....lol now there are 2 little Mercer truck setting empty in TX...rotfl

 

Understood, and I appreciate you for taking time to reply.

Yessir, about $12K cash, and ~$8k in stocks. Stocks are not in IRA/401K, and I'll sell a portion of it in January (unless Dems sneaked capital gains tax increase for 2010 in healthcare takeover bill, in which case I have to sell some by the year end). I was in hole by $13k when I started driving at Swift back in Sept 2007. It took a nearly-bankrutpcy experience for me to finally change my ways...

I'm still confused about the upcoming smog law, as everybody I talk to tells me different things.

I assume any truck with a paticulate filter will be OK? All trucks with the filters seem to be '08 or newer. I would rather not to have $1800 truck payment at this moment.

Initially I was thinking of buying a '05-ish truck for $40k, but it is starting to look like a bad idea. Payment will still be relatively high, and it'll still take $15k to retro-fit the particulate filter.

I may have to give up on loads out of L.A. port for a while, and get started with a cheaper truck. Get savings back up, and trade in for a smog-compliant truck a few years down the road.

As you suggested, I'd like to have at least $10k for emergencies.

A friend of mine that I mentioned above supposedly have a set of 8-foot drop traps and a smoke tarp. I'll drive up to his place to see what kind of conditions they are in.

That will get me started. I will pick up 2 or 3 steel tarps down the road. I hate lumber tarps with passion.

Yes, it is still the same. I recently got Hazmat in November, and just picked up my TWIC card.

This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. Thank you.

Unless Mercer requires me to lease-purchase, I think I will try to find a used trailer and buy it. I see a fair number of decent-looking alum. flatbed going for around $10k. I'll try to get a personal loan from a credit union. If not, I'll sell one of my cars to fund it.

 

Your not the only one confused.... There is a whole lot of use that are confused.

Mercer has a blog that you should be able to read.

http://mercertownblog.wordpress.com/

They discuss the Cali emissions on that... I just read it & since my truck is a 2001, I will no longer be allowed in the ports.

http://mercertownblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/clean-truck-program/

http://mercertownblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/rfid-tags/




Take a look on eBay for trucks. I see some good ones on there going cheap. I just wish I had the money to buy 1. A member here & a fellow Mercer driver named Gonzo is looking at selling his truck & trailer.

 

yea but check to see if you can get that "a-dapta" kit.....or whatever Jason as talkin' about..it was Jason that wrote that wasn't it????

 

Yes & No. Anything can happen. You can build your maintenance fund as you go. But remember it costs money to repair a big truck. 12k-20k to rebuild an engine... 5K to rebuild a transmission... 3K to replace a clutch... 3k-5K to redo a rearend..... pony can give you live numbers on the rearend.... I heard her's just blew a seal recently & made a mess all over the passenger seat.

Then you have little stuff that happens. I blew a non pressure power steering hose a couple weeks ago. I've got it patched together with a 5/8 length of heater hose right now.... But I don't like it. I went to buy a proper hydraulic hose yesterday for it & they wanted $50 for a 6 foot section. I also just flushed my radiator... Did it myself & still spent close to $100 just on anti-freeze.

 

http://mercertownblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/info-on-clean-truck-program-retrofit/



From what I understand a retro kit is not available for my 2001 truck. And if it was, I don't have 20k to 25k to have it installed. Nor do I have the money for the extra fuel consumption or maintenance costs.

 

I was wrong... The retro fit is available for my truck. But it will only allow me access to the port for 2 more years. To me, I don't think spending 25K to have my truck retro fitted for only two years of access is a smart economical decision. Now if it allowed access for 10 years... I may think about it.

 

hi,
merry christmas God bless ya'll