Hoping to have a new KW ordered in the new year.....what do I expect?

Hey all,

I haven't been on this forum since 2013 as I haven't seen much need to post and whatnot, but as I'm now considering possibly going owner-op more seriously than I ever have before, it seemed prudent to ask about things that people who do this would know, particularly with the truck I'm wanting, the T800. LLC, DOT number, all that has not yet been reserved, and I still need to ask the bank what sort of numbers could possibly be run on a loan if I were to decide to bite the proverbial bullet. If it were to happen, I'd be contracting out to the company I currently work for, delivering trailer parts from Michigan to western regions. Current plan for a truck, if blessed enough such that it can be ordered without putting me into the poorhouse, is a Kenworth T800 with the 550hp Cummins, 10-speed stick if possible(otherwise 18-speed stick), full length Studio Sleeper, fully locking differentials, and 300-gallon fuel capacity with a Tripac.

But what I'm not sure about this is, assuming such a truck can be procured,
is a 6.0-6.5 mpg average realistic?
What would the average maintenance cost be per week or month to factor in and set aside $$$ for so oil changes and tire rotation/replacement, and occasional more complicated things, can be done on time and paid for upfront?
Are they still as reliable as the years of production for this model implies?
How well do those of you who own T800s or drive as a company driver like them for day-to-day use?

 

The T660 was discontinued after 2017. T800 they can still order, but they don't know for how much longer.

As for full lockers, I've been in a couple situations in winter when they would have been nice. Once pulling out of a truck stop in SLC, other trucks lined up behind, but couldn't go forward due to only having the one locker. Could back up though, so once other truckers convinced the guy right behind me to go around so I had room, they had me back up and get moving once traffic cleared. Second time was the next morning at the TA in Mill City, Nevada. I'd parked in the dirt section of the lot(which had a half inch of snow on it) no problem, but couldn't get the truck to move. Finally managed to get moving by easing on and off the clutch just right to rock out of the potholes. Seems better to have and not need such a feature than to need and not have it. Much more useful to me than some radar thingy in the front bumper like these company trucks seem to always have these days.