Peterbilt 589

20240619_191259~2 by snicrep posted Jun 19, 2024 at 8:42 PM

 

We’ve been through this you and I a few times. As a guy with only one truck, I can’t play the game of the megas and win. They will beat you with economies of scale time and again. If you want to try and play that way, so be it and good luck.

There is more than one way to skin a cat in this industry. No two operations are the same and no two niches in the industry are alike. What works for you is not going to work well for me and what works for me is going to be overkill for you. You don’t need the 280-300” WB, I do. Your downsped spec powertrain combo is not going to last long when I throw 1400 bushel of corn in the hopper on its back. You aren’t hanging 60 foot beams on a 48’ flat, I am. Your aero packages work great for you on the highway, they’re going to get bashed to pieces on a rough NM gravel road pulling cows out ahead of a wildfire. You’re worried about the cost of your business, I’m worried about whether I have enough firepower for mine.

All the trucks we’ve had over the years, the hoods not only bring more money in resale, they do it much faster. The aero trucks we nearly had to give away and took months longer to finally sell them. Why is that?

As to whether or not the 589 is going to continue the price premium new and used that the older hoods did, I can’t say with certainty but history says yes. And probably pretty handily at that.

The most important thing that all of us share in this industry is doing less work for more money. If you want to argue against that, then I really can’t help you.

 

There isn't a truck in the world that is going to average 9-10mpg pulling flatbed, the nose on the 579 is worth about a 1/2 mpg and thats being nice, the wind rips either truck to shreds, the only bonus would be if you were getting hit right in the face with the wind, and that is about as rare as a unicorn. The best I heard of for fleet average on flatbed are all in the mid 7's with some people touching 8, they pay more attention to what they are hauling or get nice low to the deck stuff all the time, which once again, on low to the deck stuff that 579 is only going to get at best a 1/2 mpg. better. Throw in a heavy crosswind and they are going to be right around the same.

 

That’s a whole mess of different variables and I would argue very atypical.

I did 7’s, with Maverick, in the 90’s. I could probably do 9-11mpg with a current Maverick truck. Guaranteed, Nussbaum’s flatbed drivers are well into the 9’s and possibly doing 10’s. A hypermiler could probably do 11mpg or better. I’d bet money I can consistently do 9-11mpg, today, if I spec the truck and run it. I don’t believe you have any idea what some of the best drivers on the road are achieving.

And, an open trailer is the most common excuse, when it actually has a huge aero advantage. But, the excuse has been used so many times it has become fact by those who don’t understand aerodynamics. I’m not talking hauling equipment; I’m talking steel and building materials.

Drivers constantly make excuses for their poor results. The reality is the world has become impatient. As such, most people want to get there yesterday. Many lack the discipline and/or incentive to slow down and pay attention to how they’re driving. I work at a place where the ownership don’t care on the frontside (proper training, equipment spec, fuel bonus, etc), so they suffer on the backside (fuel cost and bottom line). Most O/O’s run the same way. If one is crappy driver and/or run their business in a crappy manner, their results are going to be crappy. That’s just how it is.

 

There is always gonna be that first time truck owner lookin to buy his first clapped out hood. Facts of life.
There are those owner operators that do well at any thing they do. They are the guys you watch and learn from.
For the most part smaller fleets and owner operators find they do well doing what larger fleets don’t want to do. The typical driver doesn’t want to load and unload his own trailer. Grain is easy in and out. But some byproducts are tough. Who wants to wrangle cattle on and off get covered in ####.


Clapped out hood, beat up aero or either brand new I have seen guys make money at it all. I’ve seen well to do loose it all. You never base your decision on 1 single factor whether it’s fuel or what you do.

 

You all think open trailers have a huge aero advantage, till you get one in the wind, I can tell you they don't, low to the deck type stuff, yes has an aero advantage, your average load including lumber or anything else looses that advantage as soon as it starts getting hit by a side or quartering wind. Trust me I have hooked to a flat with all types of trucks, hauling pretty much the same basic flatbed stuff and the aero truck only has the advantage in frontal wind or no wind. As soon as a quartering or side wind starts that aero advantage is completely lost. Your also quoting from company's that are stuck at 65mph or worse.

 

Are they variables or excuses? I’m curious lol

That’s a lot of talk for something you won’t do nor have IFTA statements for. And that’s just how it is.

 

This here.