What is the deal with older trucks?

That's kind of what i was thinking. Plus,for a new o/o with limited money saved up for repairs, a major repair needed may cost enough and keep you OOS for long enough to completely destroy your business.

 

landstar would. they're a big company.

 

werner, prime both require ridiculously new trucks to try to force you into leasing from them.

 

I really don't consider Prime a trucking company more of a truck leasing company and the owner is a lying used car salesman and they have a bunch of newbies every week going threw those doors and it is sad because they end up getting a bad taste or getting screwed and leave the industry for good. This happens at Werner, Swift, Prime and many others, but what do you expect when you get promised the world from day one at the cdl mill to the company and then you get trained buy a driver with six months experience.

I know National Carriers back in the day when it was a true elite fleet and not the crappy company they are today use to require late model trucks of five years or newer but once you leased on you could keep them for ever. The company I am leased to will except any age of truck as long as it passes inspection. We just had a guy lease on a 1989 KW cabover. I am in the process of looking for an older truck myself and I am going to put it in my shop and completely go threw it and then sell my 07' 379. I have known a few owner operators that are doing this or have done it.

 

fuel mileage is probably 1 mpg less than new truck , power wise they were quite servicable butt you cant short shift it loaded like a new 800 ft/lb truck, oil leaks are fixable, lol , it aint a harley
these detroits were the most reliable inexpensive and easy to rebuild boxes in there day . thers detroits with 90,000 hours on them, thats hours ladies not miles
truck wise, this aint gona ride like a new truck, if you keep hitting you head on the cab roof get a padded baseball hat ,, or padded cowboy hat
if you like mineral water and wizard of oz reruns

 

1mpg worse? just depends on the truck. I have run with several drivers that are running 15 year old Detroit's and Cumins that are getting better mpg then these new trucks with all the BS emissions crap on them.

Oil leaks on new trucks also.

The ride? What are you driving? I drove a Freightliner Century awhile back it is was a 07' model and beat me to death. I had a 84' 359 back in 91' that rode good and a 92' 379 that rode like a dream and my first truck was a 82' Freightshaker with air ride cab and spring suspension and it rode great with air ride cab.

 

I wish my truck was air ride... P

 

Going into the trucking business w/o start up or money to back you up in the event of a breakdown is asking for failure..

 

I totally agree. I'm not going to run my truck without atleast $4000 on hand + a lucky penny. And thats to lease onto a company, whatcha do when you get your own authority and find out your customers wont pay you til 30 days later? ....

 

Never had my own authority friend....I'd say it comes down to having money to fall back on ????? dunno