The trucking business

hey there fink---no real need to upgrade to newer style engine--unless you have a very low horse power one --like a 350 cummins--but they are mostely gone by the wayside--you actually can get better fuel mileage out of a pre egr one--and it is less to go wrong for maintenance--for the most part--a lot hasnt changed in 30 years--parts is parts---you might have a time finding specific things like a dash or something--but it isnt something you really need change ever--i see no problem with an old truck as long as it is maintained

 

my friend what you say here is very true! But there are alot of people that dont want to get dirty, or are not mechanicly inclined! thus leaveing them to pay the mechanic over $100.00 hr, my self aint much i cant fix, i dont claim to be a mechanic, but i do fall in the catoagory of a glorifyed parts changer with common sence,,,,, iv been around trucks and heavey equipment for years! i can tell when somethings not right i can narrow down the problem, i keep tools on the truck for thos repairs,,,,,,,and the plus factor is i have friends that are diesel mechanic's and when theres a problem i can call< and it has happened ,from the side of the road and they have talked me thrue some repairs thaat have saved me big bucks out in the middle of no where! it's amazeing how a little common sence a few tool can save a drive big bucks, as far as newer trucks are concerned, I myself being the little guy, i would asume have a older truck than a newer one due to less electronics, and emmissions crap !!! but if your looking at cost why pay $150.000.00 when you can spend $10-18,000 and do the same job,,,,,,like everything its mechanical, it's man made. it needs grease if it moves and it will break. thanks the dino

 

Thanks for the feedback guys!!

Only concern I really have is the companies that won't Lease you based on the age of your truck. Is that still an issue?

Yeah some people aren't that very mechnically inclined. If you a Common Sense Parts Swapper your a BIG Step ahead of many. I by know means know Diesles very well but like you said know enough to get by unless it's major (for now).

That is one thing I do like about Trucks, the engines, trans and axles all swap around pretty easily. But I have ran into issues in the past with cars where parts were no longer available do to age. But sometimes you can get creative and come up with something nicer thanwhat is there already if you got time and skills on your side.

As for all the EGR and EMMISIONS crap did no body in the Diesel industry pay attention to the Gas world??!! Most cars these days don't run an EGR.

 

southernpride i totally agree with u. i own a 99 volvo. its not my favorite but im a 1st time owner operator and i paid for it in cash. Its a good starter truck for someone just getting theyre feet wet. it needed some of the bugs out of it t 1st but now i know how to get in there and turn a wrench. how to get my hands dirty. how to repair my own rig. something that seemed impossible at 1st till I was FORCED TO learn or dont make any money. I have more pride in my job then ever before. I dont have payments. I work. Save. Live life. I dont have to be out on the road for weeks at a time because of a truck payment. Im home most nights and hardly work weekends with this little mom and pop outfit. My terminal is 10 minutes from the house. Last week i did 3600 miles. I have more money in the bank then ever before in my life and im 28. Everyone has a different opinion and situation. As for me. The hell with payments and interest. If you dont mind owning an older truck then go for it. I have found that even with labor, the truck still easily pays for itself without the payments until the day the truck dies.

 

Your in the perfect area for local and regional runs, theres loads every day for a flat out of your area going east in pa or to ny or new england even into oh and they all pay realy good and if i'am not mistaken they built a new sheet rock plant in wv and the company that got the contract was looking for trucks and drivers last year might still be. i could get you 2 to 3 loads a week out of pa or oh comeing up to ct,ma or nh all over $2 a mile.

 

What would you recommend as a first truck to get started in?

 

I spoke to an owner operator last week that told me the same thing. He said an unexpected repair is easier to handle when you do not have a big truck payment.
He said to buy an older truck that is in good working condition and is presentable.
I believe him and you Southerpride!
I appreciate the positive attitude...I preach it all the time!

 

this is all very true,your truck needs to be clean,and i had found depending on prices,certain things as one learns about his truck, the little things to keep up on, you can tell a driver that cares about his truck! that truck is your mule! it makes you money,,,,,,i dont know how many times on my 34 hr break ,i open the hood ,and just check things you might not normaly check on a daily pti, such as you cant tell if your a/c compressor bolts need a little snug on them, or you might need to adjust your belts,due to you heard it cherp once that week when the fan kicked in,,,,,to me it's about man an machine,man built the machine,it needs care, and its about pride,and its also about learning,,,,,,think about this , when your sitting at the truckstop and it's your break or on your 34hr reset, see how many drivers are checking out their trucks? how many hoods do you see open? or how many drivers, are either checking for loose wires or working on a light,,,,,,,,not very many, this is not to disrespect any drivers,but it falls down to care and give a ####!!!!! if it dont work,,,,,,,you dont work,,,,,,but thats normaly if you own it,,, just my opinon take it for what its worth

 

SouthernPride, thank you for a very usefull bit of information there.

And I will say in all honesty there is much truth to what you have said. Back in 2007 when I could see things were going to slow way down, and I was faced with a 2500.00 a month truck payment, I wound up getting out of the business because I could see the handwriting on the wall, I had too much overhead, and wasnt going to be able to pay my bills.

I had bought a really nice truck, a 2000 Kenworth W900L with a 600HP 3406E and a brand new Doonan Black Gold.



Beautiful truck and trailer, I had 30,000.00 cash when I made the down payment, I shouldnt have been stupid, I should have gone and got a truck and paid cash for it.

Even if it meant leasing a trailer from the company I was leased to at the time for a couple of months. (It was back in 06 when I bought the truck)

A lot of lessons learned through that deal, that big power was fun, and the truck was pretty, but the truck had a ton of electrical issues, and it nickel and dimed me to death.

I was constatly finding myself trying to get the truck going when the phantom problem popped up and drained off my batteries, id have to get some one to give me a jump, and once I was going it would stay going, but it got to the point where I was affraid to shut the truck off because I didnt know if it was going to start again.

I wound up late on a lot of loads because of it, that messed up a couple of really good deals I had going for myself.

Id have been a lot better off getting a truck that I could have paid cash for, then when I started having issues it would not have been a big deal to take 2 weeks or what ever it took to get the problem fixed and fixed right isntead of going crazy trying to pull enough loads to make that payment.