first truck purchase

FYI, 2004 was the first year detroit went to the egr emission system. What a mess. I know that 2005 wasn't much better. I personally drove a 04 columbia with the 470 detroit and meritor "10" speed. Pig in a poke! Everywher you turned there was plastic parts cracking, wires melting, injectors dying, cylinder liners pitting, radiators leaking, turbos squealing, air compressors burning, etc. It went on and on. Oh b.t.w. the 5 mpg empty wasn't making anyone smile either. My $.02

 

They gonna do the same thing on the east coast at NY nj ports starting jan 1 20011

 

More and more I am comforted that I chose over a decade ago to concentrate all my running in the Midwest. There just hasn't been any economic incentive to operate anywhere the N.E, Florida, or west of the front range of the rockies. Used to run all 48 and all of Canada for more years than I care to think about it. I do better financially just operating in the area I do. But someone has to go to the other places. That's fine.

 

I have to agree... although we DO run Florida/Texas a few months per year with bulk potatoes. those loads pay pretty well... but a guy can do OK staying within 500-700 miles of home.

 

Thanks for bringing this up. I was wondering about the NJ Ports (as I am thinking of working for a container company with my own truck).

The details are: All pre-1994 model trucks would be banned from the Port Authority marine terminals beginning January 1, 2011, and trucks not equipped with engines that meet or exceed 2007 federal emissions standards will no longer be able to serve the marine terminals starting on January 1, 2017.

 

$30,000 seems high to me. I paid that for my 05 379 with 498,000 miles.

 

I have bought both of my trucks from the bettendorf auction for little to nothing and havent had any problems with them at all knock on wood. The auction route is a good way to go if u look over the truck from front to back. Both time i bought down there i called up the previous owner and talked to them.

 

I've been truck hunting hard myself but I don't have all the money I need together yet.

Freightliners are indeed a POS except for the Classic XL's. I used to drive one and it was a good truck. Not as good as a 379, but it was a hell of a lot better than a Century or Columbia. You can find some good buys around on Classic XL's.

Stoops has an '07 with 400+. Clean. Good Dyno and new A/C compressor listed for $44,000. You could probably get it for $34.

Kenworth in Portland has a beautiful '03 379. Clean as a whistle. No rust apparent. 609 miles but that is a mechanical Cat. That truck will last forever if your good to it. Asking $39 but you could get it for $30 I imagine or maybe less -- try them at $27 and see what they say.

Arrow Trucks in St. Louis has some Marten KW 600's with 600+ listed for $29. They've had them a while and will have them a while longer because they have fixed 5th wheels. But if your smart, you could take one of those trucks and do good with it. I imagine they're are about ready to let them go. I'd try them at $20.

I asked them if they would take it to CAT for a complete Dyno and Pre-sale inspection, on my dime, and they said yes. They've run those miles governed. You've got those dual turbos to deal with, but you could take those trucks to CAT and have an overhead done, get some synthetic oils and fluids in them, and probably do good.

If you've never driven a Pete or KW, you haven't driven a real truck yet. Stick with those if you can.

And remember, you will see the same truck listed for as much as $20,000 difference. You tell them what you will pay and if they can't do it, go on to the next one. Truck are priced like brokers price loads...well, no...that would be the opposite wouldn't it...one high, one low

Good buys are often found at Dealers who are selling trade-ins of other brands. A Freightliner Dealer for instance, doesn't have any pressure to keep the re-sale value of a Pete high, like he does for a Freightliner. The Freightliner Dealer in Grand Rapids carries some nice trucks.

Look up the Western Star Dealer in Springfield, MO., they put a lot or work into their used trucks. That is a good sign. They have a couple of -'07 Classics and an '05 Volvo with a Cummins that might be got right. They've done a lot of work on them. The Volvo has a new EGR valve and a new c/ac. 600+ Those Classics are around 420, but they've done a lot to them. You can see a brand new fifth wheel on one and no rust.