What brand of trucks to start with

Haul what to where, for fuel mileage t-660, t-680, my company's average is 7.6 Atlanta to Cali. Paccar 485 with 13sp

 

Yeah, our preferences will be what we run ourselves.....predictably.
For easy dealer access, and the most comprehensive dealer network, Freightliner hands down.
Cheap price, Freightliner again.
I think KW has gone downhill with their recent trucks like the T660 etc, so I wouldn't go that route.
Peterbilt's have the name and not a lot else in my experience, as well as the most crammed cab (379) in trucking these days. Some drivers will work for a company to drive one though.....
See what I mean? You are going to get 100 different answers from 100 different people, and at least half of them wont have a raving idea what they are talking about as they have only drove a company truck for one company.
I now drive a Western Star, and absolutely love it. The most interior room of anything out there that is made here, the build quality is second to none, and so on.

Martin

 

I am sorry, but this sounds absurd. You have the money to buy 5 trucks and also cargo ships yet you know so little about the industry that you are on an Internet forum asking very basic questions about things that a real businessman would already know the answers to before even considering getting started. And you want a bunch of truck drivers to give you the answers to these very important questions? You need a business plan and professional advice. If you are not savvy enough to do that then just take that money to Vegas. You will still end up broke, but at least you will have some fun.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

Freightliner (Colombia, Century class) Detroit 60 series; easy,cheap to maintain ,in any major city is a Freightliner dealer for parts and service.
The cab isdraughty and made with cheap plastic and the ride is rough ,but still would be my first choice.
Volvo rides like a Cadillac,but is the most expensive to maintain .
So this is the low and high end ,and everything between.

 

Thank You texasmorell, I thought I was the "Crazy person in the room!

 

Nothing wrong in asking for advise on potential truck issues IMHO. I think that was his question, what trucks are having what issues these days.
And where better to ask, than in an owner operator forum? Now granted, half the folks in here have never owned a truck and still feel like posting their opinions, but there are some of us that have been running our own trucks for decades, thus know a little about ownership.

OP, The newer Western Stars are a lot lighter than before. My 82" sleeper 4900EX is lighter than one of our other guys' T660 Studio Sleeper, and I have tons more room. Now before any internet genius' go Googling the sleeper size, you may want to actually get in one of each to compare the two. Regardless of how they measure it, the Star is a LOT bigger inside.
Before my chains, headache rack, etc went on it, it was under 18,000lbs. Heavier than a Freightliner, as my last Columbia with a MBE motor and 13 speed was @1500lbs lighter with the same 300 gallons of fuel.
If you will never need to meet emission standards, I would not hesitate in heading out and ordering 5 new gliders with pre emission Detroit motors in them. If you do need to meet the latest emission standards, then roll the dice. Only ones I have not heard ANYTHING bad about, are the DD15's. I wouldn't touch a Cummapart these days, nor one of the new Paccar/International engines. Too few people can work on them and they are too new for my liking. Let some big fleet be the test mule, I certainly wont be. Good MPG goes so far, right until you cant get the POS fixed at anywhere except a KW/Int dealer who only work banking hours.
Old Cummins and Cats could be fixed anywhere. Detroit S60's are the same. The new DD's are getting there too from what I hear from guys in the trade.
End of the day, its your call of course. I think your best bet would be some Freightliner Columbia's well spec'd out so they dont fall apart in 3yrs. My old Columbia had 884k miles on it when I traded it in. It was still perfectly capable of earning me money at that time, and was a comfortable enough ride. I was the only person who drove it though, as it was mine from the dealers lot.
Freightliners = Buy cheap, sell cheap. WS etc, buy expensive, get more at trade in. Same difference at the end of the day in my EXPERIENCE.

Martin