What kind of truck to buy for intermodal hauling

I run for a small office in my local area, home every night. About 80% or more of the drivers I work with are driving KW T-600's - Aerocab. Everyone is always looking for the 07 or older. Many run the C15, but its heavy and those guys seem to be tearing up the steer tires all the time. I personally feel they hold up better then a lot of the others to the everyday pounding running intermodal. I run one, an 03, pre emissions, CM570 Cummins (rebuilt twice now with 1.4million, first one was at 200k to fix the initial issues with those motors, second one just done this last fall) truck and it seems to handle the abuse very well. I can't stand being in something for 10+ hours a day that just has a ton of rattling and buzzing from all of the interior parts (Freightliner - Looking at you!). Just my two cents!

 

Can't stress this enough - do not buy an Emissions truck! Unless you are rich, love the EPA, or your wife is a tree hugger, stay the hell away from them!

 

My company has International ProStar+ daycabs. From what I understand they had problems early on but they do well now. They drive pretty nice...but I'm a rookie, so what do I know...

Not that I know enough to say which is the best truck for intermodal, but I have always been partial to Volvo anyway. Many owner operators for the company have Volvos but I also hear it's a pretty penny when it comes to parts for them.

 

The company I'm leased to runs Mack daycabs.....

 

Their not called freightshakers for nothing!!!!!!

 

That's for sure! My trainer is sometimes called upon to test drive trucks the company sells to drivers. We tested two Freightliner sleepers this week, a 2004 and a 2006. After driving them I understood the term "Freightshakers" the really "shake and rattle". They drove ok though.

 

Get them ol'e freight shakers. They rattle but they are BEASTS!!!! Pull those heavy #### containers not giving a ####! volvos on the other hand.. you have to treat it like your 2nd wife..lmao.., delicate or that sucker wont pull as good as you want it too. with the freight shakers, ya just goooo!

 

im looking at a 2001 KW T2000 with cat 3406 e 500hp 13sp 240in wheelbase, would this be any good for intermodal out of Georgia ????

 

Sounds good!!! make sure to check out the engine, get an oil sample if you can....

 

I always laugh when I hear old truck breakdown and maintenance worries.

I used to park next to a guy that had a brand new Peterbuilt when I got my old FLD Classic.

We both ran for a year. Mine ran fine with basic PM's. His new truck had to be towed three times because of all that emissions junk.

I'll always take old iron, as long as is legal, and maybe even for a little while past legal.