Help understanding Peterbilt semi trucks

I think you will miss the restaurant business sooner rather than later.

 

Ok, let's just try and put this same scenario into what was your world. Let's say one day someone that has no restaurant background, but has a friend that has a restaurant and they have read a lot of information on running a successful restaurant, approached you and said they have some money and are planning on going into the restaurant business. The aforementioned friend is going to provide help in this venture for a price, let's just say 10% of your future profits.
They also inform you that they are going to open not one, but two restaurants, and are going to hire people to run these establishments for them. In the mean time they are going to take some courses at the local community college to help them in their quest to run run such as business. They tentatively have picked out two locations and they want to know from you what you think about the locations.
The above is about where you are shooting from at this time. Do you see the problem(s)?

 

If you think working 65 hours a week in the restaurant business is bad wait till you go unload at a grocery distribution center, you will find some really great folks there lol.

 

And after putting up with their shenanigans...pay them $250 outta your pocket to have them unload 5 pallets.

 

2009 will have the four piece DPF... inlet, DOC, DPF, and outlet... if it's like the T660, it'll be mounted by four bolts which you'd better lube the ever loving #### out of before you try unbolting them, or they will break, and in a most inconvenient way. 2010 went to a three piece setup held on with clamps. 2012 will have a 90 degree outlet at the DPF outlet... these are real bad for cracking at the neck where it diverts the exhaust to the decomposition tube. This results in the sensors not reading the correct temperatures in the DPF, and it throws aftertreatment codes and can cause the truck to derate.. not a difficult repair, but I doubt you're gonna carry an extra 90 degree outlet, gaskets, wire wheel, etc. on your truck.
If this sounds like Greek to you, rethink your eagerness to buy a truck. I used to own trucks in NC, too, and if you're not ready to bust some knuckles working on them or don't have the know-how, shop fees can kill you quick.
Maybe this is just me, but, personally, I'd never own an aftertreatment truck without the corresponding engine software (Cummins Insite, in this case).
Another thing which concerns me... 500 HP Cummins engine with a 16 torque transmission? Especially for someone without experience driving trucks in the first place, this is not an attractive setup. You'd want an 18 torque transmission running that amount of power.

 

Let me know when your broke and need to sell those trucks. I might just buy them. Seriously though drive someone else's truck and make the mistakes on their dime. Good luck

 

It's probably set up as a 500hp/1650 lb-tq engine unless it's been to the Diesel Doctor...

 

The guy has made his decision and he's asking for advice on a truck, let's not throw him under the bus before he even has a chance to succeed or fail on his own.

 

Sounds like the op doesn't really want to drive but rather run the business.

Here's the biggest issue you'll have; finding quality drivers.

A quality driver can find a company any day of the week that'll pay him 1200 with full benefits. Also he has security knowing if the truck breaks down, they'll get it towed etc.

I would never work for an owner operator unless I made at least 2k a week, and running legal, that's 2k salaried and up front in case it's a fly by night type of deal, get my drift?

That leaves you with drivers that most companies won't touch.

In other words you get the guys even mcdonalds won't hire, you want them working for your business.

Also trucking is a lot like restaurant industry, cut throat, most businesses fail and profit margins are extremely small not to mention all the bs regulations.