Auction

Definitely a good deal, especially if you have cash on hand and some mechanical and electrical knowledge to determine if the equipment is road worthy.

 

Driver I know went to a farm auction. Bought a dry van 53X102 trailer the farmer had used for storage. The trailer was in excellent condition except needed tires because the ones on it were dry rotted. He put 8 used tires on it and washed the mildew off the outside and cleaned the inside. Took it for DOT inspection and it passed with no discrepancies. Don't remember the price he paid, but it was under $2000.00
There's some good deals out there.

 

I used to work for ADESA in Little Rock and part of my job description was to take 18 wheelers, tractors and trailers too sometimes across the auction floor in the barn on truck sale days.

Part of my job is to move that truck onto the sale spot, listen to the sale chant and buyers calling and move out and go away when commanded to by my spotters. All while making everything look smooth and not having issues. For example I might be riding the trolley valve to feed air into a trailer that has a air leak big enough to try and lock springs down on me inside that barn. It might not be obvious to a buyer if they are not there in person hearing that air move and why.

Another part of my job was to take in hand the whole group of CDL Drivers, idenfy which ones have never touched a Automatic before in life and teach them how in 5 minutes before they take the truck to sale. Sometimes there are much older trucks requiring my experience and knowledge to impart to the young ones who have never driven a manual before or had air start trucks. That sort of thing.

I have not worked since going blind in 2009 and am thinking about getting back into it, but it's not going to be enough hours to pay the round trip gas bill to and from the auction house to be profitable for me.

The CDL drivers they give to me prior to the auction sale time are always a good bunch. They don't give any lip or sass and settle down to learn what I have to teach them. Then they do the work very well. No problems.

Now more often than I care to explain, problem tractors are handed to me to deal with during the sale. If it is all possible to keep it looking like there is no issues, I'll do it. It's all about showman, or showboating when it's time to sell to buyers. Ive never liked to give anyone any deception. But you must understand that sometimes in a Auction you are going to have sick trucks. The worst ones are the ones low enough on fuel that the filters are sucked dry during the sale. The seller wont throw in 10 gallons of fuel for 30 minutes. They are too cheap.

Now...

Once in a while there are sweetheart tractors I would buy without hesitation. One was a 379 long nose pete with a studio sleeper and 13 double under. 450,000 miles on the clock and 500 Cat. an extra tank was present along with a complete generator set as well as heating and cooling (Hot water too) independant of everything with the main engine. I think it sold for 42,000.

If I had that, I would have bought it. It was just one of those things out of hundreds I had no interest in buying for thousands of reasons one or the other.

At the end of day the Adesa group trusted me with a group of CDL Drivers to learn what they need to learn to look good during the sale. There is always something.

 

Buying at actions can be risky.Dont have ability to get the truck checked.just looking won't tell much.Repos are a risk which is sold a lot at actions usually the past owner knew repo was going to happen long before it happens .They will do no maint.on truck and run wheels off till repo man comes for it.Be careful

 

That question remains a mystery for any used vehicle unless you personally know a lengthy history of it. I have seen some really good deals on trucks and trailers go through auctions and have been to some where there was to much money and not a lot of common sense. When it comes to an unknown tractor that strikes your interest and looks to be well maintained and clean the key is to figure roughly what the worst case scenario would cost you repair wise and figure that in to the current market value of that particular truck when bidding. That is up to you to research. Dont forget the auction charges as well. Maybe you'll walk away with a great deal and maybe you'll have a surprise waiting when you get it home. If that's the case at least you didn't burn yourself to bad.

 

You can't run the ecm report ,you can't run a oil sample,You can't take it to front end shop and have it checked,you can't check blow by at a action lot.If you have ever bought a truck and spent thousands of dollars on equipment you know how to take a lot of mystery out of it.these trucks at actions can't be sold at dealers why is that.

 

Im sure no dealer would ever think about changing all the fluids upon arrival to produce clean samples. Take the ECM report for what its worth. Unless your planning on buying it sight unseen through an online auction I see no reason why you cant check the front end out prior. I have bought trucks and spent thousands of dollars on equipment, both auctions and private sales. Not saying auctions aren't risky but for what its worth, a lot of these auction trucks do end up on dealers lots after the auction.

 

i can tell you bought a lot of trucks .Just buy the truck maybe it'll be a good one maybe it won't that's what you say.How do you check the front end, what are you looking for on a auction floor,How do you check for blow by..Just buy it right if the wheels are shinny it must be a good truck right.Good advise I don't think you've ever bought a truck You know it's allrieght to say I don't know sometimes .Just buy it maybe it's good.why do you spend so much time at actions .bet I know it starts with I got a friend