$125,000 what to do?

Depends a lot on the driver, motor and freight. Deck freight is often not very aerodynamic, so it can interfere with any benefit an aero cab or auto might give you. Then there are lanes to consider. Are there going to be lots of hills or flat land? Flat land also tends to have a lot of directed winds that can impair economy. Autos sometimes have trouble in the hills and a skilled driver will do a better job maintaining good economy in them.

For the love of all that is holy, don't ever put an auto in a W9. Just don't. No one will drive it. It's a sin against that truck.

Get a midroof T680 if you want a good auto deck puller. My company just leased three this past spring and they really like them. Better than the Pete 579's they've been going with for a while (all Paccar powered). And they make the drivers really happy. They are uber-comfy to drive and sleep in/live out of.

I will reiterate and recommend heavily against new trucks. Unless you have experience in this industry, they will bankrupt you. The computer issues alone will cause enough downtime to bankrupt you. That's not even considering emissions problems. Unless you have a line on cheap maintenance, they are going to cost you a fortune you truly cannot afford.

I don't tell you this from experience with the business side of things. I tell you this from what I hear from our maintenance crew about all the trouble the new trucks are causing. When they work, they're great... but when they don't, they get really expensive, really quickly.

 

Probably a noticeable difference. I'd say at least a full mpg difference. I've never driven a Cummins, pre- or post-emissions, but I can tell you from my experience with CAT motors, that, even with good driving, watching the turbo boost and driving very well, that HP difference will suck more fuel.

I drove a 475 C-15 ACERT on the open highway for about a month just over a year ago. I was a poorer driver then than I am now, and was getting between 5.5 and 6 mpg grossing around 95,000 lbs on mostly flat roads (some hills in Alberta).

I drive a 550 C-15 ACERT now, and loaded with 130,000 lbs on B-trains, I can pull off 3.5 mpg on completely flat roads (this motor has been rebuilt (platinum inframe) and just hit 1.5 million km this past week). I don't have many numbers to compare with equal weights (around the 90k mark) but I would wager around 4.5-5.

If you are not pulling over 80k, you won't need more than 475 for sure. 425 motors, outside of mountains, tend to be good for 80k or less. At least for older, pre-emissions motors. 475-550 are more heavy haul or Canadian-spec numbers. Most van pullers tend to spec around 425 as far as I understand. I would think 450-475 is the magic number for deck, if you are running the whole country. And if you aren't pulling B-trains in the mountains, or stupidly steep grades (>10%), an 18-speed will not be necessary. Another "just for show" thing.

But that's all just my opinion and my experience with CAT motors.

 

You need to see if you can get insurance or not. They may not insure you or they could want 1/2 your $125k up front. They also may not insure your drivers. You have to check with them first. They are the ones that say either yes or no to hiring a driver. Rates tend to go through the roof when you start building a small fleet.

 

if i may, what did you decide to do?

 

Twenty grand today has less purchasing power than 10 grand 15 years ago. Good investments go up in value, not down.

 

The more people you hire the faster that $125,000 will disappear. Remember, the only thing worse than being an employee is being an employer.

 

This is absolutely correct. I have hired many drivers in my life. Not a single one ever made me more money than they cost me.