Regional haul truck recommendation

Where are you located? If you don't need emissions you can still pick up an emissioned truck and fix it.

 

386 pete or t800 kw with a small bunk would be a good regional truck. I drive a 386 with a 36" flattop. I know you're looking for a day cab but having a small bunk could be beneficial if the driver runs into weather or other holdups needing him to stay over night.

 

I run a Western Star 4900ex daycab, (it's a glider), can't beat the ride it offers. We have a couple 379's, a W900, couple Freightliner Classics, two Coronado's, and two Western Stars. I've driven all of them, and hands down the Star is the nicest. Plenty of room inside the cab compared to the others, it's quiet inside even with straight pipes.

Rumor has it the build quality on the Star isn't what they used to be, but at 360k on the clock, running all crappy roads in PA, it's still tight inside and out. It does have a minor rattle in the dash that I can't find, but overall it's a great truck so far. I'm getting a new one June 1st, and the other guys are fighting over my current truck.

 

Better get a 1999 or older truck so your driver doesn't have to deal with the headache of electronic logs.

 

Is a trailer full of pallets light enough you can get away with a drive screw?

 

You can't beat a 12.7 when it comes to legal weight loads. I habe no problem getting 7.5 mpg unless I'm running heavy and in the mountains. As for dependability, you cant kill them. they are designed to take abuse from new drivers.

 

If you are absolutely certain you will never pull a load with any real weight to it i would seriously consider a single axle truck. It will get even better fuel economy, and obviously be cheaper to operate with 4 less tires and less brake and axle maintenance. Not to mention older low mileage single screws are stupid cheap.