2014 Pete 386 First Time O/O Advice Please!

Hey all. As the title says I’m a first time owner operator looking to purchase my first truck. I can’t afford to purchase and spec a new truck off the line so unfortunately have to purchase used. Gotta’ start somewhere, right?

Today I test drove a 2014 Pete 386 with a 455HP Paccar MX in it, 3.25 ratio and 240” WB. Lifetime 7.1 mpg on the truck. Over all I was pretty satisfied with the truck until we entered the local interstate and I accelerated up to 70 mph, which is the speed limit. I noticed as I got into the 60-ish mph range the truck began vibrating a bit the way on old car does when it goes fast. Should this be a major concern of mine? I know it could be something as simple as a tire wearing uneven or the tires being unbalanced etc. The alignment was a little off as it pulled right, which they’re going to fix if I decide to buy it. Could it be something more expensive like the drive train? Front shocks or an issue with the breaks?

Buying used I know is always a risk and I fully expect the truck to have issues here and there. Just didn’t expect the vibration on the test drive and I can’t shake it from my mind as it has me worried about buying it. Truck has 433,000 miles on it and previously hauled precut lumber and steel loads via flatbed all highway. Also has 5 months/67,000 miles left on the initial Paccar warranty. I’m planning to haul strictly 53’ dryvan ranging mostly 26,000 - 37,000 lb. Mainly running through Utah and states immediately surrounding it. Once in a long while back east.

Sorry so long winded. Any veteran advice is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

 

I’ve been looking for owner operator trucks but sadly they’re either out of my price range or too far away to even go take a look at. I agree 100% in your suggestion to look that way though. You’re probably right that the poor truck was driven hard by someone who couldn’t care less about it. Maybe I could give it the TLC it needs in its second life, haha! I don’t know....

 

Sadly you’re probably right . I just want to get into this business and get into my own truck so bad...I’m not trying to rush by any stretch...already done a ton of extra woe and research and the like to even get to the point that I am...ready to get my own rig and get to work. Even though I know that what everyone is cautioning me on is good advice and that it’s mostly true, it makes a guy trying to get into this industry feel a lot of despair about it hearing all the negative possibilities. We all get it. Trucking is long, hard thankless hours...fighting traffic, DOT, burdensome regulations and almost no sleep...repairs, diesel costs and EPA regs...but deep down I love this job, even with ALL the BS...

 

Yes, I have a job for the truck. One that will keep me quite busy actually. I estimate grossing $20-$24k a month. I’ve also made several lists of my start up costs and what I estimate to pay each month on diesel. I’ve tried to over estimate my diesel use, primarily by using the most expensive diesel prices out there right now (CA ). I’ve also put repair money aside each month in these estimates. I’m trying to plan and be as prepared as possible. I even intend to put two truck payments into my monthly expenses: one to pay for whichever truck I end up purchasing and the other set aside for replacing that truck eventually with a much better one. I’m in the fortunate position of being debt free right now. No car payments. Now house payments. No apartment rent. Just basic utility bills/food/cell phone and gas for my cars etc. I’m also able to count on a moderate side income through my wife so we’ve already discussed how everything I make as an O/O will largely be put right back into my business (I set up a L.L.C. on the advice of my accountant). The only reason I have to purchase used for my first truck is because I cannot get financing for anything as pricey as a new truck.

I don’t have 30K stashed aside for repairs on a used emission truck, but I’m going to have the ability to invest much of what I make right back into my business which will largely go to my equipment: repairing it/replacing it with something better. What do you mean by a glider? I’ve not heard this term before.