Need advice on buying a truck...

Another thing to keep in mind is watching freight. Skateboard freight isn't all that great right now but buying a reefer will give you two options of hauling refridgerated or dry load's. More money with those options. Another down side to flat beddin' is all the other equipment you have to buy plus get trained to properly secure load's. Added equipment like chains, binders, straps, blocks, bunjees, tarps, headache rack which can easily run around $10k give or take and I'm thinking it's more.

Not to discourage but I would sit on my money and wait. I've noticed a large number of owner op's get out of it and go to driving a company truck. They don't like it but they can't afford to run on their own in these times so they are doing what they have to. Getting into business like that is very expensive and if you don't have the reserves for an extra year to keep you business up and running including part's and maintance plus take care of your personal things back home after buying a truck trailer and everything you need to get you legal and your business fail's you could end up in some real finacial trouble. Just need to sit down and think long and hard about it. like I said, not trying to discourage you just handing out the cold hard fact's like everyone else here will tell you so you don't make a mistake you can't get out of.

 

no way would I buy a truck right now. A guy can barely squeek by without payments with the way rates are

 

I do not belive reefers are the "holly grail" and would be any better of a choice than flats.. The equipment needed to start out isn't that expensive.. For about $3000 you can get the basics.. You don't need to buy all new, there are plenty of used trucks and equipment hanging around..

Your not picking a very good time to break into the trucking business. All freight is slow... Rates are in the toilet.. Companies are laying off, cutting costs, miles, and equipment like crazy..

If you do not have a core customer already set up to haul for with your own authority, you won't make it living off the broker boards in truckstops.. You should lease on with someone.. Some do not require you have your own trailer.. That could save you a bunch of $$? Others will lease you one..

48 vs 53.. In flats a 48 is fine.. You don't get more $$ for showing up with a 53.. and I have never missed out on any real loads because of it.. Depending on what you want to do, there are options in setting up your flat.. In a ideal world I would like to have 1 with all the bells and whistles.. container locks (two 20', one 40' & one heavy 20' is the normal package, air ride, spread axle thats collapseable to a closed tandem, Extra tool boxes to store all the stuff you are going to need, I'd like a all alum. trailer like a Reitenour <sp? but those are $$.. so maybe a alum., steel combo at least if your pockets arn't that deep? A all steel is tougher but heavier.. Sliding winches both sides, chain pulls, side kit?? not me .. don't like coils.. and steel mills..

Fire away with more questions.. I'm bored to death sitting in a T/S in Tx.. no loads here.................

 

Homework:

My truck of choice is the Kenworth W900L. I looked through the papers and noticed all of these little numbers in some of the ads that I really didnt know what it meant. I went to a Kenworth dealership and asked.
I asked what the AG380 is and was told that thats the suspension rating...AG + a number. The higher the number, the beefier the suspension. The heavier the suspension, the heavier the bobtail. Obviously, you want a stout rig, but if you go too heavy, you run into overgross troubles when pulling non permitted loads.

Then theres this transmission code thats a letter, a number, a couple letters and another number. Mine is something like R18DC13 (not it exactly, but you will get my point). The first number is the torque rating (1800 ft lbs) and the 2nd number is the number of gears (13 speed).

Of course, theres the engine HP and rear end ratio. The bean counters set our company trucks up with a 430 HP motor with a 2.90 gear. Will not pull and sucks down fuel and works a motor and driver really hard! Most o/o spec trucks will have # 475-550 HP, and 3.36 to 3.55 gears. I went with a 475 HP motor, 1800 ft lbs rated 13 speed tranny, 3.70 gears and AG380. A buddy of mine bought a similar truck to me, but didnt do his homework and got 475 HP,1600 ft lbs rated tranny, 13 speed and 3.36 and AG 200. Its a decent truck, but he cant figure out why I can walk around him up the hills and get better fuel mileage with an oversized.

That being said, before you buy a truck, figure out what you want to do and where you want to run. THEN spec your truck out accordingly. Dont just "buy a truck".

 

I agree with triplesix on doing your homework. My friend previously drove a 98 Freightliner Century and wanted something better. In the end, he chose a Pete 379 with a 3406E Cat, 3:70 rears, 10spd, and a 10spd transmission. Also, the truck came with the torque set at 1750 which is fine for reefer work but he has the assurance knowing it can be flashed to 550HP and 1850 ft of torque. The pic above is my friends truck and he loves it. He used to pull dry van but pulls refer because it pays better than dry van.

KH

 

Dec 31,2008 I had just finished delivering a 4 stop machinery load in Tx. Dispatch sent me to this pipe yard in Houston to pick up a load going to Edmonton. My dispatch was on vacation til the Friday after and the B team was running the board and dispatching. Load description said 45000 lbs, 40 ft pipes. I'm pulling a 53 step California spread. The shipper loads one pipe on the trailer against the step and it hangs off the back about 3 feet. They ask me if I can haul it and I tell them no. Seems like the pipes are 48ft instead of 40.
It took hours to explain to the B team why I couldnt pull 48 ft pipes on a 53 step into Canada. 48 flat, yes. 53 flat, yes. 53 step, heck no.

Your post just reminds me of why I love the flatbed challenge.

 

Whatever you do, avoid SelecTruck of Little Rock of AR . They are the biggest scammer of the industry.