An observation

Only question I have is how many older Volvo's do you see still on the road versus Pete's and KW's?

 

You waaaayyyy more Pete's and kws. You also see waaayyyyyy more clapped out 379s and w900s because people have a sentimental attached to their worn out old piece of trash. That's not saying those are bad trucks because we all know that they aren't but there are a TON of em out there that are just plain junk and shouldn't be on the road. I should probably add international eagles in with that lol. They all run equally as long, the oldest Volvo I work on is a 89 and it has a Cummins with a 9speed...same equipment you could spec with any truck in that era. Those older trucks aren't like a Chevy lasts longer than Ford or Ford has better transmissions than Chevy argument because there are a few engine and transmission suppliers that were selling the same #### to everyone. Older truck....Pete 379...you buy it for looks because it's a beautiful truck. Kenworth w900...you buy it for looks because it looks good and you couldn't find a 379 to buy lol. As far as longevity they are all the same, even more so now because they are all trash due to after treatment systems.

 

I see older Volvo's, FL etc as farm trucks. The steel cab makes Volvo's more susceptible to scrap due to body rot. The other thing about all the older aero trucks, tons of them get exported to Africa and eastern Europe.

Steve

 

What steve said. I was an iron exporter. The R model mack and dt466 powered trucks didnt get crushed. They got torched up at the wrecker and exported in pieces to honduras, guatemala egypt etc and are still in service.

I love early volvo WIA and WG model trucks. My two trucking mentors wear paccar PJs. As an experiment this week i ran the stats by them on a truck im looking at. Both went something like this:

95 n14 red top, good or bad?

"Great"

Fresh out of frame, turned up computer, new clutch and flywheel, new bags and shocks, good matching virgin rubber
13spd, 3.90 gears, 12 front 40 rears, 650k on the chassis, 2 way wetline.

"Sounds good how much?"

15k cash

"Wow thats a deal, what kinda truck?"

Volvo WIA64

"Junk"


Its a white/gmc/autocar with a volvo grill but petercar folks cant get past the 'what will my friends think' factor and then make up stories about how its no good because ABC.

I think making money at trucking is sort of like tagging fat chicks. The guy with a horny porker is getting a lot more tail than mr snooty who is waiting for a supermodel he can afford.

 

I resemble that remark!

Not really, I've had 2 379s. The first one I bought because the W9 they had had spring suspension. I wanted a W9!

 

Another observation I had on Monday. Cattle haulers seldom use Volvos. My guess is that cattle pods aren't aerodynamic, and the loads pay, so the big advantage of a Volvo, its efficiency, is a lot less important, and they choose the truck based on looks.

 

Theyd probably get booed out of the stockyard.

 

It is a tool.
Yes it is nice to look stylish and the customer may remember a pretty truck but he will remember more if you do a great job and go that extra mile for him.
Get the best tool for the job that you can afford. If it is a older Volvo that has the list you say and you can afford it go for it and
USE THE TOOL. Work hard and do your best at all times and they will remember the guy that does it right!

 

Look at the few aero volvos and freightshakers you do see pulling pots, not the most roadworthy looking things you see usually are they? Most of the newer volvos I've seen pulling pots come out of Canada hauling feeder pigs, but that's just the ones I've seen.

 

The Dalton hwy is probably the hardest road in the US on a truck. Most trucks that run it, run it exclusively, I have never seen a volvo on it period. I suspect there is a reason.
We actually have a volvo dealer here and as far as I know they have never had a truck speced for the haul road. There are some on the road here, and as far as I know the drivers like them, but they do not run north at all and stay on the pavement for all practical purposes. One company runs most of them and that is all they run, but they also own the dealership. lol