Understanding A truck specs

I will have to respectfully disagree on this one. Clean is for several reasons other than pride. In the 43 years I have been an owner operator, the best thing I have ever done is repaint a truck when needed and keep it cosmetically presentable. I am convinced your interaction with the authorities, either on the side of the road or at the weigh station has a more positive outcome, along with clean clothes and a yes sir attitude.
A clean chassis also allows better and more effective mechanical inspections, really adding to the bottom line by fixing something in your driveway instead of paying a strange shop or a towing bill.
My trucks has always had a minimum of shiny, so that cost is not part of the equation. Washing your truck in the driveway doesn't cost much, and you will do one heck of a pre trip inspection at the same time.

 

That chassis, like most these days have only the manufacturers engines or a Cummins, there are no other choices. If you want a Detroit, you must buy a Freightliner, at least since about 2006. 13 speeds are great, but are at a premium on the used market. You can find exactly the truck you want, a recent review of TruckPaper had the largest number of new/used trucks I had seen in years. Don't settle if you have the credit and the money, and are willing to travel.

 

Just a dang minute, you're on thin ice there pal with some of us that made it our business for our trucks to look nice. I was even told by troopers, they're more likely to let a shiny truck go, because it shows the driver is more likely to have a safer truck than some filthy Volvo. "Chrome moron", indeed. Go buy your crappy Volvo, we'll be hearing from you in 3 months what to do, and nobody going to want your dirty Volvo,,,sheesh.

 

To get back on topic....
In reality like some are saying all we can do is give advice.

My advice is no matter which truck you are looking at, spend the money on some diagnostics. Dyno, oil sample (if not already changed), pre-buy inspection from a trusted mechanic, ecm printout. That sort of thing. One it give ammo to negotiate the price, plus it can give some early warning signs too.

 

Oh, for cryin' out loud, I'm done here. If I have to tell you the difference between a Pete or KW and a Volvo, I can't help you. Peterbilt has been the Cadillac of the industry for 50 years. The W900 KW is the longest running truck model ever. Have you spent any time in one? I drove them all, and Pete is the best. I shouldn't have to go any further than that. WoreOut is right, with attitudes like yours, I'm glad I'm done. I think his trucks tells me he cares.( I'll overlook the tarp strap holding the battery box cover on,,)

 

Used aero trucks with similar specs are mostly in the same price range no matter the make. An ISX, in theory, should cost about the same to maintain no matter what it’s in and should get about the same fuel economy from truck to truck provided the rest of the specs are similar and each truck has the full aero package. So then cost of ownership comes down to how much does everything else cost on each brand of truck. Freightliner has always had cheaper parts. The Airliner suspension only has 4 bushings so it’s cheaper to maintain, etc. If the running gear is the same truck to truck it’s really going to come down to what you personally like about the trucks. Get in them, sit in them, decide which one you want to be in day after day.

 

Ok, it's not your fault. With all the BS in the world, I probably wouldn't listen either. Can't give you facts and numbers, it wasn't needed. Some things in this industry were just sacred, I can't explain it, but to not take seasoned veterans advice is a darn shame. I listened to my elders, and they taught me right. I guess as us veteran drivers die off, there will be nobody to ask and you're on your own. Good luck with that.