Which truck should I choose???

So I started at a new tanker company about three weeks ago and have been doing training an orientation w/ a driver trainer. Another guy started at the same time I did and today we were told that we would be getting assigned our trucks in the next week. There are two 2017 m/y trucks up for grabs so our terminal manager tossed a coin to see who would get to choose and I won.

So the choice is between:

- 2017 Peterbilt 579 w/ 179,000 miles.
Paccar engine w/ automatic transmission. Disc breaks all the way around.
Single bunk sleeper w/ inverter ( I think ).

. . . or . . .

- 2017 International w/ 80,000 miles
Cummins X15 engine w/ automatic transmission. Disc breaks all the way around.
Single bunk sleeper w/ inverter.

I've said from the beginning as I knew driver I don't expect anything new or fancy. I just need a truck that's mechanically sound and won't leave me stuck on the side of the road and I don't want a truck that needs to be fumigated b/c of bed bugs or funky smells! Anything else I can make work. Heck, I didn't even really think I'd get an automatic frankly!

After looking at both on the terminal yard ( didn't get to drive either one ) I'm leaning toward the Peterbilt b/c it has a larger sleeper area and appears to have more storage in the sleeper area plus the drivers seat seemed to be more comfortable. Another experienced driver told me though that International by being smaller and lighter would be more easy to maneuver and has a better turning radius. He also said it would be easier to back and I'll be the first to admit as a new driver I need some work on my backing, especially blind side off-set parking. I've heard all kinds of horror stories about the mechanical reliability of the previous gen Internationals though, so that also has me leaning toward the Pete as well even if it is slightly harder to maneuver and back.

So I'm just looking for insight from people who have experience w/ either of these trucks and what it's like driving and working w/ them day-in-and-day-out? I'll ultimately be doing semi-regional / otr work out 10 -14 days by the end of the year ( so I'm told ).

 

My trainer said we'll probably try to do that some time next week. I was just looking to get some insight from folks who have long term experience w/ these trucks?

I was thinking this too. Though one simple explanation could be that it was last assigned to a local driver. Everyone at our terminal b/c gets a sleeper cab b/c even the local drivers occasionally get sent out on regional / overnight out-and-backs. So it could be that a local driver had this truck and never particularly far that often.

 

Liquid tankers. About 60% placarded / hazmat.