Advice on buying older trucks

This is true in most circumstances however theres a big difference between a Volvo and freightliner, kw, western star, or a Pete. I don't care what's under the hood of that Volvo it ain't worth the money in scrap as far as I'm concerned with all the problems I've heard of. Hell there's a couple local shops that won't even work on them.

 

I have an 02 Freightliner n-14 500 about 6.5 mpg. 07 Freightliner Ceuntry series 60 515 with about 6 mpg.

 

I would have to say the two Volvos I have run for Pacific Coast have been the most comfortable trucks I have been in. We have some little stuff here and there, but seems like all the new trucks come standard with those. I like the D-13 with the I-Shift. IMHO you can't beat it. I run hard and I am usually more mentally than physically fatigued.

I think lots of shops don't work on them since they do not have the tools and technology that is required to work on the Volvo's. If I would go out on my own I would look into the all included lease with Volvo. You get a custom spec truck and everything is included, but I do not know the exact numbers so it might be way to expensive too.

 

I've been looking at the OO life for a while now. One thing about buying into OO business - not all used trucks are reliable, not all NEW trucks are reliable. However, a new truck will have a warranty, but cost a lot more. You can get a warranty on a used truck, for just a little more cash. I am married, support a home while I'm gone, and work as a company driver. I left the bottom feeder company (who gave me a truck and miles, and paid every payday right on time, and right on what they said they'd pay) for a step up, and make about $10K/yr more. But if a driver is supporting a home and/or family with his income, he'll never save enough to cash out a truck purchase. If a driver can live on the road, he/she could buy a used truck in a year. Or two. It's clearly better to pay for the truck first, but it's a big lump for someone supporting a home. The way the truck industry is now, it's compressing into big companies and a few specialty carriers, flatbed, heavy, wide load, and dedicated accounts. It seems to me that competing with the big OTR companies for dry box loads is a sure path to the poorhouse. KW9's said some good stuff about taking care of your truck. Someone else made a great point, a truck is a tool with which we make money. When it's rolling, we're earning. Everything that makes that happen is good.

 

I ran one of those 670 Volvo's with the D13 and I-shift. It was a great truck, quiet, comfortable, and that D13 is a good motor. I didn't like that I-shift, but that doesn't mean anything, it's just personal preference. There was nothing wrong with the I-shift.

 

Slomo, KW9, y'all, one thing we have to be sharp about are the facts of money. The big companies, all of them, are corporations. The sole purpose and goal of corporations is Profit. So, when we think about doing business with a corporation, we have to stay on top of our own goals, our own choices and lifestyles, and remember that every single thing, every big and little thing a corporation does is to make Profit. (many companies and their workers literally worship at the altar of profit, it's disgusting in a way) If that Profit is something we're involved in making, it's our own duty to be sure we're OK. No one else will do it for us, especially the companies. Like training students, like lease purchase, like the crazy tight rates on miles, like all that stuff you hear drivers complaining about. We would be wise to expect companies to squeeze us. All this is the big reason the industry is contracting into big companies and everybody else. The Mighty Dollar. There is a lot of work, and right now my OTR job pays above $50K, and that would be hard to find anywhere else.