Buying a truck from a retiring driver

Why can't you go through a dealer?

 

It's actually a sound business practice.
Essentially, you're buying their business when they retire.
It would certainly rework the financing end of things, and possibly open up options with sba, ag, and similar.
I got an ag loan for my loader log truck, as it's ficus is agricultural products.
Depending on what you're looking at, it may be a viable option.
Having ready made clients certainly helps your cause in getting financing.
I had a purchase order in hand from a client when I went after new logging equipment.
Bank said they never would have done the deal without it.
It means a lot of leg work on your end securing those agreements, but they're worth solid gold come negotiation time with the bank.

 

Eh lot of people prefer not dealing with dealers as many are beyond dishonest and have deserved poor reputations. See MHC kenworth or sandusky truck sales as prime examples.

 

“low mile fleet maintained”

= spent all its time in the shop, had an oil change and greased once a year whether it need it or not, and had 600 different clowns in it at all other times

My 97 was a one owner/one driver truck when I bought it,

 

If he can get financed sure. I took it as he's looking to have the truck owner finance it

 

Op said “doesn’t have the option of buying from a dealership”
That sounds different than “chooses not to buy from a dealership” imo

 

Sounds like shaky credit

 

I honestly missed that part. Though it could still be a case of doesnt want to deal due to a bad deal for some reason?

 

Buying a well maintained truck from a retiring driver is a good idea as long as the truck is not at the end of its life.

A retiring owner operator, generally won't share that type of information with you. The reason being is they have worked hard their entire life to built a solid reputation for themselves. They don't want their reputation tarnished by giving their customers and brokers information out to someone they don't know.