Companies that run older trucks?

There is a fine line between old iron and junk. I have driven a lot of those old trucks and while yes thay are easy to work on compared to todays beasts. They also need a LOT of work. Sure some owners like myself are persnikity enough to pull it off, but we are the exception that proves the rule that newer really is better in many cases.

Sure an old 80s or 90s rig with a 550+ cat in some applications such as end dump or heavy haul work is perfect especially if an ornery owner updated it to modern standards. And yes whoever came up with emissions and computers used in modern rigs should be stripped then kicked face first into a slaaneshi cults orgy pit. And when they get done the remains given to nurgle and finished off by getting to become an immortal that is used in the Daemonculaba project.

But for all that, MOST emissions rigs if properly maintained from day one tend to be just so much cheaper, more comfortable, and in general more tolerable in line haul applications that there is a REASON most fleets switch to new rigs. Especially compared to rigs of the 50s-70s. Keep in mind for all the rose tinted glasses most of those units were very low power, rode like a paintshaker full of explodeing rocks while a methed up mule that was convinced you stole its next fix kicks you in the balls. And as the cherry ontop are why so many people associate big rigs with dark nasty black smoke and noxious fumes. Plus they take valuable hours of every day to keep going since the engines while legendary really werent as good and reliable as people pretend. Until very recently, million mile units were rare as hens teeth for a reason and its why you nearly never hear of those old units still being used.

There is going old iron and then there is trying to pass off literal garbage as better. And yes i learned on a 62 pete 352 and spent over 2 years with that as my daily driver so i have gotten to experince ALL the joy...i do miss the wigwag though. That was fun.

 

You're asking for something that is virtually nonexistent. Unless you go into business for yourself, you'll be driving a modern truck no matter where you go. These newer trucks are really not as bad as people make them out to be. If you understand how they operate and drive them with care, they'll be as reliable as the b old ones were at one point.

 

Lot of negative stories about new Trucks and emissions. Mainly because there’s a lot of them. More Trucks, more stories. 07-16 were especially problematic. Get the newest Truck possible as a company driver. Clean it good with Lysol and enjoy the creature comforts.

 

To a point yes. Then one like mine pops up and even after doing everything in your power to avoid a lemon. You end up throwing more at the problem over 2 years in nickle and dime costs then you paid for the rig untill snippy snip fixes all the issues and kinda shoots that down.

While i do say new trucks are better and for a fleet that can make problem units "go away" or where special equipment is a line item for all your units. That is true and for a company driver the nice creature comforts make the job better...for a 1 man band like myself or many other OOs there is a reason old iron you can fix yourself and dont need tens of thousands of dollars in manuals and software or special equpment has remained in demand. People like old iron less because its BETTER and more because its easy to fix. If modern trucks were as easy to repair and understand as old iron well the only old iron you would see are collectors, old OOs and fanatics with their dream rigs.

 

You're a day late and a dollar short and missed out on Yellow Freight for running old clapped-out trucks.

 

2000 of em for sale last i looked on truck trader 10 to 30k a pop lol

 

Where are you located?

Edit: read whole post, might be a little far from you but I had a buddy that worked for Haynes farm in Alabama that had about 50 older Pete’s running with new reefers

 

Even if you have you own numbers, getting loads through typical brokers with the equipment you describe will be impossible.
Stay close to home, your own mostly agricultural customers, maybe.
We have a name for it. It is called hobby trucking. Enjoy.