Double Yellow's Company Driver to Independent Thread

I made the switch from company driver to independent nearly 6 months ago and I finally feel like I'm getting into the swing of things. I recently reached the point where my income & receivables have exceeded my cumulative expenditures – a feat I consider outstanding for a 6 month-old capital-intensive business. Since I've learned a ton from this forum (just the stickies in this section alone are a goldmine!), I'd like to share what else I've learned while the lessons are still fresh in my mind. I also hope this thread will spur constructive business discussions (from which I can learn even more).

I especially hope that this thread will convince people who might otherwise enter “fleece purchase” program to hold out until they can buy their own truck (or use more conventional financing).

So with that said...



Where do I start?

1) Decide on what business structure you will use. Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, LLC, etc ($0-1000 and 0-3 weeks depending)

2) Register your business name ~$25 & 1-5 days

2a) If your business name is not your last name and clear on the manner of business you will also need to file a fictitious business name statement. "Smith Trucking Company" would not require one if your last name is Smith. "Super Trucking Company" would (unless Super is your last name). "Smith Enterprises" would also require one because "enterprises" is too vague of a business description. ~$50 & ~1 month (have to run fictitious name statement in newspaper for like 3 weeks before you can be approved).

2b) You may want to register with NMFTA to get a SCAC code. Few shippers & brokers require this, but you will definitely need it if you ever deal with Customs. ~$70 in an instant online application

3) Obtain Federal & state tax ID numbers (free for federal)

3a) Obtain a DUNS number (free, though they will try to sell you services)

4) Set up a business bank account. Be prepared to offer proof of your business address.

4a) Set up a business "rewards" credit card (e.g. 3% cash back). This is just to use for payment whenever there is no fee for paying with credit card -- you will pay it off every month from your business bank account. DO NOT use this as a source of credit!!!

5) Get a business license if you ever plan to do business inside your city (~$25 & 1-14 days)

6) Register with the fmcsa & get a DOT number ($300 & immediate online application). Once you do this, you'll have 2 months to complete the other required steps to get your authority active.

7) Shop for insurance. You will want $1,000,000 "auto liability" ($5,000,000 if hazmat), and at least $100,000 cargo insurance (some shippers/brokers ask for $250,000). You may also want Physical Damage insurance (this covers the cost to repair/replace your truck), General Liability (some shippers and brokers ask for $1,000,000), and Gap (covers any gap between your truck's replacement value and your outstanding loan). Insurance agents will ask for your DOT and/or MC number (you'll get the MC# in step 6, but it isn't active yet), the truck year/make/model or VIN, and maybe a trailer year/make/model or vin. You should have been doing lots of window shopping up to this point -- copy the VIN from ads of equipment like what you expect to buy just so the agent can get you a reasonably accurate quote. Expect quotes from $7,000-$25,000 depending on your needs. And expect quotes to take 1-7 days to even get.

8. Get a process agent (this is a free service as part of your $45 OOIDA membership).

9) Find a place to park your truck. Plan on it taking at least a month from the time you buy your truck to the time you have everything needed to start rolling... ($0-100)

10) Join a DOT drug testing consortium and have your drivers get a pre-employment drug screen ($250 & 3 days)

11) Buy your truck (and trailer?). $10,000-$210,000 (plan on taking a month if shopping for used).

12) Buy insurance $7,000-$25,000 & 1-3 business days.

13) Get DOT inspection(s) -- $0-$100 & couple hours (not including any repairs)

14) Buy trip permit to move truck (and trailer?) $0-$400 depending

15) Pay HHVUT: $550

16) Register and pay for UCR: $80

17) Register truck and get base plate ($2000-$20,000 & 1-14 days)

18. Sign up for IFTA (~$10)

19) Get weight-distance permits to operate in New York (~$15), New Mexico (~$15), Kentucky ($25), Oregon ($2000 bond refundable after 1 year or you can buy 5 trip permits/year).

20) If you're a CA resident, you'll need to apply with CHP for a CA number (free) and then apply with the DMV for a California Motor Carrier Permit ($50 & 3+ weeks). You'll also need to apply for a CHP BIT inspection ($750 for 1 truck & trailer).

21) Get laptop, portable printer/scanner, cell phone with data plan & hotspot, & e-fax account

22) Get decals -- minimum is 2" high contrasting-color lettering with Trucking Co name and USDOT # (no space between US and DOT). If you're out of California you'll want the CA # to be right below the DOT. You may also want the last 8 of your VIN if you run in Colorado.

23) Toll and Scale Transponders: Prepass, EZ pass, Pike Pass, Tx Tag, Sun Pass, etc?

24) File business property statement & pay tax with your local jurisdiction

25) Register and pay Use Tax (difference in sales tax you pay for items purchased out of state)


How much money will I need?

I believe I did things just about as cheaply as can reasonably be expected to succeed with a dry van, so consider this the minimum (especially the fuel). With that said, here are my numbers from the top of my head:

Truck: $14,500
Trailer: $6,250
Initial repairs/delayed maintenance: $5,000
Insurance: $8,000
Base Plate: $2,200
title (truck) $1,200
title (trailer) $500
2290: $550
DOT #: $300
Other permits, fees, & taxes: $500
Office expenses (load board, cell, data plan etc) $250

Fuel for 6 weeks: $7,500
Maintenance for 6 weeks: $2,250
Driver salary for 6 weeks: $4,500

SHTF maintenance reserve: $10,000
------------
$63,500

If you don't have ready access to at least that much capital, I strongly urge you to delay becoming an independent owner operator. How much is cash & how much is financed will be up to you, but if you do finance some/all of that, minimize your cost of capital; E.G. factoring: 80% APR, Insurance installment plan: 20% APR, credit card: 15% APR, Equipment loan: 10% APR, Home equity LOC: 5% APR



How long should it all take?

Here is my timeline:

10/06/11: Got my class A
10/17/11: Started as a company driver for Covenant
10/19/12: Left Covenant
12/03/12: Started hauling water in North Dakota for a shady subcontractor of a subcontractor
12/31/12: Left that water hauler owed over $6500 (would eventually be paid in April after filing a dispute with the ND labor board)
01/21/13: Started as a company driver for Con-Way Truckload
11/30/13: Posted preliminary business plan #'s on TTR http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...3395-how-do-my-preliminary-business-plan.html
05/06/14: Gave 2 weeks notice to Con-Way and applied for my DOT #.
05/22/14: Turned in Con-Way's truck & began truck shopping.
06/26/14: Bought my truck (and insurance)
07/03/14: Federal authority went active
07/07/14: Submitted requested documents online for my new entrant safety audit
07/14/14: Bought my trailer
08/08/14: California Motor Carrier Permit (finally) Approved
08/11/14: Hauled first load as an independent
08/12/14: Got my first open scale green light on the Prepass (GREAT feeling!)
08/25/14: Passed new entrant safety audit (processing had been delayed until I hauled my first load for hire)
09/14/14: Received first check
10/06/14: Received first roadside inspection (passed)
10/09/14: Income, receivables, & assets exceeded total expenditures -- breakeven point!
11/03/14: Income & receivables exceeded total expenditures (business paid for the truck, trailer, etc)


Aside from taking over 1 month to find a truck, the biggest delay was the California DMV – first taking 2 weeks to process my apportioned plate registration (due to a catch 22 where they required IFTA first, yet IFTA required an apportioned plate first), and then taking nearly another month to approve my California Motor Carrier Permit without which I could not do business in CA. In hindsight, I should have just deadheaded to Reno after getting my trailer's license plate since my interstate authority was active, but I kept thinking “it'll just be another couple days...”

 

Now the fun part...


Buying the Truck

Being out of California, being CARB-compliant was a requirement for me. I have had bad experiences with (and heard few good about) 2008-2009 trucks. I had a good experience with a 2011 DD15 at Covenant and a decent experience with a 2011 Maxxforce at Con-Way. Unfortunately, 2010+ truck prices fell outside the start-up budget...


Anyone who has listened to Kevin Rutherford or browsed this forum for more than a few minutes has probably heard the advice to get a “pre-emission” truck (2003 or older). Due to the idiocy that is California bureaucracy, trucks with 1994-1995 engines are exempt from CARB regulations until 2016. So the initial plan was to buy a '94-95 Freightliner FLD, Kenworth T600, or Volvo (all have reasonable aerodynamics). Wish list was a 12.7 Detroit, 13 speed, mid-roof with full fairing or condo, and decent running condition (or cheap enough to recondition).


From my preliminary searches, few 1994-1995 trucks on the market were ready for (or close to) working except for the unaerodynamic “classic” trucks. So I was elated when CARB released statements at their April 2014 board meeting indicating that people who could demonstrate an economic hardship could get an exemption until 2017. Furthermore, one could prove an economic hardship by producing a loan denial letter for the purchase of a new truck.


Score! I'm a brand new business – no lender in their right mind is going to loan me enough for a new truck! So I go to the local Freightliner dealership and price a new Cascadia dd13 mid-roof, 10 speed direct, tag axle, small sleeper... $150,000 plus sales tax (8%) and FET (12%) – grand total: $180,000. So I go to my bank and apply for a $180,000 loan. To my dismay, they didn't immediately dismiss my request! I actually didn't hear back for 2 weeks, but when I did they very apologetically said that while my credit and banking history was good and they fought for me, my business was just too new for corporate to approve. Whew!


That opened the door from 1994-1995 to~1987-2003. And beginning around 2000, many fuel-conscious fleets began specifying trucks with direct drive – something that saves~3% in fuel economy at highway speeds.



Truck shopping:

One thing that surprised me was how many trucks on truckpaper didn't actually exist. I thought I'd have tons of choices, but I'd call and find out that particular truck sold 3 months ago. Or I'd call sellers on craigslist and they just wouldn't ever be able to set up a time to show their truck. Or it would be waiting on a repair that never wound up happening. I'd say I was interested in 1 out of 100 trucks, and of those only 1 in 10 was ready to sell – not good odds for finding something local...

With that said, here is a brief summary of the trucks I was seriously interested in:


Truck 1: 1994 FLD112 with the Cummins M11. 60 miles away. Rigdig was pretty sparse, only 6 inspection reports (all from a 1-year period) with 6 total violations (about half driver). Truck was pretty rough cosmetically (though no rust). It needed a new radiator, air compressor, couple air bags, brake chambers, to be roadworthy – and that were the things I could tell without driving... Seller wanted $12,000, I offered $7,500 and it was clear we weren't in the same ballpark.


Truck 2: 1996 FLD120 with a 1995 Detroit 12.7. 45 miles away. 4.10 rears and a 9 speed (bleh). Had had a PTO at onetime. Claimed 650,000 original miles, claimed 1-family farm truck. Rigdig showed nothing but one title transfer. No inspections, no accidents. Truck was not driveable (dead air compressor) and the paint was pretty faded, but the engine sounded good at idle and the AC worked well. Interior was in reasonable condition. Seller wanted $12,000 when packaged with a 1996 Great Dane dry van (trailer was ragged and full of holes & I would have been discarded/traded in). He said he'd have the air compressor swapped out next weekend and it'd be ready for a test drive. I let him know that if it drove in any sort of reasonable manner, I'd pay $12,000 cash. We shook hands and then next week he said he didn't have time to get the compressor in. The week after that his cell phone was disconnected and he stopped returning emails...


Truck 3: 1999 Century 120 with a Detroit 12.7, 10 speed direct, and 2.79 rears. 500 miles away. I'll let the rigdig do the talking:



Truck 4: 1999 Century 120 with a Detroit 12.7, 10 speed direct, and 2.79 rears. 550 miles away. Rigdig had 23 inspections, 15 violations including 2 OOS brake violations. Midroof with roof fairing, small single bunk, beat-up interior, no side fairings, OK paint, engine sounded rough. Wasn't able to test drive it because someone bought it while I was checking it over (I had driven 550 miles to see it). Sold for $12,500...


Truck 5: 2003 Century 120 with Detroit 12.7, 10 speed direct, and 2.50 rears. 800 miles away. Rigdig had 13 inspections, 14 violations including OOS brake and steering violations. 1 Accident from 2003. Despite all that I was still willing to buy the truck. It drove pretty sloppy and the engine felt weak, so I had a dyno done:

Dyno Results:


[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Time[/TD]
[TD]RPM[/TD]
[TD]MPH[/TD]
[TD]Power[/TD]
[TD]Torque[/TD]
[TD]Crankcase pressure (“H2O)[/TD]
[TD]Block Pres (PSI)[/TD]
[TD]CAP Press (PSI)[/TD]
[TD="width: 86"]Coolant Temp F[/TD]
[TD="width: 86"]Oil Temp F[/TD]
[TD="width: 86"]Oil Pressure[/TD]
[TD="width: 86"]Fuel Temp F[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]1819[/TD]
[TD]56.4[/TD]
[TD]325[/TD]
[TD]938[/TD]
[TD]2.4[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]165[/TD]
[TD]150[/TD]
[TD]54[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]1819[/TD]
[TD]56.4[/TD]
[TD]325[/TD]
[TD]938[/TD]
[TD]2.4[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]165[/TD]
[TD]150[/TD]
[TD]54[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1621[/TD]
[TD]49.6[/TD]
[TD]318[/TD]
[TD]1030[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[TD]153[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]1621[/TD]
[TD]49.8[/TD]
[TD]320[/TD]
[TD]1037[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[TD]153[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]1621[/TD]
[TD]49.8[/TD]
[TD]320[/TD]
[TD]1037[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[TD]153[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]49.2[/TD]
[TD]317[/TD]
[TD]1043[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]49.2[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1033[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]48.8[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1033[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]48.8[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1033[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]48.8[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1033[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]1584[/TD]
[TD]48.3[/TD]
[TD]313[/TD]
[TD]1038[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]182[/TD]
[TD]161[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]1584[/TD]
[TD]49.4[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1064[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]182[/TD]
[TD]161[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]1584[/TD]
[TD]49.4[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1064[/TD]
[TD]2.5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]182[/TD]
[TD]161[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]1587[/TD]
[TD]50.1[/TD]
[TD]322[/TD]
[TD]1066[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]163[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]1591[/TD]
[TD]49.0[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1037[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]185[/TD]
[TD]163[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]1522[/TD]
[TD]46.4[/TD]
[TD]313[/TD]
[TD]1080[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]166[/TD]
[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]1524[/TD]
[TD]47.5[/TD]
[TD]320[/TD]
[TD]1103[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]166[/TD]
[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]1469[/TD]
[TD]46.1[/TD]
[TD]315[/TD]
[TD]1126[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]169[/TD]
[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]1469[/TD]
[TD]46.1[/TD]
[TD]315[/TD]
[TD]1126[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]169[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]1548[/TD]
[TD]48.0[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1065[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]197[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]1548[/TD]
[TD]47.9[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1065[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]197[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]1548[/TD]
[TD]47.9[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1065[/TD]
[TD]2.6[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]197[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]1546[/TD]
[TD]48.4[/TD]
[TD]319[/TD]
[TD]1084[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]199[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]106[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]1546[/TD]
[TD]47.3[/TD]
[TD]312[/TD]
[TD]1060[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]199[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]106[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]25[/TD]
[TD]1596[/TD]
[TD]48.9[/TD]
[TD]313[/TD]
[TD]1030[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]202[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]26[/TD]
[TD]1597[/TD]
[TD]49.7[/TD]
[TD]317[/TD]
[TD]1043[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]203[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]27[/TD]
[TD]1597[/TD]
[TD]49.7[/TD]
[TD]317[/TD]
[TD]1043[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]203[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28[/TD]
[TD]1597[/TD]
[TD]49.7[/TD]
[TD]317[/TD]
[TD]1043[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]203[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]29[/TD]
[TD]1577[/TD]
[TD]48.4[/TD]
[TD]319[/TD]
[TD]1062[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]205[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]46[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]30[/TD]
[TD]1572[/TD]
[TD]48.4[/TD]
[TD]319[/TD]
[TD]1066[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]205[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]46[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]31[/TD]
[TD]1572[/TD]
[TD]48.4[/TD]
[TD]319[/TD]
[TD]1066[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]205[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]46[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]32[/TD]
[TD]1561[/TD]
[TD]48.2[/TD]
[TD]315[/TD]
[TD]1060[/TD]
[TD]3.0[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]191[/TD]
[TD]45[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]1554[/TD]
[TD]48.2[/TD]
[TD]314[/TD]
[TD]1061[/TD]
[TD]3.0[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]191[/TD]
[TD]46[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]1528[/TD]
[TD]47.8[/TD]
[TD]320[/TD]
[TD]1100[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]1528[/TD]
[TD]47.8[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1103[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]1528[/TD]
[TD]47.8[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1103[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]37[/TD]
[TD]1528[/TD]
[TD]47.8[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1103[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]38[/TD]
[TD]1528[/TD]
[TD]47.8[/TD]
[TD]321[/TD]
[TD]1103[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]39[/TD]
[TD]1533[/TD]
[TD]47.4[/TD]
[TD]318[/TD]
[TD]1089[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]207[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]45[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]1539[/TD]
[TD]47.4[/TD]
[TD]316[/TD]
[TD]1078[/TD]
[TD]2.8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]208[/TD]
[TD]196[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]109[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Tech said the blowby was excessive at 2.8-3.0 inches of water and that coolant temps nearing 210 were also a red flag for him. Engine code said it was rated for 430hp so it should have been making at least 344 at the wheels (its best was 325). With pressure of 29.76, temp of 103, and 7% humidity, the weather correction factor would have been 1.05 -- correcting that 325 to 341 -- still low especially considering 20% drivetrain loss is on the high side...

Dealership was asking $12,000, I offered $7,500, was denied, offered $8,000, and denied again. Walked away. Truck had been sold 1 week later when I called...



Truck 6: 2001 International 9400i, 10 speed direct, 2.64 rears, condo, APU, 2-owner. 1800 miles away. 1.5 million miles, 750K on an inframe. Best #### rigdig I've ever seen (12 inspections, 2 violations -- both on driver & from 2001). Seller had bought the truck in 2006 after retiring after 40 years as an automotive service writer. Meticulous fuel and maintenance log books (900,000+ miles worth):



Owner seemed totally honest & forthright, but to confirm, I checked the notebook copyrights:


Steering wheel was wrapped in Wilson Tennis racket tape (actually pretty comfortable) and the spacing between wraps was absolutely even. I later measured with a ruler and the overlap was exactly the same over and over. Having been a bicycle mechanic and done more than my share of handlebars, I know how hard that is. This guy was OCD...

Engine was spotless, maintenance records bordered on the ridiculous. The overhaul, for example, happened in 2007 at ~750,000 miles when the original engine lost a head gasket. It just needed a headgasket and would have gone another 300,000+ miles, but this guy figured "well hell, while I'm in there..."

Owner was a KR listener, truck had a turbo 3000 (worthless), air tabs (unproven), & OPS EcoPUR bypass filter (sweet!). Seller was throwing in nearly a full case of OPS filters, spare belts, a davco fuel filter wrench & filter, a 4 cubic foot refrigerator, 750W microwave, Cobra 29 BT with gatekeeper, etc etc

Truck drove beautifully -- between the recent steering shaft and 6 centramatics, this drove better than the 350,000-mile old Prostar I'd just come out of. The only downside (and it was significant) is that this guy was a chain smoker and the grey interior was now yellowed. That and the terrible RR deep lugged recap drives... And the lack of lower side fairings...


I clearly wanted it, I'd flown 1800 miles to see it -- I was not in a position to be negotiating. Still I weakly asked for his best price and he said $14,500 (it was listed for $15,500). Sold! No oil analysis, no dyno. I would have no problem hopping in the truck and driving straight from San Antonio to Prudhoe Bay grossing 80,000 lbs. And this was a 2001 with 1.5 million on the odometer. After waiting a day for my wire to hit his bank and another day for my insurance to be finalized, I bobtailed 1800 miles home. Without refueling. Twin 100 gal tanks... When I eventually refueled 2 months & a couple hundred more miles later, the math worked out to just shy of 13 mpg!