Going owner op with Werner

Yep the unibody was always the weak point on asian imports. It wasnt until the mid 90s that they figured out we salt our roads. But it's not like the domestics were any better at the time. But you guys are missing the point. I'm not saying honda makes a junk car, I'm saying for dependability you can not beat old iron, specifically the mid 90s to 02 engines. A series 60 or an n14 are nearly indestructible and when they do break, are ridiculously cheap to work on. In this way, they are just like a 1950s ford farm tractor, thousands still in use so great parts availability for cheap.

 

Schneider has gliders for sale for 50000 and less and under 500000 miles. I'm sure there maintinance is as good as werners.

 

Just remember, if it was easy then everyone would do it. That's why you see so many lease operators and quality leasing trucks, But not so many driving up the road with a title in hand. ----though there are quite a few but not near as many the easy overnight owner operators. Because being a real owner takes tenacity that most never make it through the leasing stage...

But anyways

I started with a used fleet truck of Primes. 550k, emissions truck. Those trucks from Prime start day one with APU's, so idle time on those motors are minimum compared to trucks with no APU. This way a major factor in why I choose that truck over others. It was a good choice, but fleet trucks take abuse, no doubt. Different drivers, different driving styles, some drivers drive angry, some drivers like to show off and race up hills etc ...
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I ended up putting about 20k into that truck the first year I owned it. DPF filter, DOC filter, replaced a cam, etc
•second year ended up putting about the same $ into it, turbo, radiator, charge air cooler, EGR valve, sensors, water pump etc
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Emission motors (post 2004) make so much soot. Soot goes through every galley and gets stuck in places where it shouldn't be and chewed up cams and etc are the result of that. EGR ESPECIALLY IS A CULPRIT IN A MOTOR TGAT IDLES. Like I'm pretty sure all Werner trucks did. You could idle a pre emission truck with way less penalty.
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Conclusion
In hind sight I would have started with a 2000-2003 truck, in the 8k-20k range, paid cash, perferebly from a retiring owner operator, with a 10-15k starting cushion.
There's no shame in saving up another 20k to add into what you got and make your move from there. In the meen time, study study study. Compare and contrast motor types, pre emission vs emissions, business strategy, basic economics, tax code, basic mechanics such as locating sensors, preventive maintence techniques etc etc

A used fleet truck, with emissions, that idled it's whole life really puts the odds against you. Forget the whole 500k mile mark, but that's just my opinion. Id be more confident to buy a truck with 800k than a truck with say 500k. A lot of parts are starting to go at the mark. The two emission filters + EGR valve + EGR cooler is about $8k in parts alone. A truck that made it to 800k means parts have been changed and it's still rolling. That's not a definite thing of course but a gut feeling thing from experience and conversing with successful people over the years.

Ps: a glider is a post emission truck with a pre emission motor. For example a 2017 Freightliner Coranodo glider would be a brand new truck chassis and all but with a reman pre emission motor of some kind.

 

The gliderd they have ate complete trucks.when you buy one from one of the glider builders such as Fitzgerald they road ready. You can order a glider kit from a manufacturer and assemble yourself also.

 

Just look up schnider trucks for sale. The miles will vary.

 

Yes when ordered from the factory new. Not when bought used. It's a used truck with pre egr emissions.

 

Just because the truck started life with a apu how did you know it had minimal idle time? Did you compare engine hours to miles? Just because a apu is hanging on the side doesn't mean it hasn't idled a lot. Apu's break some drivers don't like them etc etc.