Good first truck

Here is some deals a friend talked to me about, he wanted a truck and not a run down rig so I told him about trucks that come off lease with US Express, they are nice looking freightliners and they get to 400K they turn them into freightliner. Most of these trucks are nice inside and the body is in good shape because they can't turn in trucks with fenders hanging off, they fix everything before they are turned in. These trucks have 60 C Detroit with ten speed auto shifts. These truck are set up to run 68 MPH and if you get 6.9 MPG the truck turns it's self up to 73. I get that with my truck and my son runs the poo out of it. These trucks are on a PM program set up by freightliner. Now if you want to drive for us express they will sell you a new freightliner for almost nothing down and your truck payments run around 2,000 a month. They will run you all the miles you can stand. OK let's say you want to buy a used one and run for yourself then you go to safersystem.dot.gov and fill out a MS-150 and if you have a problem with the form call them and they will walk you throw the form. you have command or contract or private carrier then you list the things you want to haul then have your credit card ready because it cost you 300.00 and you are on your way for a DOT and MC# number with the authority you just applied for. You call a insurance company and get your commerical insurance for 750.000.00 or 1,000.000 if you haul products like cars or 5,000.000 if you've marked hazmat authority. Your insurance company will file your insurance with Gov and you are on your way to have authority for your own company. Have a seat when they tell you what your insurance cost. Now get you a company that helps you with your permits to run in states you want like new york you've got to get a permit if you haul over 18,000 pounds also KY then there is OR you must post a $2,000 bond or your permit company will get you trip permits to run OR. The company that helps you will charge you around $800.00 to make sure you are legal in all states you run. After all information you have given passes safersystem they will send you your DOT and MC number and you are ready to run lease or haul for yourself. Now companies like JB Hunt will pay you to pull their trailers and they start out at something like 1.10 per mile and after you pull for them a short while they up your pay to 1.28 per mile and on top of that you get the fuel surcharge and you top out at about 1.68 per mile and from that point they will give you no less that 2800 miles per week. You haul loads like wal-mart to big service centers as they have a very big account with them. Wal-mart gave finance to Hunt and that's how hunt got started, they are cuzzies. If you run wild then you will need a trailer and each time a broker gives you a load you are ask for DOT and MC# number and from those he knows who you are and where you are from. If you run a truck for hire you must have all of the above Plus CDL and if you haul hazmat you must take the hazmat test as that must be on your CDL. You have to have a tax number or use your SS number if you file that way. You said you have CDL so you are on your way.... Good luck

 

Trucking is just like anything else. The Decimal point on the check moves tho.

 

You want a truck that looks decent, but don't need something fancy. You should be able to find a decent truck in the $20-25,000 range. And you can find flat bed trailers for under $10,000.

 

I run a 2000 w900 with a twin turbo cat and 13 speed I haul flatbeds and have not had any troubles pulls great usually gets around 6.5-7 mpg repairs are fairly cheap easy to work on for the most part. Depending on what you want I paid $25,000 for my truck but it has the sleeper sofa in it fridge sunroof and apu.I had just over a million miles with 200k on a in frame and rebuilt trans. My trailer is a 1999 aluminum great dane with a spread air ride and a lift valve on the front axle and I paid 7500 for it. Before this I had a 2003 classic with a Cummins 10 spd and 425 hp about same mpg didn't pull the mountains and as great it and didn't have the add ons like the w900 paid 15000 for it it basically boils down to your preference what you want I noticed the petes, international 9900, and w900 are top choice for flatbeds. I know I can't complain about my KW it pulls everything I put behind her no problems haven't had any break downs and rides great. Has plenty of room on the inside to stand up with the couch I actually feel somewhat normal when Im taking my 10 hr but that's just me.