Good starter truck.

I'll just throw this out there for now, and if anyone is interested, chime in or PM me.

A good friend - from back at ODFL, I helped him get into LS after he got canned from them, we reconnected after I had quit ODFL, bought a truck and went to LS himself, after hauling cans locally and finding out what a disaster that was.

He tried van at LS, but the 65% wasn't working so well, I had just bought the extendable, so I let him run my 53' flat spread and split the percentage with him. His motor had blown, so it seemed the right thing to do. All went well, he bought and refurbished his own spread axle extendable flat, and trucked on.

He's 64, and refused to work for cheap, so the truck and trailer sat for the last 9 months. He volunteers at a local food bank, his wife still works ODFL solo, and is about ready to hang it up, so he (and more so the wife) wants to sell the truck and call it quits. I had dinner with him last night, he actually looks healthier now than he did when I last saw him months back - after not driving or messing with LS.

LS poop canned him for not keeping his 120 day inspections current. No red file, just hadn't worked, so they cancelled his lease. All his stuff is paid for, and his retirement guy has told him several times he can just quit working and be fine.

So -

I always maintained after 10 years, that the best chance of success in the industry was to (selfishly, I guess, because it's how I did it) , buy a pre-emissions truck from an owner operator that had been well maintained - for cash, buy or finance a trailer - have your financial house in order, and go trailer truckin'.

It's a Peterbilt 386, ex Walmart fleet truck. C-13 CAT. about 350-400k on platinum out of frame rebuild with paperwork, 10 speed, 3;55 (I think). Has an APU with high hours on it that still functions well, headache rack (3 door ) - can't remember if transmission was related or not. Tires are legal, but probably 6/32nds on drives and 11/32nds steer. All virgin rubber. He just couldn't pull the trigger on new tires last year knowing he was probably gonna exit.

Just thought I'd throw it out here, I think he'd let it go for $17k.

The out of frame at a dealer cost him some 30-40k. Oh - and new injectors a while back, I had to rescue him on a load when those went out. Been a few years ago now.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome, it's not my truck so you won't offend me. And pictures, yes - it was dark when I visited, but I can have him send me some. He's done a lot of the minor work himself and kept it in shape, there's no busted panels or bent up stuff - he kept it pretty nice for a curb sniffer

 

Year is 2007 - Total frame mileage is about 1.2 million. All air lines replaced on tractor, drivers seat replaced, comes with Air-Dog fuel system in box, and Amsoil EaBP-150 oil bypass system in box. New clutch at the out of frame, new injectors have 100k on them.

Engine work paperwork on hand, rest of receipts can be gathered given a little bit of time.

 

Oh he's a good guy. We've known each other a while. For example -

One Christmas, I sent him a DeWalt cordless grease gun, because I couldn't believe he was still using a manual one. Well -

He sent me a brand new AR - 15 rifle, because he couldn't believe I only had a pistol.

I'm not looking to buy his truck - just connect him with somebody that reads this forum and is in a position to step into the game like I did.