How do you O/Os do it?

The powertrain on these trucks is meant to last. If properly maintained and driven it can last for two million miles on some trucks. But eventually yes they will need to be rebuilt.

 

Paid off preemission trucks can almost be a license to print money, no $2,000 a month truck payment and no emissions related problems. Once you get them in good shape they're dependable as a hammer.
I have friends with newer trucks that have been stuck for up to 10 days waiting on emission parts...the guy that waited the longest was waiting for a DEF heater that was on national backorder.

Pretty much I just have the usual preventative mantainance with an occasional seal or something breaking...but I do make a point to spend more on preventative mainatainace than I should.

To be totally honest I wouldn't trade my '03 for 2 new trucks of my choice.

 

Yeah, ok....... Lease operator by chance?
Now rework those figures in the real world, and not on having to run over 150k miles a year to scrape a living.I rarely do over 100k miles a year, so where is that $15-30,000 at exactly?
Seems to be, that the only ones sweating over getting that 8 to 9 mpg are the ones running mileage pay for under a buck a mile...
Martin

 

So many guys out on the road think they "deserve" $4 PM because they are the guys out there on the road and "those companies all have billions.. and they aren't sharing".. True, however, those would not be billion dollar companies if they paid the guys on the road what they deserve.

I have a carrier that is deeply invested in building a trucking company from the ground up, and I started working with him three months ago.. he is on the verge of going from one truck to three.. just like he planned three months ago. HOW.. he is not buying NEW trucks. He is buying the older, been there done that trucks.

New trucks equal NOT ONLY bigger payments.. but in my experience, bigger headaches. Did you not notice how much the cost of the older trucks has gone up? Reason being they are more sought after, more reliable, easier to work on, and the list goes on.. I had one carrier literally drive a brand new Pete off the lot and did a short load.. and had major mechanical failure in the mountains of CA. And that is NOT rare... many, many brand new trucks are in the shop more than the old school, made of steel models.

Just my two cents.. buy what you afford, drive it like you stole it.. and call it a good day no matter what it looks like.. as long as it runs and you are making money, more likely more money than the chicken-lit thing next to you that is brand new!!!

 

So, your saying that getting 8 to 9 mpg is bad? Even if you only run 100,000 miles a year? What about 50,000 miles per year, is that bad too? HMMMM...let's do the math; at 50,000 miles, 6mpg and $4 per gallon that = $33,333 for fuel at 50,000 miles, 8 mpg and $4 per gallon that = $25,000 I don't know about the rest of you folks but $33,333 - $25,000 = $8333 Not bad for only running 50,000 miles.... BTW, at 9mpg that = $22,222

 

Don't get me wrong... The odds of getting 8 to 9 mpg on an older truck gets harder and the new trucks coming out the factory door are getting 7+ mpg but, I would be happy with an older truck, electronic engine and 7mpg...happy medium for me.

 

Its always turned into a fuel mileage debate. I don't follow new trucks much but from the little research I have done 8 to 9 mile per gallon is far fetched. All the figures on paper look good the only way to know for sure is lets compare bottom lines for three years running one year at a time. That being said I have no interest in it I drive my 359 Pete cause I want to. I don't live or work where I ain't happy, used to think money could buy happiness it can't. We all have to have a certain amount of money to survive and keep doing whatever it is that provides that little bit of income. Just because I think taking a late night flight burnin these cow truck lights is the next best thing to dying and going to heaven and you don't doesn't make you stupid. Same as you thinking that extra fuel mileage is the ticket and I don't doesn't make me stupid. It means our priorities are different, our happiness comes from a different place I can tell you to the penny what my operating cost per mile is and this old truck would shock you at its fuel mileage but I drive it cause I like it.

 

I'd just love to see those plastic trucks get that "claimed" mpg pulling what I pull.
9mpg? That wasn't mentioned. What WAS mentioned was "1 or 2" mpg more. So instead of 5 mpg, as was mentioned, look at it in the 6-7mpg range and tell me it's worth the @$2k a month truck payment, as well as additional headaches from the emission junk. Oh yeah, DEF too I'd guess, but we wont mention that huh?
Go pull my 14' wide, 14'2" tall, 90k lbs gross weight combines, having to make good time in daylight hours, and show me that imaginary 9mpg, I'd love to see that....

Martin

 

I am certainly not trashing your way of trucking, your 21 years have my respect. I was simply putting focus on the significance of a 1mpg increase in fuel mileage. As I stated above, I prefer the older trucks my dad drove but, also want the best fuel mileage I can get, all while running the least amount of miles, for the most amount of pay. I was/am not trying to say that the newer trucks are better, at all.

 

My used to be truck gets about 5-6 mpg. Cats like to eat. I adjusted my fee to ensure a modest profit. You can't get rich in this profession, but you can live well.