If you HAD TO buy an emissions, pre-2013 truck, what would it be?

The years your looking at for emissions are probably the worst years. If you have to upgrade then the newer the better because they had more of the bugs worked out on the later emissions. I'd go with the dd15 motor in a freightliner. It's the most reliable. The other manufacturers are way behind in the emission game.
Volvo is a good choice also as they have been using emissions overseas for years.

 

I would be afraid to operate a non emission truck in CA ... especially come Jan 1 2015 ... in my mind, they would just show up one day ... state that I have been operating "illegally" (emissions wise) and then say here is your fine, $250,000, or some ridiculous amount.

I am also looking at getting a newer truck sometime in the next year or so. I already played the emission game and almost went bankrupt in a truck that had caterpillar's attempt to play the emissions game. When I buy something, it will be brand new. Whenever I look over the used units, all I can think to myself is "why did this person get rid of this truck? Has the emissions system crapped out already on them?" That being said, it will likely be a cummins isx15 in a pete 389 ... If I could bring myself to buy a Volvo or something with dd15, I would go that route ... but I want the big shiny truck. In my mind, it is a crapshoot with any of the manufacturers anymore.

 

The dd15 has more testing because it's in use by all the major fleets. So problems are found and fixed a lot faster on that breed of motor.

 

I'll concur with the fellow trucker recommending a DD15.
I got rid of my Pete with an ISX450. No more Cummins for me. I've since found out they're having problems with their engines so why take the risk. Even the recent models are having to be rebuilt after only 200,000 miles. You can bet they want to keep that quiet.
Volvo are good but very difficult to get parts. The company I'm leased on with have a large fleet and the mechanics are always complaining about parts availability.
Detroit IMHO have got their act together and Their engines have been designed from the ground up to handle the latest emission standards.
Good luck.

 

But gliders are not out, the engine is what they want to be newer, not the truck. YOU can get a glider with a newer engine.

 

Why would you buy a glider with a new engine...

 

If you buy a glider you will have to put a CARB compliant engine in it. This defeats the purpose of a glider so why do it? You can run a new or 30 year old truck in CA if you want but, the engine must be up to CARB specifications meaning DPF, DEF etc. etc. I believe the engine has to be up to 2007 emissions standards. Gliders are exempt from this in any other state or in other words, they do not have to comply with federal emissions standards as long as the engine in the truck is compliant to the year it, (the engine), was manufactured. California has their own standards. You can't get around it other than to risk the fine and some of these companies have been put out of business for non-compliance.