Is buying used the best Option?

Replacing stuff on the outside of a diesel engine is not that big of a deal, its having to go inside the engine that can be problems. I have replaced turbos, air compressors, air governors and stuff like that sitting on the side of interstate highways or in truckstops.

If you go used, try to find one thats recently been overhauled with the paperwork to show what was done. Everyone has their own preference, but Ive always had the best luck mechanically with a cat. They are a little more expensive to work on but if you get a good one, it will run forever. Ive driven a couple of cats that had over a million miles on them and they were still running strong- one had over a million and a half.

People used to say those 12.7 Detroits were good on fuel mileage but the one I drove didnt get much better mileage than the Cat I had. It was used though.

 

I get why People Push the older trucks but guys,come on,the OP has stated He knows nothing about working on trucks.
The only ones who have been succesfull in starting a trucking firm with a older truck where the ones who worked on it themselves.

 

If I were in your shoes with no bills or major responsibilities, and a couple years of experience, and hopefully a little bit of business experience. I would buy the Pete 389 with a 6nz cat from Fitzgerald. You are still young and with no family responsibilities can afford to do whatever it takes to make it work. All of that would be depending on you even being able to get the loan. When I purchased my glider GE wanted 10% interest, I was at about 780 on my credit score and had been in business for 8 years when I bought it. They approved the loan right away but thet was a no go for me because of the interest rate. I went to my bank (PNC) and it took them about 3 weeks to approve but got the loan for 4.85% interest. The down side to trying to get a good rate for you is you have no p&l statements or tax returns to show them that you can actually afford what your buying.

 

I wasnt really pushing buying a used truck but Im kind of like MC. He doesnt have an established track record of owning a business so if they loan the money for a new truck, they are taking a chance of losing money on both accounts he would have with them (Car and Truck). Just not sure they would do it? Never know I guess til you try?

Id have a good business plan and profit/loss projection drawn up when I talked to them. Might even be a good idea to talk to a couple of companies and get some kind of paper from them stating that they will lease his truck and what they will pay and what all deductions they would take from his settlements so he can create a realistic P/L statement.

If he had all of that, it might improve his chances?

 

I hear ya. A lot of companies will furnish you a baseplate at no charge. Some will charge you for Cargo Insurance and Bobtail Insurance or let you get it through their company, Most Ive leased to will take out fuel tax on you based on state by state mileages and fuel purchased in each state. That will vary depending on where you run and how you buy fuel.

Thats why I say it would be a good idea to talk to a couple of companies and find out their required deductions, it varies.

 

May i suggest you pull your head out of your butt and instead of throwing your hands up worth the i don't know how mentality, just take a few minutes and look. Every single item on that truck (with the exception of some frame and body components) are held together with bolts, nuts, and screws. Using the air compressor as an example, just look at the air compressor on any truck, you will see bolts hold it on.

 

Schneider will follow a decent maintenance schedule, but unless you know the driver any used truck is a gamble on how it was treated/driven. An injector went out? That's it? I've seen trucks needing all new injectors and cups all the way around at 400k, it's luck of the draw. Brand new trucks occasionally eat a turbo, but going pre-emissions means you can do half of your own repairs watching YouTube videos.