My first truck what should I get that's reliable

There is no one truck that outshines the others in terms of reliability. It depends how well the particular truck was maintained. I hope you have plenty of cash in reserve as the older a truck is the more likely it will need repairs, some of which are several thousand dollars. You can find a good truck for that price and it can be a real money maker, but you have to look at every inch of the truck, ask about its history and previous oil samples are very valuable. Not always available. You might look at one and think to yourself, it needs many minor repairs, none need done right away, fix them as they come up. Pray you don't have a major component fail in the first short term of your operation. You might look at it and think if you can keep it on the road for a year or two I can buy something better/newer at that time.

 

Good luck

 

Sit on your money for a moment.

If you are new to the business, why not learn the business in someone else's truck. I know what you're thinking, "I don't want anyone telling me what to do, where to go, or forcing me to drive tired." I understand that, I do. The thing is, even if you buy a truck for $15000 and suffer no breakdowns, if you don't know the freight lanes and the freight game, you will be broke in a month.

"But Six, I can learn. I am a quick learner."

And the people that would like to teach you the ropes will screw you. There are some things you won't learn until you've been behind the wheel for a bit. Not what you want to hear, I know, but I would like to see you successful.

 

What he said!! Best advice I know of is to tell you as patiently as I know how to listen to this guy and sit on that cash.

 

Well what type of work you gna do? Flatbed, reefer, tanker, car hauler etc? Unless u planning on getting a truck with a headache rack, full fairing, with a 230 wheelbase pulling a car trailer.

 

My former boss had that amount quoted to him to replace a torpedoed transmission.

 

To add to the advice, a truck isn't a car, it isn't or better put purchased like you would a car, there are steps you need to take to ensure that it won't fall apart in the first 1000 miles.

I've got a bunch of horror stories about selling trucks to people who do not take those steps, I just sold one this past week with 1.5m Miles on the clock and the front drive axle pig has failing bearings. I told the guy the second he leaves the property, it is his problem and if it breaks down in the drive, do not come back for his money, it is what I consider a scrap vehicle and sold that way in the contract.

So learn how to buy a truck, use the money you have to seek one out and make sure it will last or be prepared to put money into it to make is last a year or two.