NEED YOUR ADVICE ON MAC VS FREIGHTLINER

Discussion in 'Oilfield Trucking Forum' started by oilfieldfamily, Jun 15, 2025.

  1. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    The one SD model freight shaker i used in the oilfields fell apart too.

    Also @op. Im not saying this to be a dick. But if your not even sure what specs you need to do the job you plan to do. Maybe you should hold off on buying a truck. Using the wrong truck for the wrong job is a surefire way to end up broke in a #### hurry.

    You wouldnt use a camery to pull a horse trailer. You dont use a fleet model truck to do oilfield work. Same issue.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2025
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  3. FLHT

    FLHT Road Train Member

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    Won't last long in oil field... Cheap rate and heavy off road beat the hell out of plastic trucks.
    It's like a merry go round here in La one leases on while 2 go broke.
    Company's blow smoke up their ### about how much work they got.
    Make one trip and sit for a few weeks........
     
    Iamoverit Thanks this.
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Older Mack. When I was in the gravel biz, I'd say 80% were Macks. If oil field is anything like dump work, the toughest job for a truck known to man, then an older Mack would be my choice. The Superliner (77-93) is an outstanding truck, none better, and that's from experience, not fluff. Freightliner is a good truck too, but in its own arena. Didn't see many FL rock haulers. Superliners were very popular, especially out east, and you shan't regret it.;)
     
  5. Someguywithquestions

    Someguywithquestions Light Load Member

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    I ran an SD122 freight shaker in MT and WY year-round pulling unbaffled heavy tankers and occasionally rocky double end dump sets.

    600hp, 2k tq, 18 speed, double framed, full lockers, no nanny ######## like auto braking, adaptive cruise, aggressive un-dissable-able TC, etc.

    Did pretty well but not a ton of offroad. Suspension was shot by 400k miles. All original though, even the shocks all the way around. Didn't like running the wet kit in -50 but what truck does? Air dryer didn't have a sniffer on it which is desperately needed operating below -20 but LA corpo bean counters and lawyers said no. Just let a tow truck come out here and there when the air dryer fails or freezes and let the driver sit.

    Typical freightshaker electrical gremlins that they all have. Switches failing, gauge cluster dying, etc. Had a def pump die once, derated to 55 for 500 miles. Then derated to 5mph 1 mile from the yard lol. Def pumps die like clockwork every 300k miles it seems.

    Overall not too many complaints for a modern emissions rig. I treated it pretty well mostly. Cascadia's are absolute garbage though. Volvo's are junk too. Never had any mack's when I worked that job. The Cascadia's would fail like clockwork. 50k dollar repair and tow bills constantly. Especially once they got over 500k miles. The Volvo's were sold off after 400-500k miles. Dealer service was atrocious and the trucks were somehow even worse than the Cascadia's. I can't imagine modern Mack's are any better than the Volvo's.
     
  6. oilfieldfamily

    oilfieldfamily Bobtail Member

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    Thank you guys.
    I didnt get a straight forward recommendation list after all tho :/
     
  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    You won't get a definitive answer either. Like I said in my earlier post, too vague on the details. Oilfield means nothing. You moving rigs, hauling sand, moving camps, hauling fluids?
     
    Deere hunter Thanks this.
  8. oilfieldfamily

    oilfieldfamily Bobtail Member

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    Jun 15, 2025
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    Thank you.
    Water haulers. 120-130 bbl water, brine, drilling fluid, etc
    West Texas
     
  9. FLHT

    FLHT Road Train Member

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    Pre emissions Peterbilt or KW with a fresh CAT motor.
    Nothing fancy that will get bent up on ####ty lease roads.
    No top of the line drive tires.
    Just from my experance...
     
  10. Someguywithquestions

    Someguywithquestions Light Load Member

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    Pre-emissions I'd go rebuilt 90s model long nose KW. Doesn't command quite the premium of long nose Pete's. Plus every long nose pete driver has been an insecure douche bag that I've met. Cat engine would be my preference as well. Probably a 3406 despite it being on the weaker side. Go 18 speed to compensate, texas doesn't have mountains.

    If I had to buy new I'd go Freightliner SD122. DD16 or DD15 in that order.
     
  11. dieselpowered

    dieselpowered Heavy Load Member

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    I have seen a few freightliners, but they are all pre-DEF requirements. Though that same token the bulk of most the macks in similar manner I do tend see newer macks at a higher rate then freightliners in the oilfield. I am not sure how familiar you are with oilfields but those roads in oil field areas are terrible. The general rule of thumb is triple the mileage of what's on the truck and that's how beat up the vehicle really is. Those roads are no joke. Wouldn't recommend a new truck by new I mean 2019 or newer but that's just my take and its your money but personally I would never recommend anyone to become a O/O the deck is stacked against you.
     
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