New truck list I'm looking at..

I would not buy any of these, especially without an APU.

If you want a used truck, buy directly from a fleet or the dealer that the fleet turns their trucks into. I know for example Roehl Transport trades their trucks into the Mid-State Truck Center right next to their terminal. I wouldn't buy a used fleet truck that's already been tossed around by a O/O or two and has spotty records and is being sold again by these shady lease lots.

 

Meanwhile you "taking your time" means you've missed out on one of the best freight markets in history. Do you realize that the same trucks are priced 20-30% higher now than a year ago?

But keep taking your time, missing out on money and telling yourself "its the smart thing to do". Besides the trucks you are looking at are all atleast 3/4 of the way through their life cycles before they're going to need major work, which I'll assume you know #### all about.

 

Emissions systems cost money, but emissions trucks also save money in other ways. My 7.3 mpg saves me about 200 bucks per week in fuel vs a typical 6 mpg truck. That''s enough to pay for a new onebox in about a year.

Get yourself something with a Detroit motor so you don't have to scour the countryside looking for a shop, and dive into this historically lucrative market while you still can.

 

How much $ do you save when that system fails and your truck is down getting a new exhaust muzzle?

 

Well here is where my trucks and thoughts are at. try to buy a truck from a O/O that has maintenance records. Do not buy a used fleet truck. Unless you know the fleet and the kind of maintenance they do.
Then with a high level of skepticism.
Both my western stars I have ordered and bought new. Both out of warranty one is almost a million miles. Team operation
3% idle time. Both trucks have Apu’s
Def filters get changed every 100k I don’t give a shot what maintenance interval says. 7th injectors changed every 100k
Do not run the below 1/4 tank of Def. Air drier changed yearly. Good clean air is helpful with emissions system.


Don’t idle. Pull sensors and clean yearly.
Yes lot of work however neither these 2 trucks or my previous 3 other emissions trucks have been in shop for unscheduled down time.
These new trucks require a different operation and maintenance. Something most fleets and some O/O don’t understand. They do breakdown maintenance not preventive maintenance.

remember “ proactive maintenance beats reactive maintenance every time” cheaper in the long run.
Pull rig dig reports, ecm dumps when you narrow trucks down take to a good independent shop and go over with a fine tooth comb. Money well spent. Try not to buy from Arrow truck sales. Just fleet trucks that have been ragged out and lipstick has been put on a pig.
Good luck

 

Ballpark round numbers:

First year pays for replacing the ###### onebox.

Second year pays for all the stupid DPF cleanings.

Third year pays for replacing all the dumas diagnostics and crappy sensors.

Fourth year pays for the downtime.

Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth years pay an extra $10k each, straight into pocket.

 

Sounds like a lot of work. Think I'll stick to my 6.5mpg Cat

 

Enjoy. I don't mind work. $40k for 100 hours of work is a fair deal in my book.

 

Yes and no. 07 model year yes, but there was so many engines pre ordered before Dec 31/06 they built mostly pre 07 emissions engines for the year.