Owner Operator Specs?

This is simply for an example of what you CAN do....

First off I do 100% of my own wrenching.
I bought this truck as a mechanic special, knowing the engine was blown. Older W900L with O/ O specs which was a plus to me! Rear suspension, Brakes as in "everything", wheel seals, rubber brake lines, clutch, engine, has all been replaced with new stuff. The engine I built myself starting with new Cam bearings. When done I basically had a new truck in a older body. Still less than $20,000 in it when I was done. Not sure you can buy a near mechanically new truck for that? Only you know what you really want, and what you can do. Most will tell you that you have to have a near new $70,000 + truck to make money.... well I'm out here proving them wrong every day of the week!! On my way to Hanburg, PA. Be safe out there.

 

To the OP, stay a company man. You have absolutely no idea what your getting into. Do research and I means lots of research. And don’t let any company brainwashed you into a lease.

 

In general no. But you have to research and find the right outfit for you. The company I am leased on with is doing everything they can to avoid speed governors. They already had to put them on the company trucks but are trying to hold off on the fleet owner trucks and owner ops. I bought a forward facing camera for my own protection and the company says if they do get cameras it will be forward facing only. Unfortunately a lot of this stuff is being forced by the insurance companies. I don't blame the insurance companies tho. They are having to protect themselves. Most of the blame goes to the megas for putting people in the trucks with minimum training and them pushing them to run odd hours etc. They don't have to worry about insurance premiums as they are self insured. Lots of other factors also.

 

Brake application pressure, oil pressure, oil temp, water temp, exhaust gas temp, air one, air two, trans temp, front rear temp, rear rear temp, axle weight gauge and a turbo pressure temp, fuel, spedo and tach.

 

All it's missing is a DEF level gauge.

 

Getting cost down was mainly knowing how to do everything needed by myself, Labor will eat you alive, and more so when the guy holding the wrench really doesn't know how to use the tool.

Gauges.... basically everything @Tug Toy mentioned. My truck has 19 gauges & 17 switches on the dash. Most fleet spech trucks rarely have anything over light switches, some do have heated mirrors and such.

And yes my fuel guage is not working