owner operators please respond

DO NOT buy a Mercedes engine.

We lease four of them where I drive, and all have had at least 2 turbos, injectors at least twice on one, and once on the others, head gaskets on all 4, electrical problems causing reduced power.

Also, idler pulleys go out regularly, water pumps are a concern. On the EGR engines, the exhaust has a major leak where the EGR pipe slip-joints together on top of the manifold. This causes a lot of exhaust to escape into the cab when stopped and idling, or when backing up with the heat or A/C on.

I drive a 2004 non-EGR engine, but have also driven many 2005-2007 EGR engine trucks when ours are are in for repair (a regular thing) or service, and these problem have happened to almost all of them.

We have had to wait 3 days for water pump belts. No one keeps parts in stock, and they are expensive.

The head gaskets usually go out before 200k. When mine went it was 8 weeks down because the leasing company had 5 other Mercedes down at the same time with bad head gaskets, and Detroit was 3 weeks behind in repairing all the ones coming to them from other companies.

To make a long story short, the fuel savings will soon evaporate into repair bills and down time.

The company we lease from has several hundred Mercedes powered Freightliners and Sterlings, they are trying to sell all of them, and some have never even been put into service.

My truck has about 375k miles, and has been one of the best of the bunch, but it has had 2 turbos, 1 head gasket, 3 oil fill tubes, 1 set of injectors, 2 idler pulleys, 1 fuel temp sensor, 2 sets of water return o-rings, a new complete bell housing, (the early engines came out with motor mount bolts too short, which stripped out, breaking the motor mount, which almost dropped the engine onto the highway). I'm sure there are things I left out.

The engine does run good, gets good fuel mileage, and pulls good at low rpm. I like driving it, as long as I don't have to pay to keep it up.

 

JUGG
glad you got some experience before you jumped into o/o. a couple of things you might want to consider. first who will do the paperwork and there is plenty. also tax prep while a necessity is expensive. Don't forget you'll need to be prepared to tradw that truck off in three years and the trailer in five as you will have depreciated it out. Also don't assume tht the depreciation is the same each year (mistake I made second year).Talke to your accountent. this is just my experience and I am not an accoutant. are you good at the bussiness side of things . while driving is important when you become o/o everything shifts.
you may run your butt off now but when you want a weekend off you take it but when you're an o/o you'll have a lot more hanging over your head so look to run some weekends. I think the biggest misconception new o/o's have is the "now I call the shots" yeah you do but with that comes more responibility.
Get a bussiness plan and be sure to factor in PLENTY for fuel .On the high side you're looking at 60%. Also line up some good contracts. Remember brookers usually don't pay fuel surcharge unless you negotiate. They say it's figured in. You'll need to stay on top of everything so you can Know what your talking about. sad as it sounds assume everybody is out to screw you then figure out how you'll play your side of the game. There is money to be made but it's yur job to see to it YOU make it not brokers.
Be sure you have enough money put back. I'd say safely two months bills at home now on the truck side will your run on T-check or com data?
If you lease on to a company probably what they offer but do THEY charge you an extra fee? If on your own You need to know the least I have heard T-check requiring in escrow is 50k
you'll need your own escrow for repairs, ifta,fines (hopefully you won't get any but ALWAYS be prepared).
Know you didn't ask all this but i've seen so many drivers only look at what kind of truck and I'm my own boss part of it. If i haven't scared you off then good you may have what it takes to be an o/o . Welcome to the world of the o/o we're always glad to see another good driver step up. anyway we can help just holler.godd truckin!!

 

I love a cat but if you want god fuel milage you need a cummins or detroit.

I'l secnd everything he said about the mercedes. I'v had almost the exact same experience with the one we have