Straight Truck recomendation for Small Business

Are you considering buying new or used? If new, focus on proximity of dealer(s) to your location and don't fixate on any single brand that may not be readily available for purchase, service, and warranty work. Consider also if a 102" wide box may be beneficial. Otherwise, you have a lot of homework to do. Narrow down your choice(s) and some here can probably give you a realistic fuel consumption rate. You'll have to determine how often routine service, oil changes, etc are required and their costs form your local area/shops. Then there's tags, insurance, authority, reporting, fuel taxes, FET tax, tire wear, engine lifespan before rebuild, rebuild cost, and I could go on and on. Be sure you know what you're getting into.

 

Also want to make sure the inside securing rails have a couple heights. If you are double stacking gaylords you want to make sure you can secure the top one from tipping. Also the size of the lift gate too, trying to load a four foot square on a lift gate with a pallet jack is not fun with a tiny lift gate. Plus like previous poster said the wider box also will allow for maneuvering pallets inside with pallet jack.

 

I would recomend a used Business Class Freightliner truck WITH THE 5.9 CUMMINS engine. The 5.9 Cummins is a super reliable engine and it's the same basic motor as found in the Dodge dually pickups. If you are hauling under 24,000 lbs .. non CDL.. this will work out very well for you. I've driven both standards and automatics with this engine in Medium duty trucks.. either would be fine but a manual will cost you less and be less problematic. Your mpg with the 5.9 will be superior to most of the other offerings... there are also electronic upgrades from BullyDog and Edge etc. you can use on the 5.9 to improve your MPG and give you a hair more power. New and used parts for the 5.9 are easy to come by and not terribly expensive.

Look in the TruckPaper and the CommercialTruckTrader .. 2 different publications.. online and search for what you need there.. use the advanced search and look specifically for the 5.9 Cummins powered trucks. Find a clean one with under 300k.. give it regular maintenence. fuel filter, oil changes.. and drive the wheels off of it. I see alot of those trucks with 140k to 190k miles relatively inexpensive...Such a truck would serve you well. try and get one with the type of box you need already on it if you can... Price the Bully Dog or Edge or other programmer as part of your purchase price.. the MPG bump you will get will pay for the programmer in no time and keep your operational cost as low as possible.

Cummins does make a 6.7 liter engine... I would go with the 5.9.. it's been available since at least 1989 when it came out in the Dodge Dually... good luck.

 

Allison Automatics are very expensive to replace if you have one go bad.. that's why I suggested the manual. Excessive heat can burn an Allison up and the repair bill will make your butt pucker... better not to put yourself in that position to begin with.

 

Something like this:

http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/find/listing/2001-FREIGHTLINER-FL60-104450166


5.9 cummins .. 6 speed manual.. 108k miles..

 

[h=2]LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum[/h]

 

I'd go with the Freightliner between the 2, I owned an International 18 wheeler and was not pleased, my particular truck had lots of maintenence issues .. the M2s are newer ... the FL series are basically the same truck .. different nomenclature. The FL 60s 70s and 80s will likely have a Cummins/5.9 and 6 speed and a GVW that will keep you under CDL requirements.

If you ever have to replace an Allison Automatic.. just one time.. you'll regret ever buying one. Automatics heat up under load .. too much of that and you or your drive not catching it... you've got big problems. Manuals can take alot of abuse.. when treated properly they last forever.. they are more forgiving and less expensive to repair if something ever does go wrong.

If they are putting DPF filters on newer M2s.. stay away from them.. buy an older low mile FL without the DPF and enjoy the longevity, mileage, and low cost of operation. Finding a low mile.. under 150k older truck is pretty easy.. many of these trucks were only used sparingly .. I've seen the 5.9 go to 400k and 600k with good care.