Tractor preference

Never really been a company driver but have drove for a couple O/O as a fill in driver. I thought they only made 2 trucks, a Pete with a hood and a CAT and all them others.

To many freightshakers on the road to say they ain't money makers.

 

I have never driven a Pete and only local Kenworth experience. As far as an owner operator buying a truck I think Freightliner with The 60 Series detroit in a glider is a hard truck to beat as far as making money. In the en thats what matters I know several mechanics that would back that up

 

And this guy was

Yeah, a glider with a pre EPA2003 engine would be the best. A brand new truck that eliminates probably 60-70% of maintenance headaches right off the bat.

 

I will never own a paccar product I really dont see what so special about them other than nostalgia. Cool you got a hood that you can hardly see out of with the stacks in the way of the mirrors and the passenger seat 6in away from the drivers seat. Surely something I'd loathe if I was otr

 

I see past my stacks, and over my hood just fine. Being able to reach the glove box from the captain seat has came in handy a few times. Course when my trucks were made didn't matter the brand you could get what drive train you wanted in all of them. I'm the type the more room I have the more crap I will take and the more of it I won't be able to find when I want it

 

I'll admit i'd take a paccar product over a shaker or volvo. 1st choice would be a mack with e7 mech or vmac 454 with the injection pump. I love the look of the old large cars but I don't like the small cab. I may be a bit biased since I grew up around old bulldog's

 

Pick a truck that ain't leaking, ain't got a bad clutch, and that will hummm all the way up the hill. If she's got full lockers even better so that she'll be unstoppable!!

 

ANY TRUCK THAT WON'T BREAK DOWN.

As far as the trucks I've driven, I really liked the KW T680. VERY stable in slick conditions, hard to get it to yaw even if I tried. The layout of the living quarters and bunk was great. Plenty of UBS and 12v ports everywhere. Easiest driving truck I've had the pleasure to drive.

 

Problem is you'll be on your 3Rd freightliner and I'll still be going strong in my Pete that hasnt cost me a thing except normal maintenance type stuff. 1.4 million and still going strong.
This is @ 650hp too mind you and still doing better than 6mpg. In fact the mpg went up with the hp. 6NZ cat. Best motor ever. Period.
And it doesn't drive me crazy with everything that can possibly rattle doing so. And don't tell me it doesn't cuz I've driven more than my share of freightshaker junk. Almost quit a job because of it.
Always in the shop too. Same with Volvo except at a much higher cost.

A good pre emission KW hood is right at the top of my list as well. In fact there's a few things I like about the W900 over the 379.

I made #### good money and didn't have to give up comfort and power to do it. My wife and I lived in this truck with our dog for 3 years. No way in hell we would ever even consider doing that in a freightshaker for God sakes.

Problem is any numbskull with a CDL can fork out 5Gs for a pos freightshaker and call themselves an O/O. This is NOT in the best interest of the industry either.

 

And if you have ever had to do an emergency stop in a freightshaker you think the dam thing is coming apart. Clucking feels like the axles are shifting. Make the same stop in a real truck and they stop smooth and quite.