What is the most reliable truck

you can hijack any thread anytime with the TRUTH!

 

You wil likely want an aero truck, like a Freightliner, with a Cat, Cummins, or Detroit motor. The Volvo motors are expensive to overhaul, and the Mercedes don't seem to last as long.

The Cat C15 engine has been around a long while and seems to be a proven motor, although the emissions stuff robs the later model of some mpg and power. But it has enough power to do the job and can be tuned for more hp and mpg if desired. Cat has stopped making engines for OTR trucks, I guess due to the emissions requirements.

The Cummins seems to be favored as a good mpg engine that revs a little higher than the Cat. Detroit motors are also favored. With fuel prices going up, mpg is more and more of a concern.

I prefer the 13 spd tranny for a loaded truck, as it doesn't work the motor quite so hard in the high range if you happen be going up a hill from a stop. A 10 speed will get you there too....just takes a little longer.

I shopped around with my brother this past winter when he bought a used International day cab with an automatic tranny, that had the sleeper removed. It had 450,000 miles for almost 40k and the guy printed out the ECM report so he could see what faults there had been and the mpg.
....all these farmers want their own semi to haul corn to the ethanol plants. He bought it up by Blue Earth, MN. from a large acreage farmer/that also sells grain trailers as well as the day cabs. The day cabs are selling for as much or more than the sleeper cabs.

Good luck to you.

 

I have just done my first month as an o/o, i chose to buy a 2005 freightliner century with a detroit, finding a reliable truck is like the lottery, its always a gamble, i purchased a select trucks warranty with my truck, in the 1st month the warranty has saved me $2500 in repairs, i would suggest getting a warranty if it is a manufactures one like mine, however a breakdown costs down time, hotels, towing, maybe losing the load you have on-board at the time of the breakdown, so you always need a cash reserve to cover those things the warranty does not cover, the one thing i wish i had done is got a 13 speed instead of a 10 speed, i have 3.70 rears, at 55mph neither 9th or 10th gear works well, too high rpm's in 9th to low in 10th, if you can try and buy a generator, cheaper than an apu, will save you $$$ for heat/cooking/ac, idling is expensive, as someone else said, listen to all comments, positive and negative, there are some truths in both, i had a crappy 1st month, snow, breakdown, made mistakes, but still made money and learned allot, good luck to you
Rich

 

why dont you crazy folks just help the guy out? Man trying to make himself some money! whats wrong with that? California, he asked about reliable trucks not your negative *** ********. To the guy who started this post, Id get either kenworth or peterbilt trucks. The problem is with freightliners is that the interiors in them are cheap *** **** and the whole inside starts rattling and going to **** fast.Other than that they are ugly imo lol. I would go with a detroit or cummins before Id go with a catepillar. I cant get along with those motors and they cant get along with me! Good Luck my friend! Follow your dream and **** the others!

 

i drive a freightliner columbia with cat c13 engine,i was buying the truck with a 200k warranty,only iam never never have troubles runs very nice without repairs now 150k driving,@5.9 MPG ,500HP, 1750 TOROUE,The interior is ok cheap,noises ,is not like a peterbild ,kw ,volvo only for me i use this truck to make money not for living only for my job .to make money is ok when you have maeby repairs everybody can fix a freightliner and is chaep ,the detroit engine give you a better mfg only you have more risk whit repairs egr ...

 

What huge secrets are you talking about? What are all these super elusive, insider tidbits of mystical data you are referring to? What elite parameters of forbidden knowledge accessible to only the trucking industries chosen few wonder drivers is not found to be a researcher topic? Where the fuel is currently cheapest? Or whose tire prices are the lowest? Etc. Etc. Etc.... GOD forbid sometime would just wish the guy luck. No, #### that, cut him down right away. Yeah, that really shows him.... Sheesh.

 

Its been 5 years since this discussion. The OP, if he bought trucks is most likely out of business along time ago. Coming into this or any industry with no prior experience is financial suicid.
The OP had mentioned that all companies were new at one point. That is a true statement but don't assume that the ones that started the company was new.

 

The one sitting in the driveway... And stays there

 

Loc,

Ok, WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY.
Need more info to even guess an answer.
LONG HAUL TYPE? SHORT HAUL TYPE? LOCAL HAUL? REGIONAL HAUL?
OVERSIZE? CONTAINER? FLATBED? REEFER? LIGHT WEIGHTS? HEAVY?
FLAT LAND? MOUNTAINS?
are You the Owner Concerned about MPG? Is there a DEALER/SERVICE near to your base of operations?
Each Duty Application is DIFFERENT requiring a DIFFERENT TYPE of Truck/Powertrain Set Up...

No, don't need to know Exactly Whom your going to LEASE to, but, YES the Type of Equipment and Type of Load you will be PULLING would help greatly.

 

LonghaulMikey dug this out of the graveyard. I thought maybe the OP chimed back in to brag about how rich he became selling his trucking upstart to JB for 3.5 million!

...........uuuuhhh, I guess not!