What would an experienced o/o buy?

I will through my 2 cents in here as i have owned 5 freightliner fld120s with the side fairing all with troits and 9 and 10 spds all o/o speced trucks but the trannys. I have in the last 8 years switched to 379exhd petes with 550 cats and 18spd and i will tell you this i would never buy anothe areo truck again. I pull mainly flats but also some walking floors and rgns and my petes are gerttng much better mpg than the shakers ever did, 5.2 to 5.5 with the shakers compared to 5.8 to 6.3 with the petes. The petes are easier to work on and i have had less trouble with them period.As fas as parts and service the price diffrence is not there atleast in my area and as far as insurance my policy has not changed in price according to the brand of truck. A brand new pete compared to a same speced volvo or shaker theres not much diffrence in price so the resale value to me is factor also, plus i keep my trucks up to 10 years or more. In the end its all in what you like, some guys go just by the numbers me i look at both but i'am willing to sacrfice a little revenue to enjoy the ride more and keep guys happy.

 

Do you pay your drivers less? I ask, because a small fleet near me (10-12 trucks) has similar operation as you – flats, walking floors, hoppers – and he pays $.10-.12/mile less. And has a list of guys with clean MVR’s and work history waiting for him to add trucks or someone to die. And the trucks rival the Western guys except not new. He gives them $.01/ paid mile towards “chrome fund” that they can use to add approved items. He say up front – it cost more to run metal and I won’t run plastic so I gotta make it up on the pay.

 

I pay 30% of the gross to the truck plus tarp and stop pay. I buy the trucks with all the bells and wistles allready. I do not offer insurance and other benifits like the big guys do but my guys make between $1000 to $1500 a week. Tried adding more trucks this year but i could not find a driver worth putting in a truck i'am very picky.

 

The most difficult thing any of us who own trucks face is finding quality drivers.

 

That is more than fair. And I hear you on finding drivers. We just found a guy that worked for a crazy farmer for years. If he is willing to do a little OTR the farmer I work with is going to hire him and lease onto me. Just what I was looking for to get out from under this van and get my flatbed. Thought it would be the fall but could be sooner. My luck, he'll refuse to be out even one night EVER. I can still get local work for him but won't be as much money.

 

Here's what you get when the trailer manufacturers design a truck... the Strick Cab-Under. 55' trailer with the driver under the 5th wheel... saw these abortions on I-80 during testing in the 70's...

 

Now here's a smart man....

 

There is no premium for certain trucks... truck insurance is not like car insurance where certain makes have a surcharge. You buy your physical damage policy based on an agreed value between you and the insurance company.

It doesn't matter if you drive a '68 Crackerbox GMC or a 389 pete.... everyone pays the same per one hundred dollars of coverage. If you have a total loss the insurance company will pay you the full amount of your policy...less damage and they will pay a fair estimate.

My Pete is insured for $18K... I raised the coverage after my wreck in '09... I did have it at $25k before accident but got cheap and reduced the coverage to 415K... my truck was a total so I got paid $15K.

 

Total loss is total loss but most accidents are not total losses. You ram your Pete into the back of a trailer vs a Columbia and the Pete loss is going to be higher. I know some of the cheaper insurance companies and policies thru many carriers do not care about make and model and only insured value.
I will give you an example on Tuesday. I am getting quotes based on W900 and 630 both valued at $35k. Agent already told me the 900 was going to be more. Really not a fan of the 630 but not my truck or my money. However this one has less than 200,000 on CAT. Rebuilt, 1,500 hours on Tripak, clean interior and one owner.

 

Collision or comprehensive insurance for class 8 insurance is based upon using a percentage of the stated value. It usually runs from 2 1/2-4 1/2% of the stated value. If you insure your truck for $50,000 and when something happens it is valued at only $20,000, then that is all they will pay. They will not pay the full amount of the insurance policy unless it is valued at that amount when you make a claim. It is a good idea to update your policy from time to time. There is no point paying more for insurance than is necessary.