Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Yes, of course. But if a fleet owner has to invest in a substantial number of trucks because his trucks constantly fail, then he has a big problem! And it's not just the trucks, he has to have drivers too, how else can he get a new tractor to the place where the other tractor broke down?

 

He calls a guy like me and has to pay my price if he can't find anyone else. It's good for my business when these things happen.

 

They aren't sitting around as spares, they're sitting around because they're lacking drivers. Because of the volume the megas buy, they buy the trucks for roughly their value in 3 years with 300-400k miles. They are self-insured, so insurance doesn't cost. A small company or owner operator couldn't afford it, but it doesn't cost the megas to have idle trucks.

 

Well, that doesn't work over here. The registered owner of the vehicle has to pay road tax, insurance, and he is also responsible to get his truck checked regularly.

 

It doesn't work here for anyone besides the megas.
The company where I work has a couple extra trucks, but only because they don't have a driver for it. We also have older trucks. If they are in the shop, it is for mechanical issues, not computer issues.

 

Oshkosh ......



8x6.........get going !

 

Where in the world is a registered owner not responsible for these things?

 

The UK for instance. There the driver has to be insured, not the (owner of the) car. The owner of the car also has to pay tax, and makes sure it has a valid M.O.T. However the driver is also held responsible if those things are not in order.

 

A nice video how Ginaf trucks are hand build: