older trucks 2

[ClassicOne]

The original thread was about older trucks. I, for one, like older trucks. It is less expensive to get into expediting, has been less expensive to repair my older DD Series 60 than most, I've stayed away from the latest and greatest to have a great running, long lasting class 8 expediter.

You know, it's not how much you gross, it's how much you have in the bank at the end of the year.

I know I have much more in the bank than if I had bought a new truck!

Just think of all of the "old" trucks that will be forced off of the roads in the near future by CARB. It's getting harder to find "good old trucks". Most have been exported. I just saw a statistic that this year more trucks have been exported that any other year. So, to keep the economy going we as Owner/operators will need to pony up and buy new.

Come to think of it, how many of us can use "older" computers. New programs and operating systems cause obsolescence and we have bought new computers too.

Keep up the economy! In the mean time, UP WITH OLDER TRUCKS!

 

[ATeam]

It seems that the newer the truck, the less work you can do on it yourself. Sensor errors, program glitches and proprietary computer systems force dealer visits just to keep the truck running.

In the old days, if the brake light came on, you would do the logical thing and look at the brakes. Now if the brake light comes on, there could be a dozen reasons for it that have nothing to do with the brakes themselves.

The only way to find out is to plug a dealer's computer into your truck and hope the technician understands what he or she sees on the screen. It does not matter if the technician understands the screen or not. A minimum labor fee will be cheerfully charged.

A while ago I read comments by someone calling it an industry crisis that competent truck mechanics are spread so thin. I'm not sure I would call it a crisis but carrier fleets and individually-owned trucks would be easier to keep running if we did not have to bring them back three times to get one thing fixed.

 

[TeamCaffee]

A paid for truck in my opinion is the best truck on the road! One of the problems out here though is almost all companies have a rule on how old a truck can be when signing on. Now once you are on and as long as that truck stays in sound condition you are good to go. That can be a double edged sword though as you can stay on forever with the company you are with but you cannot change companies as all the sudden in a lot of cases your truck is to old!

Bob has always been a mechanic and he learned the old school way which makes it very tough on maintaining the new trucks. We are in a class 7 truck and we are running the wheels of the thing and Bob has done a fantastic job of keeping it purring like the kitten it is and I just keep putting money away for "THE NEXT TRUCK" The longer we can keep this truck going the easier it will be to pay for another truck.

 

[nightcreacher]

Over my stay in expedite,I've paid off 7 trucks,and for each time,for about a month,not having payments was really cool,but whats life without payments.Myself,payments are a way of life.I use to have an accountant,that didnt believe in new trucks.Of the 7 trucks that I paid off,only 4 were bought brand new,and I will say,even though they were new,with the bigger payment,she was right,there was less right off.Even a used truck,paid off, will have a better right off,than a new truck, with that big payment.Of course there is less income,more time off for downtime,truck repairs,but you pay less to your favorite uncle,you know Sam

 

[dpatrick]

Love that DD 60, DDECIII, 1.3 million. I'm pulling that Panther trailer, and I might only be doing 56 or 62 but I'm getting 9mpg when I'm light and the winds going my way. Some people tell me its just getting broke in. I believe that a lot of companies have that young truck requirement just so they can keep the squeeze on you. They know you have to make that truck payment, and consequently you won't be taking too much time off. On a good day, I tell myself I'm going to go get a 2001 day cab, stretch it out, and put that condo with the hot shower together. In the mean time, I'll be taking care of this ol girl and be thankful for one less bill to pay. Thanks Dpatrick

 

[Bruno]

I think if you take care of them and as long as it looks good let run. If you look on my EO page you will see a picture of the 1997 they made me take off. We even redid the sleeper a few years ago. That was posted on EO by Dale.