I am interested in buying a new straight truck for my wife and I to operate. I am curious to know, is it better to get a tractor and stretch it out?If so how much does it cost?The location doesn't really matter because I would take it to the best place. I'm also curious to know how much is the down payment for straight trucks already built. Also what is a good monthly payment. I'm kind of young and I don't want the dealer to get over on me.Please give me some advice.thanks.
Want a new straight truck
- Thread starter cpboy_1
- Start date
It sounds to me that you and your wife would be better off driving for a fleet owner for about a year to get your feet wet and then decide what you want and can afford. Some fleet owners have class 8 tractors that have been converted to straight trucks,others have class 7 straight trucks with various size sleepers and cargo boxes. This will also give you an idea as too what company you might think that is the best fit for you.
You would be better off ordering it with the right frame length from the factory. Cutting and splicing is a greater risk of future problems. Other than taking less time to drive one off the lot and get it stretched than ordering it there isn't any advantage to stretching one and potential disadvantages exist. That said, I fully agree with driving for someone for many months to learn the business before jumping in feet first. Your chance for long term success will be greater. You'll also get to see many trucks and talk to lots of others about what you want and don't want in your truck.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
I hear people talk alot about not under equiping or over equiping a truck. I get the under equiping part, but have a hard time grasping the over equiping. Can someone please elaborate?
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well if you are going to go for it all and get a reefer, a lift gate and all the other stuff and end up just hauling general freight, that is an overkill in the investment of the truck.
In my case, I paid just a little more than I should have but I ended up with more in the long run because it was all used.
In my case, I paid just a little more than I should have but I ended up with more in the long run because it was all used.
While the majority of first-time expediters enter the business as owner-operators driving their own trucks, the advantages of driving for a fleet owner first are great (provided, of course, that you find a fleet owner that is competent and fair; some are not).
It is very rare to find a first-time truck buyer that is 100% satisfied with his or her truck. Almost all of them would make significant changes if they had it to do over again.
Driving a fleet owner's truck gives you the chance to learn what you like and do not like about that truck. It may give you the chance to drive more than one truck if you change fleet owners or if the fleet owner changes your truck.
It will also give you the opportunity to meet and visit with numerous expediters on the road. Most of them will happily talk at length about their trucks and provide truck tours.
It is very rare to find a first-time truck buyer that is 100% satisfied with his or her truck. Almost all of them would make significant changes if they had it to do over again.
Driving a fleet owner's truck gives you the chance to learn what you like and do not like about that truck. It may give you the chance to drive more than one truck if you change fleet owners or if the fleet owner changes your truck.
It will also give you the opportunity to meet and visit with numerous expediters on the road. Most of them will happily talk at length about their trucks and provide truck tours.
Wonderful Fleet Owner:Want new straight truck
My wife and I already have a wonderful fleet owner we drive for. They go above and beyond to supply our needs. We are currently in a 2007, stretched out Freightliner Columbia. We use to drive for a fleet owner said listen to him and we would be successful. The fact of the matter is he wasn't successful. But our new fleet owner, the only way I would leave him is if we got our own truck.But thanks for the comments and advice.
My wife and I already have a wonderful fleet owner we drive for. They go above and beyond to supply our needs. We are currently in a 2007, stretched out Freightliner Columbia. We use to drive for a fleet owner said listen to him and we would be successful. The fact of the matter is he wasn't successful. But our new fleet owner, the only way I would leave him is if we got our own truck.But thanks for the comments and advice.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
RE: Wonderful Fleet Owner:Want new straight truck
ok If you drive a 2007 FL, then you really have a good source of info to go back to - the owner. But I wonder did he/she order the truck with the proper chassis length or actually had it stretched? There is a big difference between the two.
ok If you drive a 2007 FL, then you really have a good source of info to go back to - the owner. But I wonder did he/she order the truck with the proper chassis length or actually had it stretched? There is a big difference between the two.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
RE: Wonderful Fleet Owner:Want new straight truck
Plus if you have a great fleet owner I would stick around and save,save,save for a year. Great fleet owners can be hard to come by. Especially ones who will give you advice on going out on your own. I drove for one guy who would threaten to fire you if you talked about getting your own truck. Then I worked for a fellow who told me I wanted my own truck let him know. Mainly because he would rather see his drivers succed as O/O than just trade the trucks in. Plus he was looking towards retirement and he kinda wanted to pass along the torch so to speak.
Plus if you have a great fleet owner I would stick around and save,save,save for a year. Great fleet owners can be hard to come by. Especially ones who will give you advice on going out on your own. I drove for one guy who would threaten to fire you if you talked about getting your own truck. Then I worked for a fellow who told me I wanted my own truck let him know. Mainly because he would rather see his drivers succed as O/O than just trade the trucks in. Plus he was looking towards retirement and he kinda wanted to pass along the torch so to speak.
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Boy this could get to be intresting.
When I purchased my Expd truck it was new, studied on here asked and asked and asked. To some it was Over Equiped, for me I made use of every tool I put in it.
It will be as much of a personal decision as a business one, if it saves you time, or $ than you can weight the investment and come to your own conslusion.
If I were new starting out, I would do EXACTLY the same thing over again, a second time around for me purchasing used was a MUCH BETTER investment decisiion as I now have the expierence and knowledge to not get screwed (as bad). AS LUCK would have it my second truck is and was a great choice cause of what I have learned out here. My first truck I just would have not known who to or what to really look for to secure a good running vehicle.
Example-was or has the truck ever been re-wired? This one problem could cost you up to 20K to fix if somethings started grounding out and it could not be located. Just one example of at least a hundred to look for. I did not have that sense to look for things like that 3 years ago.
Your asking the right questions keep investigating and you will in time answer your own questions.
What is right for me is not right for everyone else. No right or wrong answer just narrow down the odds for it to be in your favor.
When I purchased my Expd truck it was new, studied on here asked and asked and asked. To some it was Over Equiped, for me I made use of every tool I put in it.
It will be as much of a personal decision as a business one, if it saves you time, or $ than you can weight the investment and come to your own conslusion.
If I were new starting out, I would do EXACTLY the same thing over again, a second time around for me purchasing used was a MUCH BETTER investment decisiion as I now have the expierence and knowledge to not get screwed (as bad). AS LUCK would have it my second truck is and was a great choice cause of what I have learned out here. My first truck I just would have not known who to or what to really look for to secure a good running vehicle.
Example-was or has the truck ever been re-wired? This one problem could cost you up to 20K to fix if somethings started grounding out and it could not be located. Just one example of at least a hundred to look for. I did not have that sense to look for things like that 3 years ago.
Your asking the right questions keep investigating and you will in time answer your own questions.
What is right for me is not right for everyone else. No right or wrong answer just narrow down the odds for it to be in your favor.