What's up w/ panther

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I think having 400 CV' s working for Panther is more than likely your problem...


That is somewhat of a problem but the issue is freight is down. Chicago was going strong at 18 loads a day a month ago and now it is half that. Dallas was doing 5, now its 2. Atlanta the biggest disappointment was at 12 now its 2.
 

rollincoal

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
2012 - 2015 is a big difference. I think 100k cash is more realistic. Used is used. I'd much rather pay the 30k more and have a new one if I had that kinda money. I don't do financing currently. Paying USD for my Sprinters since 2010 ;) It appears that someone bought it, I wonder what they payed. :confused:

It's easy to sit there and say to yourself when you're not really buying anything "I'd just spend the extra $30,000 and get new". Reality is if you're seriously about to spend that kind of money it becomes difficult to justify the extra $30,000 when the used equipment is practically as good as the brand new. I've got a new trailer coming in Jan. I spent several months talking with dealers. I listened to other owners who said to spec it with everything you want. Well, that ended up being a $43,000 trailer. In the end I sacrificed 2 specs I really wanted, Hendrickson smart lift axle and disc brakes, for a much cheaper dealer stock trailer that had everything I really needed. And saved $16,000. What I'm saying is when you really take a hard look and think about it then you start to thinking how crazy it is to overspend.
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
I would also be more concerned when you see that low of a mileage on a unit that is a few years old. That always makes me question why.........
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
I would also be more concerned when you see that low of a mileage on a unit that is a few years old. That always makes me question why.........

Very true. But with this particular seller I've worked with them several times. It wouldn't concern me. They stand behind their trucks and I have the used truck horror story several thousand dollar repair to prove it. (They ate the repair bill with out hassle). Good people. Sadly they aren't selling the type of trucks I'm looking for now. :-(
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Well ideally it would be covered by mfg warranty still. But trucks can be difficult as we all know. I have a number of 2013 Cascadia tractors. One or two have gone through a number of high pressure fuel pumps. Every time that happens it puts def into the system and a lot of work has to be done. Even the fuel tanks are taken off and sent out to be cleaned. Now it is all warranty but generally 2 to 3 weeks to get it all done. Had one do it 1200 miles after it just happened! Now take a payment like that being down for well over a month and that could really set an owner op back hard. Not the sellers fault but sometimes these newer trucks can be less than joyous.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
We had a 2012 FLT wipe out a fuel pump. Of course when that happens, they inform you with, "yes we have a upgrade for that year because we have had so many of them go bad". Rather than tell you ahead of time, they wait until it quits. Just another reason of many as to why you can't run around for pennies.
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
We had a 2012 FLT wipe out a fuel pump. Of course when that happens, they inform you with, "yes we have a upgrade for that year because we have had so many of them go bad". Rather than tell you ahead of time, they wait until it quits. Just another reason of many as to why you can't run around for pennies.

Agreed. I often think true depreciation is not factored into some peoples math. It is especially concerning as the replacement costs have climbed dramatically. A five or 6 year old vehicle is in the area of 40% less expensive than the purchase price of the unit being bought new to replace it. EPA requirements have really added a lot to the cost of new equipment. One advantage of having company tractors it keeps you in touch with the cost, maint and hurdles of the equipment side of the equation.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Agreed. I often think true depreciation is not factored into some peoples math. It is especially concerning as the replacement costs have climbed dramatically. A five or 6 year old vehicle is in the area of 40% less expensive than the purchase price of the unit being bought new to replace it. EPA requirements have really added a lot to the cost of new equipment. One advantage of having company tractors it keeps you in touch with the cost, maint and hurdles of the equipment side of the equation.

OMG, isn't that the truth. Straights that I bought in 07 were 100k to 110k. Flash forward to this year, and it is 150k to 160k. And with all the "save a tree" junk on them, the expense to operate one has climbed. The only value now is they get better fuel economy but that is about it. A lot of that savings gets ate up with extended downtime for repairs and service costs.
It would be just dandy if rates would keep up with the costs. :rolleyes:
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
I agree. I think less new replacement units will be bought than old units will be scrapped out. If the law of supply and demand holds true this could help rates in the straight truck market to continue to increase. We have seen a steady progression there over the last few years in that vehicle size.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I agree. I think less new replacement units will be bought than old units will be scrapped out. If the law of supply and demand holds true this could help rates in the straight truck market to continue to increase. We have seen a steady progression there over the last few years in that vehicle size.

Every little bit helps. There will likely be another increase in equipment in 2017/ 2018 that will be noticeable. Yep, you guessed it. More high tech pollution stuff coming. Probably will do the bulk of my buying ahead of those years as it takes three years for manufacturers to get anything right. And even then? lol
 

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Every little bit helps. There will likely be another increase in equipment in 2017/ 2018 that will be noticeable. Yep, you guessed it. More high tech pollution stuff coming. Probably will do the bulk of my buying ahead of those years as it takes three years for manufacturers to get anything right. And even then? lol

Makes glider kits look like gems to me.
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
Makes glider kits look like gems to me.

I thought about a glider for my old kW. Then I remembered I have the cat c13 acert with the dpf and ard head. I'd be better off buying a 1 year older c11 and keeping my chassis. Shame they don't do a reverse glider kit.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I thought about a glider for my old kW. Then I remembered I have the cat c13 acert with the dpf and ard head. I'd be better off buying a 1 year older c11 and keeping my chassis. Shame they don't do a reverse glider kit.

I would stay away from that 13 on a glider.
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
I would stay away from that 13 on a glider.

Oh I am. I'm gonna run this truck for a little while longer then let it go. My other trucks are Daimler units, so if like to make all my fleet the same engine/tranny combos. Easier to catch issues and maint if everything's the same I feel.
 

RETIDEPXE

Veteran Expediter
Interesting thread guys, appreciate the insight. Three weeks down time for a dpf repair seems insane but i know it happens all the time.

Rutherford on XM seems to have some conections with the oems and has mentioned they are getting killed with warranty claims. Don't know if applies to big rig oems, but I know from experience Genrl Mtrs used to chastise dealers for turning in too many claims to the point of limiting claim payment amounts until the dealer is able to get the numbers down again (some incentive for customer satisfaction huh?). Makes ya wonder if this has anything to do with the long down times. Is the manufacture limiting parts availability to keep lid on claims? Be interesting to see how quick the fix is out of warranty down the road.

Sad part is it's on the back's of the owner....and yeah, would be nice to see rates go up a little.
 
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RETIDEPXE

Veteran Expediter
like to make all my fleet the same engine/tranny combos. Easier to catch issues and maint if everything's the same I feel.

That's so true, i was thinking the same thing the other day when and if we begin to grow beyond one I need to start with the combo I've been wrenching on for the last 7 yrs..... Feel like I could pretty much diagnose one over the phone with the dash codes/symptoms and maybe sidestep the oem shops and direct an independent on repairs, quicker, cheaper and most likely more personable.
 

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
OMG, isn't that the truth. Straights that I bought in 07 were 100k to 110k. Flash forward to this year, and it is 150k to 160k. And with all the "save a tree" junk on them, the expense to operate one has climbed. The only value now is they get better fuel economy but that is about it. A lot of that savings gets ate up with extended downtime for repairs and service costs.
It would be just dandy if rates would keep up with the costs. :rolleyes:

I suppose that is why some opt for volume... to cover those large cost.
 
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