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Lazy WP

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I know there are a number of you guys that either own or drive semis. I have been running pretty much over the road since May hauling grain. North Dakota to Texas. Utah to Missouri. Anyway I am thinking of buying a truck and want some advice. Pretty sure it will have a Detroit motor and a 13 speed. It will be a glider or a pre 2000.
What do you guys like and why?
Right now I?m in a 2014 Pete 386. Nice enough truck and I can buy it but it?s not nearly as comfortable as the old Freightliner Classic I was driving. This one is a glider also.
 
I have driven a good number of trucks and never have liked one with a Detroit engine. Never liked having to slam my thumb in the door to make me mad before I start the days drive. LOL Most of the ones I liked had Cummins engines and the truck I liked the best had a Cummins 220 in it but when it was built it was the Caddy of trucks. I.E. a Diamond T. Still have it but cannot find the parts to fix the engine with out costing 2 arms and 2 legs plus. I have also driven Binders Freightliners Pete's etc. But the Diamond-T was the best of them all
 
Don't know your exact situation, but, you will most likely take a big pay cut to own your own truck. Plus the added headaches and aggravation. Owned my own 21 years. Speaking from experience. Owning a truck this day and time: not something I would advise.
 
Some day I am going to build a Diamond T. I too never had any use for a a Detroit until I started driving this one. I can get 7mpg grossing 90000 most of the time. Hence the reason for Detroit.
 
A modern Detroit has nothing in common with a traditional two stroke Detroit except the name
 
The Diamond-T I have I made the frame longer and set a dump bed on it. I moved the front tandem axle to where the back one was and then added frame etc. and mounted the rear, rear axle back behind the front one. Double framed it as far forward as I could. The radiator on this is polished aluminum and you can count your teeth in it if shined up good. Best riding truck I ever drove and what is funny it has big rubber pads instead of springs In the rear and the seat well it is like sitting on an easy chair in a truck. That old truck help build a lot of local roads and Hwys. By the way it is a 1963 990 model
 
If I wasn?t driving for my brother, who would like to not own any trucks and just broker loads, I would agree. I guess I am to the point of wanting to be my own boss for a change and I think if I can get a new glider it will last long enough that I can put a driver in and I can get back to playing with cows.
 
Looking at a selection of New tractors is fun and educational. Paccar engines seem to be a serious contender in the race. Gliders are often made with that drive train. Jim
 
From a business standpoint a Detroit is a great engine. You can also get it serviced just about anywhere and parts are reasonable and readily available. I can understand why you say glider but why pre 2000? E-log??? Not going to comment on if you should own your own truck or not. Some owners do well and some do not. It's a business and that is how you have to look at it. I will say the owner operators that dump thousands of dollars in chrome and other accessories seem to be the ones that don't have the money to properly maintained their trucks. My philosophy is if you don't need it to haul freight or maintain the truck don't buy it. I am speaking strictly from a business view.
 
There are reasons he don't want to own any trucks. Think about it. It can cost you a pile of money to be your own boss. I really get aggravated at driving this constipated company ride, but, figure I am making twice or more the home pay than if I owned one. That is expensive just to say I am my boss. And believe me. There will be as many or more telling you what to do owning one as just driving it.
 
Local owner/operator/farmers have to have Peterbilt. A small local hauling firm which hauls ag commodities, and has to pay decent wages and keep the business going, buys used Freightliners with Detroits.
 

Every driver should own at least one truck in his lifetime. Win or lose it's one of the most valuable part of your ongoing driver education.

I'm on the other end, ready to hang it up. If I were to start over, I'd have exactly what I have now.

Western Star basic with a 3406 in it. Pre 2000 glider.
 
took a picture last week!
a278460.jpg

a278461.jpg

a278462.jpg

a278463.jpg
 
According to some of the owner/operators that I have known, owning a truck is something like owning a boat. The two happiest days are the day you get it and the day you sell it.
 
Sit down with an accountant and see if you can afford to do it before you buy a truck. Right now your employer is paying the note on the truck,the maintenance,the fuel and insurance,along with payroll taxes the IFTA sticker and all the other expenses that go along with owning a truck. If you buy a truck all of these expenses fall into your lap. Can you afford to pay all of these and still have money left over to write you a paycheck every month. Who is going to keep records, for the required dot logs,maintenance logs IFTA sticker and fuel taxes. It would also be wise to put $20K aside and not touch it except in emergencies. If you loose an engine or trans, all of the above bills still have to be paid even if the truck is in the shop for 2-3 weeks along with the repair bills. Can you afford to rent a tractor for a couple of weeks to keep moving freight til your truck is repaired? If the accountant says you can make a go of it more power to you. If he says no,stay where you are collect a paycheck and enjoy the scenery. One other thing.. the grand fathering in of pre emmissions trucks or gliders will soon be coming to an end if the epa and the dot gets their way, Ca won't let a non emmissions truck in to the state now with more states considering the same
 
In addition to paying for the truck, look into and add up what your normal employee benefits will cost you if you are self employed, like: medical insurance for yourself or for a family; holiday and vacation pay; 401K and pension; vision; dental; social security (employees pay 7 percent and employers pay 7 percent, self-employed pay 14 percent), etc.
 
I retired 2 years ago after 48 years and 4.5 million accident free miles. I was both a company driver and owner operator with my own authority. I loved owning my truck. I only took loads that went where I wanted to go and that paid enough. I DID NOT haul cheap freight. I may have made a little less money owning my own company, but the lifestyle was great. The key is management of money, truck maintenance, filing DOT reports and keeping good records. If you are a good manager and drive sensibly and take care of your equipment, you can be successful. Buy a good truck that you like and not just what everyone says you should buy. Many of these newer trucks are junk when they come from the factory. My last Peterbilt was 18 years old and had almost 2 million miles when I sold it to my neighbor and he is still running it with no major issues. If you are married, make sure that your wife is comfortable with whatever decision you make. Keep On Trucking.
 
I never really understood the logic behind a certain brand semi being so much better than any other ? They all use engines,transmissions,rear ends and front ends from the same vendors ! Only thing they make is the cab. Only excemption was the older Macks as they had alot of their own designs.
 
These days, you are correct, that many manufacturers use the same engines, transmissions, etc. but in days past, that was not the case. Many of these newer designed engines are manufactured with unproven technology in order to meet EPA specs. They are getting much better, but I know several trucking companies that have either gone broke, or nearly went broke, because of engine mechanical failures and no one could figure out how to fix them. As I said, they are getting better, but if you are the unfortunate owner of one of these engines, you may have to file bankruptcy because the truck isn't generating any revenue. Downtime can, and has, broke many truck owners. They all have different designed suspensions, and different designed cabs, and also use different grade of materials in the manufacturing process. Little flaws can make a huge difference in operating expenses. My old truck was old, but it was paid for and repairs weren't as large an issue.
 
Unless you live way out in the boonies or have little experience I can not see why anyone would buy a truck or even drive someone else's truck over the road for that matter. To much money to be made driving local and being home every night out there if you know where to look and are willing to sweat a little.
 
There is something to be said for seeing the country, I sure do miss that part. But I like the steady pay check much better. Statisically about 1/2 of all o/o who buy old trucks make it 5 years. Of your old truck is paid for you have a decent chance, but making payments on an old truck and paying for repairs can be hard. But mostly it's the down time when they break down that kills you. You can just about figure double what ever the repair costs as your total on any repair when down time is taken into account. A $10,000.00 engine and 2 weeks off costs $20,000.00
 
At my age I have seen enough of this country at the fast pace of making deadlines.
Easing along at my pace with a camper may be a different story.


My point was I know companies paying over $26 a hour; good insurance; paid holidays and vacation; and some are even paying overtime after 8 hours a day. And they are begging for drivers.

Years ago finding a driving job was harder.
Now with drug testing; CDL with background checks; TWIC; onboard recorders; we have weeded out most of the bad drivers and there is a real shortage of drivers. No need to go out on the road.
 
I had an uncle who farmed quit farming and bought a truck. he once said there is not much money and owning a truck isn't much better
 
I will second buying a Detroit 12.7 and a 13 speed. Dead reliable an you can get parts and service anywhere. My pick of the trucks I have had or driven is the Freightliner Coronado Mid roof glider kits. Good ergonomics and I want a sleeper you can stand up in. With the air ride front axle they ride like your car.

My brother has to have Peterbilts or Kenworths. I hate the ergonomics in both. Then stepping down into the bunk or stepping over a cab/bunk seam. They are a rugged truck but operation is harder on you than other brands.
 
After 20 years in the truck and 14 1/2 years with my own authority I would go back to my authority if I went back.
For trucks I would stay with my Pete's. I've driven Freightliners,Volvo's,Internationals,Macks and in the long run I did best with the Pete's. They seemed to have the least problems. I've own 2 Pete's. Have owned 1 Volvo and one Mack. The Mack spent more time in the hospital than on the road. The Volvo was older and just a poor set up for a truck. Yup the Pete you have the joint for the sleeper at the cab Never was a problem to me. The frieghtliner I drove was new and had the louvers falling out of the dash for the heater had that stupid point sticking out in the middle of the dash to get by each time you wanted to move from the seat to anyplace in the cab. Volvo had the same thing only bigger and was always a pain to get around too. Anything with a dog house in the cab to work on the engine makes for more work and expense to do anything.
Now when looking at trucks look at how the thing is to work on like Alternator and A/C compressor as those will need the most attention for service. Also see how hard it is to get to filters. Sure don't want to fight with them in the winter if you have problems. My Pete's have the fuel filters right out in the open along with the Alt and A/C.
you can save a lot of expense by doing regular maintenance yourself ,Oil grease and such. I greasedmine every week or about 3,000 miles oil at 15,000, Trans and rearends at 250,000 miles Synthetic in trans and rearends, Regular oil in engine.
I preferred Cat engines to anything around They were very durable engines if before the twin turbo crap. Not the best mileage maybe but made up for it in durability to me.
If you want to jaw more call me if you like 989 413 5684. Both my Pete's have over a 1,140,000 on them. I am looking at putting one of them back on the road again this fall. Probably the 91 leave the 2000 set for a farm truck.
Talk to OOIDA for information on filings as they are the cheapest for that.
 
Can I get more information about the air ride front end? I drove an 06 Classic with it, and it was a royal pain to drive. I loved the ride but couldn?t feel the road at all. Just wandered all over.
 
(quoted from post at 13:41:04 08/31/18) I never really understood the logic behind a certain brand semi being so much better than any other ? They all use engines,transmissions,rear ends and front ends from the same vendors ! Only thing they make is the cab. Only excemption was the older Macks as they had alot of their own designs.
Click to expand...

Then you've never had to live in one.
 
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