Next truck, asap or by early summer

[fortwayne]

I recently decided to snatch up a 99 FL-70 I had been driving for a year as a company driver. During that time the company made several major repairs, so I have seen what has been done, and I have a few minor things to take of...like the air governor etc. I am looking at getting a second truck by early summer and am now leaning towards the older trucks, 2000-2002. What do u veteran owners think.....personally I believe the ROI is better and quicker.

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[jjoerger]

There's some great deals to be found on older well maintained trucks. The problem is, a lot of carriers won't sign them on.
FedEx is 5 years old on a Class 7 and 8 years on a class 8.
Check to see what the requirements are for the carrier you plan on signing them on with.

 

[idtrans]

I just purchased a 2000 fl70 with a 3126 / auto shift she runs and drives great just needed a PM and new steer tires. has a 22' dry box, and a 80+" sleeper. the drive tires are all new virgins and I am happy the head ache was getting the cat stickers off from all over the box, tractor my god insanity the cat oo have for stickers LOL.

But for $4600 I can't complain and then another $2000 for registration, om and tires I am in the truck in a safe price area.

I already found a place that will sell me a fresh rebuilt 3126 for $6k including shipping and I have a local diesel shop that will charge me $500 to swap engines when the time comes Just hope the engine dies at home more than likely it wont but I am fine have some funds saved luckily.

Plus I plan on focusing more on the midwest short runs with this truck instead of the long runs. I need to be home more anyways for my rental properties I have. and now I just got ahold of 2 more rentals so more work around the house now LOL.

good luck with your new truck and if I see any good deals I will PM you ok.

 

[JOHNCLARK]

That's a tough decision I have to make. I will go 10yrs, However, I will have my mechanic "tear it apart" and make sure it's a solid unit. On a Tractor I have more room to play. On a straight I can only send equipment no older than 10yrs. That's the requirments by Ford and Generous Motors. To add a truck on thats 9 yrs is not a wise decision for us. But I will always try to do my best to get a unit signed on.

 

[greg334]

If you can get a 'fresh' rebuilt 3126 for under 10k, buy it. I don't think you have a good job with a bottom end done for under 6k

 

[idtrans]

If you can get a 'fresh' rebuilt 3126 for under 10k, buy it. I don't think you have a good job with a bottom end done for under 6k

3126 3V CAT CATERPILLAR REMAN LONG BLOCK ENGINE - eBay (item 250570168529 end time Feb-20-11 10:36:25 PST)

Luckily the truck I just purchased had the engine rebuilt at rockford cat dealer 400k ago the engine runs great. I am picking the truck up monday and driving her home. I am not putting the truck in service until March or April I am waiting for cold to start ending gonna work the van for a while. Call me crazy but just wanna be simple for a while longer. Never know may end up being sooner depends on the freight.

 

[idtrans]

That's a tough decision I have to make. I will go 10yrs, However, I will have my mechanic "tear it apart" and make sure it's a solid unit. On a Tractor I have more room to play. On a straight I can only send equipment no older than 10yrs. That's the requirments by Ford and Generous Motors. To add a truck on thats 9 yrs is not a wise decision for us. But I will always try to do my best to get a unit signed on.

Well when my Florida condo sells i will have around $75k to play with to buy a newer truck and I will call to see what you have to offer my truck at that time. Until then I will stay with my old truck to get me out of house. My lady is mean while she is getting her masters wow how studying can make a lady mean and evil LOL. 2 more years of her school it is hard on me but so worth it. I can't wait for her to finally be a nurse practitioner. PLEASE JESUS HURRY THE PROCESS PLEASE

 

[highway star]

On a Tractor I have more room to play. On a straight I can only send equipment no older than 10yrs. That's the requirments by Ford and Generous Motors.

You have more room to play on a tractor because it's the trailer that has the 10 year rule. If someone had a straight in good condition that could go farther than 10 years, and there's lots of them out there, just put a new box on it. Lots cheaper than a new truck.

 

[greg334]

Well GM didn't stop me picking up and delivering with a 1989 IH and 1995 GMC for the past three months. Made two Ford deliveries a few weeks back at the Rouge, used the IH both times and not a peep out of them. Is this a plant specific issue?

 

[idtrans]

No greg its the broker rules. And seriously if the freight is picked up in any truck they will load it. I have seen some spooky old trucks before loading at gm and ford and I mean super old rough beat up trucks and they loaded them.

But ford and gm are not the only 2 shippers in our industry many many more out there. Since I am in Peoria, IL I am going to try to increase my cat loads since I can fit that freight into a straight better than a cv. Cat doesnt have lots of cv loads.

 

[highway star]

It's not brokers rules, it's the policy of Ford and GM and probably Chrysler as well. How strict the enforcement is is plant specific. When they've seen that they're not gonna fall through your floor, your good to go at some of the plants.

 

[idtrans]

I was told it was broker rules. I know at the ford/ mazda plant I ran a load to there a few months ago outside of detroit and I saw a few old beaters running around loading. Maybe they were newer older looking beaters.

 

[fortwayne]

It is a rule pushed by the unions for their safety. Some plants will load u some will not. If the lift op decides not to go on your truck its a safety issue.
However, my floor is in better shape than some of the newer trucks, so to date a truck simply by its age isn't the best solution but it is something some union shops feel comfortable with.
Has never been a major issue.

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[nightcreacher]

Your asking for big trouble putting on an old truck with a driver in it.You will find it in the shop more than on the road,not there really is anything wrong,but drivers tend to want to fix every little noise they here.Older trucks need to be babied,and most drivers wont do that

 

[greg334]

Well I asked GM and Ford this morning about this issue and the response is the same from both of them - it isn't a real policy company wide but a plant by plant policy and it has to do with the security department at the plant location. The people on the dock could care less what they load (**some don't even know how to load a truck - personal opinion) while most if not all docks have locks that ensure the safety of the forklift driver and the product being loaded and some plant have wheel locks and other systems to ensure that the safety requirements are met by immobilizing the unit completely. They also both said that many plants allow vans even though they don't meet their policies for safe loading and unloading and frown upon when they are used (**that's funny)

Chrysler gave me a smarta** answer, they said just look at the crap they use to haul stuff around and it should answer my question.

 

[fortwayne]

Night, you r right. Heck before I came here I was the same way. Then when I was put in this trk I would tell them when I saw or knew something was wrong and we got it fixed. Its really a two way street.

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[JOHNCLARK]

Well when my Florida condo sells i will have around $75k to play with to buy a newer truck and I will call to see what you have to offer my truck at that time. Until then I will stay with my old truck to get me out of house. My lady is mean while she is getting her masters wow how studying can make a lady mean and evil LOL. 2 more years of her school it is hard on me but so worth it. I can't wait for her to finally be a nurse practitioner. PLEASE JESUS HURRY THE PROCESS PLEASE

Mean? HAHA, My wife never finished high school. Decided one day that she would get her diploma at a night school, then applied for college courses at a community college, 2 years later she had a associates degree, graduated with honors, deans list every quarter and was Phi Beta Kapa. Im so proud!! But she was MEAN too I know I was not meant for college, too much like work!!

Call anytime!! Besides myself I have a amazing fleet owner that could answer every question about anything when it comes to spec's on a truck to how I operate. And if I can't answer it I will find someone to help you. Have a profitable week everyone!!

 

[JOHNCLARK]

Well GM didn't stop me picking up and delivering with a 1989 IH and 1995 GMC for the past three months. Made two Ford deliveries a few weeks back at the Rouge, used the IH both times and not a peep out of them. Is this a plant specific issue?

It's in our contract and it's possible to lose your contract at the plant mgr's discrestion. However, that's last resort.

I have only had 1 issue but it was shutdown material and the hilo operator drove out to the gaurd shack to get the freight. Not too happy to say the least. I was also issued a corrective action and you really want to keep those off your record.

Our families count on our relationships with our customers to put food on the table.

 

[BillChaffey]

I have no doubt Mr. Clark it's in your contract. Does the Plant manager\Foremen ask for the truck registration?.

 

[JOHNCLARK]

I have no doubt Mr. Clark it's in your contract. Does the Plant manager\Foremen ask for the truck registration?.

Their 1st line of defense is the security gaurd at the gate. Our drivers are contracted to have their credentials and the trucks credentials ready at the time they pull on the property.

We also have been checked by the hilo operators and the plant foreman.

I have had trucks escorted off the property due to drivers not having steel toe boots, vest and hard hats. Once again, it's all in the contract just depends who's checking that day.

I have seen all types of characters in those places with sandals, t shirts, ripped jeans, etc. Guess it's like playing the lottery.