Many O/Os with trucks greater than 10 years old have good maintenance programs and operating capital to perform routine preventive maintenance before the need to perform corrective maintenance. A greater percentage buy well-used trucks and run them into the ground, quite often breaking down while on the road with a customers freight. Over the years, the established carriers with hundreds of trucks have developed data that justifies, to them, to only take on a truck that is less than 10 years old. They may, however, keep a lease in effect if the truck has a good safety, inspection and performance record. Poorly maintained trucks with repeated breakdowns or OOS orders, while loaded cost a carrier in towing, load transfers, late delivery guarantee fees, lost customers and often CSA points which can lead to DOT audits and their associated penalties.
So, in reality, the 10 years start-up policy is not ridiculous, it's good business.
