Cost of a NEW RIDE

shippers and brokers do not care if you drive a 2018 or 1968 model truck as long as the load gets moved efficiently as per thier requirements. everyones operating cost is different. you are the one that wants to look good going down the road , the shippers do not care....my paid for 07 t600 basic white fleet truck that has cost me virtually nothing in expense will pass the same road side inspections that your new one might or might not so my operating cost is a small fraction of yours. its not up to someone else to adapt to your budget nor pay your bills . you need 4.50 to get by , while others like my slef can clear a much larger profit than you at 2.00.... its all in the business model and the math.

you think that might be the answer huh ? i'm thinkin owner operators should be required to attend business management classes before being allowed to either recieve a dot number or renew insurance and plates........ i think that would level the field .

As I tell my drivers, I don't really care what make model or year your equipment is as long as it is shape, clean and can get the job done. I have one guy that runs the most beautiful 1985 extended hood Pete you would ever hope to see. Mike runs coast to coast for me and very seldom misses a beat. I have a guy that runs a spectacular looking 97 kw w900 that he bought new and kept up magnificently. Melvin runs the middle of the country for me but at 78 years old, he runs part time for me and is as consistent of a driver as can be. I recently had a driver retire that drove a gun metal gray 1969 KW extended hood. Don has rebuilt that truck so many times but I still would not be afraid of jumping in that gem of a truck and two sticking it across the country. We also have guy with mid 2000 trucks and some with new trucks. The newer ones seem to be in the shop more than the old ones because no one can seem to keep sensors for the regen systems from going out. I have one 2018 Volvo that seems to live only from one Volvo shop to the next one to get fixed. I normally schedule him on loads that have plenty of flexability on deliveries because he is in the shop constantly. Fortunately all his repairs are under warranty so far. What it boils down to is if your equipment can do the job it doesn't really matter what year make or model it is.

sorry about that my $729 was based on a week comes out to more like 2900 a month I thought about that something didn't quite look right

Its all about getting the work done. In 8 years of doing this I've never once had someone complain about how equipment looked, its about how equipment worked. If you're constantly pushing out loads for breakrdowns, you're going to quickly end up on our no list. If theres another issue that the customer complains about then it better be fixed next time you go in.

Some places might be impressed as to how a nice rig looks, but I don't know if it will necessarily lead to more work in a normal situation.

Being polite and pleasant and doing a good job will make you more money than a pretty truck ever will in my opinion.

To start with the basics, i haven't seen rates on this board or any other that will support your numbers. You're only chance is you won't see home much.
Second, lets say you have something steady. We did for 6 years it disappeared in 2 months no warning.
3rd, you really want one of these piece of crap new trucks? Why? To stroke your ego? What if you are lucky and get one of many that cannot pass the next dealership? You think you need a California legal trk? Cause the rates in and out of there are so high?
Thank god my truck was new in 2000. If you buy a new truck you will have to trade when warranty is up. You will never survive the bills without that warranty and sitting at the kitchen table and hoping that the warranty doesn't deny you.
I hope you are very young so when you're paying the bankruptcy lawyer you have enough life to earn your way past your mistakes. This is the worst year in many. Why would you do this to yourself?

Good luck!!....By the way when you drag that junker home let me know and we'll see who can get up the hill first.

Art Pfluger

I like this response. I also like to get up and down the road look good doing it with a smile on my face. Sure my peterbilt could use some paint, polish and a good wash but there are bills coming and more loads to haul. Sure your new truck turns heads but why strap the check book so tight that will take care of its self.

I agree with this statement 100 percent. I personally won't buy new because my bank would crucify me, and second reason I won't buy new is because they took the mirror off the door!! You can spend alot of money fixing up a reliable oldie and still be under a new truck payment, and look good doing it

Could you explain your weekly hard costs. Something seems wrong in the math since i barely even gross that a year and I usually have a smile on my face.

Makes me wonder if the price of a new truck is so high because the usable old ones are getting fewer? If it weren't for the epa, I'd say capitalism would handle the problem. The only thing unreliable about new engines is emissions!! Maybe crappy injectors, but give30k to a tech school diesel department and I bet they can build an iveco, or paccar that is equally as dependable as any old school6nz, or 5ek, or n14 or 60 series. But the epa would have a brain aneurism and fine the school. Or fine any diesel shop that comes up with a solution. My solution??When my Pete and cat retire, I'm going to apply at Walmart, I think I'd make an excellent greeter.

Dump the drivers and depending on the truck,... keep the older truck.