buying a semi!

Please give more info. Like kind of trailer and weight you will be hauling. How old of truck you are comfortable with and your mechanical ability. I wouldn't rule out a Pete or Kenny just yet personally.

 

I would not buy anything between 2008 - 2010. Too many problems. Pete or Kenworth hood would be way out of your range, used truck prices in Canada right now are thru the roof. Because our dollar is so tied to oil its in the tank now so a new truck is $180++. So, used are a premium, and the U.S. Dealers are coming up here paying too much for our used stuff and taking them south, the U.S. Dollar buys $1.35 of our dollar so they can pay a premium and still get a deal. That said, if... You don't want a hood and... Know what your looking for you can find something. But it's a real tough market out there. Good luck.

 

It's all tied to emissions. Every time something new comes out it takes a while to kill the bugs. Btw, how could you be looking at a haul without knowing what type of trailer is involved?

 

Here's my opinion, I have a small fleet of 18 trucks. If you do t know what you will be hauling, which means the company you are going to work for must be new to you. If that's true than you are prematurely shopping for a truck. Find out what you will be hauling, what kind of trailers and weights before Getting a tractor. Is the company gonna require it be speed governed? What requirements to they have for the tractor?

 

So in tour decision you need to weigh the following;
1) Age of truck. Can you do a pre egr truck. Does the company you want to contract to have an age limit for tractors? Post emissions trucks cost more to operate, sensors, dpf filters, additional maintenance costs etc. Older trucks have their nickel and dime periods as well, but are usually cheaper to maintain. Especially if you are mechanically inclined.
2) Target fuel mileage, do you want an aero truck or a long hood.
3) Operating area. If you know you will never operate in a state with emissions requirements. Never move the truck to another company etc. Ties into #1 above.
4) Creature comforts. Can you shift your own gears or do you need an auto shift. Manual transmissions can last 2 million miles or more. Auto shifts, when they have a problem are usually expensive.
5) What is the support network along the proposed route. Either dealer, maintenance, service etc.
6) You have to make sure the trick is legal to go into Canada without having to permit it.
7) How long do you keep the truck before you turn it over to newer, unless you get a collectable (359 Pete, w900a etc.) one.
Kind of a generic list but you start answering these questions they snowball into more. Decide your business plan, what the proposed revenue is, and cost to operate are in the corridors you want to operate in are, then find the equipment needed to maximize profit by reducing operating costs minimizing maintenance and risks. Way too many variables with the information you have given.

 

I wouldn't buy anything BUT a Pete or KW. ( or that cool Marmon a while back) I just don't understand why people think they can't afford these trucks. Many fleets ( like Millis) that use KW's, usually update around 750K (miles) and their older trucks are well maintained. There's no shortage of trucks in the US, unless for some reason, Canadian's can't buy US trucks. Volvo, Macks, IH, and Freightliner, usually have a ton of issues as they age, mostly electrical. Of those 4, I'd go with a Freightliner, but check KW's 1st.