Companies that run older trucks?

On my trip, it was hot, 102 in KC, and there were a couple trucks broke down. Tires, as usual, but mostly newer trucks with red motors, and the driver staring haplessly, not knowing what to do. I'm not saying my old trucks were without fail, they did, but usually, it was something minor, and easily repaired. A good friend was usually close behind to help. The travel center "service guys" are having a field day these days.

 

That ^^^^^^^^ is so far from the truth
I and sever others on here run ( older trucks ) .. and run them daily I average 4500 to 5 or 6k mile sone weeks and don't run local either
You don't think theres not a chance a newer truck would break down maybe a emissions issue or a sensor will cause a problem and have to be towed .. I see that happen daily with newer trucks
As far a wiring goes .. I would much rather diagnose & repaire a wiring issue on a older truck than deal with a issue on a newer truck .. oh BTW newer trucks seem to have wiring issues too read the mechanics form here if you think I wrong
Obviously your mechanical knowledge and ability must be very limited ..
Could be that your just another steering wheel holder

 

I don't think BrandonPDX is just a "steering wheel holder", they have had a lot of great posts. The argument, new v old, is as old as trucking itself. Good arguments on both sides, and at the end of the day, we're all lined up at the fuel pump. New has many advantages for the mechanically inept, that couldn't find the "manual" screw on a BC fuel pump, and I couldn't tell you what that stupid symbol on the dash means. With the decline in "good ol' farm boys( and girls)", trucks had to become "idiot proof", and will never go back.

 

Lol. Age ain’t got nothing to do with reliability. Trucks are using the same basic parts and configuration since the 50’s. The same 121 brake systems since the 70’s. The only difference is the computer crap and electronic sensors that control everything. We are at there mercy. One stupid cup holder coffee level sensor goes out and it causes the engine to not start. Another sensor is on pms and not getting along with its mate and the whole truck shuts down. Meanwhile the Old mechanicals keep on trucking through the zombie apocalypse after armageddon like the old Mack tanker in Road Warrior.

 

All an old mechanical needs to run is fuel and oil. The ONLY thing an old mechanical needs electricity for is to get it started unless you can roll it down a hill in 5th gear or crank it by hand. Cummins had a hand crank option on 672’s and 743’s up to the 1970’s. Once a mech fires up and running you can remove the batteries entirely because it needs no electronics to work. Just keep the tanks fueled up.
With the Ingersol-Rand air starter they didn’t need batteries at all. Lol

 

Any truck can break down (unscheduled service event) at any time.
Then it becomes a matter of numbers.
How often does a given type of vehicle, for this discussion 0-10 years old 10-20 years old 20+ years old etc. become unavailable for scheduled service (under a load)
We are not talking about any maintenance done in the driveway, or at a repair shop between loads.
We are also not talking about the relative cost per mile of one class of vehicle vs another.
There are a number of factors that have an effect on the "critical uptime", (while under a load)
The overall condition of the truck, the operators ability to effect repairs, the availability of suitable parts in a timely fashion.
The pure industry numbers favor a simple maxim: the newer the truck, the less likely it will break down under a load
Largely because the vast majority of drivers in todays world are neither expected or able to address mechanical issues by themselves, and the newer the vehicle the more likely service and parts can effectively be obtained, both for PM and unscheduled service events.
Anyone running 20+ year old equipment( A cabover no less) in 48 state, all of Canada service area, time critical, as i was doing when i retired better be a very good mechanic, with a top notch preventive maintenance program who can think on his feet to minimize the effect of a roadside demonstration.
Even then I got picked off.
What I am saying is those attributes, while out there and successfully mastered by a select few are not for the faint of heart.

 

Well all the back ad forth but nobody is throwing companies out.

IMT out of garner iowa seems to run some old iron. And new gliders styled as older trucks. They pull open deck trailers of all sorts.

 

I drive a 2016 Mack Pinnacle. The only time it sees a shop is to get the oil changed or new tires. When I got in it she had 280 miles on her.

 

I was raised on a farm and learned how to turn wrench’s and drive at a very young age and all my buddies did as well. Back then we didn’t have automatics…we’ll it was very rare…we didn’t have dummy lights we had gauges. And we were taught to watch the gauges, listen to the motor, take notice of different smells etc as these were all indicators that something was wrong.
Let’s say you didn’t pay attention to your temp gauge and ignored or didn’t see the white smoke rolling out the back of the truck and kept rolling. We’ll eventually it’s gonna quit and you’d have a very costly tow bill and repair and the employee would be gone.

Now fast forward there has been a large increase in trucks over the years and they got to find drivers to drive em. Nowadays your hired to be a driver, they don’t want you working on the truck whether it be liability, time whatever. So the manufacturers have listened to their large customers (megas) and they have idiot proofed the trucks so the drivers who are not mechanics won’t continue driving these trucks into the ground and seizing the bearings, blowing head gaskets etc.
Granted all the lights and sensors suck…and can cause downtime …but normally are quickly diagnosed and repaired.

Me personally from a Owners view I’d rather have a driver in a new truck. Less breakdowns, and my investment is more protected by these stupid sensors.
One could argue that you need to hire better drivers so they don’t tear your equipment up etc…finding a good driver and especially one that will catch a problem before it happens is very rare these days.

I may see 1-2 drivers actually perform a pre trip in the mornings at the truck stop.
They are a driver and don’t give a #### as long as it starts and rolls. It’s not their equipment.

 

The only ones I see with older trucks out here, are flatbed or bull haulers. Those guys seem to march to their own tune, and can get away with older trucks. With the time restraints placed on just about every other kind of delivery, a company that depends on that truck being there, has to go with newer equipment. I just don't see FedEx/Amazon trailers being pulled by Crackerbox Jimmys. Sorry, if you want to run an older truck, that will soon be scrutinized by the gubment , unless your daddy( or mom) owns the company, or you do your own hauling, hardly a company in the world will put you on. That's just the way I see it today.