What would be the best used truck to get for a first time O/O

Forget what you are attracted to and go with the most EFFICIENT truck you can afford. The W900 can wait until you have your head above water and money in the bank. Also, you cant pick a truck until you know what you will be hauling because you have to spec the truck to the intended use. Reliability comes with service and who did it, service records are golden.
Today, I would shop for a pre emmision Freightliner with Detroit and 13spd.

 

My first truck was paid for in cash. It was an '89, that I bought in 2004. Ran it local/regional, and then traded up. Still local/regional, but driving a 2017. As @Dryver said, you need to know what kind of work you will be doing first. Forget about shiny chrome and paint....look at the motor, rear ends, FRAME, get an oil sample, and maintenance records. Starting out, try to get something pre emission and mechanical...easier to work on. Just remember, MOST, not all used trucks are priced higher than the market because of emissions and E-logs. Do some homework, price it out...insurance and everything...and ASK. There is a s#it ton to know, you won't get it all day one. Been in a truck since 1998, and still learning. Good Luck.

 

Know what the job is before you buy the truck. Are you going to lease on with someone? So how old of a truck will they take? What about insurance? Once you narrow your choices down... then you can start specing out a truck for the job. You can Go to truck paper .com and spec the truck all the way to the sleepr size. Then you need to do all the stuff that tbdieseltrucking said, plus a rigdig report and download the ecm history! It is a lot of leg work, but a whole lot cheaper than a bad purchase. Good luck!

 

Don't forget about the Dyno and the blowby.

 

The truck you need, is not always the truck you want.

Just look at my sig as an example. Ugly as sin,.. but its been a good money maker. Think of the truck as a tool needed in order to do a job. Whats the best tool you can have? Affordable and reliable are the 2 main things I look for.

Cash is king,.. credit can be a double edged sword. Only use that route if you know and understand the business side of trucking. Else do yourself a favor,. and just wait until you have enough cash to do what you need. By the time you have the cash saved up, if you did your homework you will know everything you need and the rest will come through trial and error.

Best of luck to you!

Hurst

 

You want to haul anything else but dry van.

Keep researching and asking. You'll get there with a good plan.

Good luck.

And my pick is pre 2003, anything. Spec'ed for what your business plan says you will haul, and for whom.

 

Freightliner glider with a 60series detroit

 

But check Fitzgerald very carefully, many problems.