TRUK Advice Column

Buying a used semi truck is not the same as buying a used car. Sure, they have some things in common, but commercial trucks are purpose-built machines that run for millions of miles. If you don’t know what to look for when you’re buying one, you could easily end up with a bad deal or a truck that doesn’t fit your needs.

Whether you’re an owner-operator, a fleet driver or owner, or a farmer who needs to haul product around, you can benefit from knowing what to look for in a used truck for sale.

Truck Layout & Axles

By far the most important aspect of buying a truck is buying the right truck for your needs. 

You need to can choose whether you need box trucks, flatbeds or tandem-axle highway haulers. These trucks are not all created equal – deciding which one you should buy depends on what you’ll use it for.

For instance, if you’re a farmer looking for a way to move crops or livestock from the field to storage, or from storage to the market, you probably don’t want a large tandem-axle truck with a sleeper cab. These trucks may look great, but they’re mostly suited for long-distance highway cruising. On the other hand, if you’re an owner-operator who is hoping to make it big in the long-haul trucking scene, a single-axle short cab truck won’t be the best buy. It’ll certainly be less expensive than a larger truck, but it can’t haul as much weight and won’t be comfortable for long drives.

Engine

Another major factor in your choice of truck is the engine. You’ll want to choose a truck with the right amount of horsepower and towing capacity to move your loads around. Contractors towing small excavators or equipment won’t need as much power as drivers hauling 40-ton trailers for thousands of miles.

Your choice of engine also plays a big role in the fuel economy you can expect. While a tractor truck will never get the same kind of fuel mileage as a compact car, the numbers can still vary widely from truck to truck. Unless you’re buying your own diesel tank to fuel your truck at home, you’ll need to consider mileage and fuel capacity when you’re buying.

It’s also a good idea to inspect the engine itself when you’re buying the truck. You should try to familiarize yourself with the truck as much as possible, especially if you’re buying as a private owner. Make sure you’re comfortable with the engine and take a look at its condition before you buy.

Transmission

Most trucks in the are manuals, but automatic transmissions are becoming more popular in the trucking world. If you have a CDL, or if you’ve been driving for a long time, you’ll likely be comfortable driving a manual truck. Some drivers, though, prefer the ease and convenience of an automatic. You’ll want to know what kind of transmission the truck has before you buy so you can be sure you’ll be happy and comfortable driving it.

Mileage

In the old days, a truck that hit 500,000 miles on its original engine was ready for either a full rebuild or the parts bin. Today, many modern trucks can hit that number easily and still run for years. However, you should always know the mileage of a truck when you buy it. The total number miles a truck has driven indicates how much wear and tear the truck has seen and what condition you can expect the engine, transmission, and drivetrain to be in.

It’s also important to think about your own needs and how they relate to the truck’s mileage. If you’re planning on driving long-distance routes with your new used truck, you’ll probably want to shoot for one with lower mileage to start out. However, owners who only plan to use the truck occasionally or for short-distance hauls have a bit more freedom, since they won’t be racking up the miles as fast.

History and Maintenance

Sometimes it can be tough to know what the actual condition of a truck is before you put some miles into it yourself. However, if your truck has complete or recent maintenance records, those records can be an indicator of how the truck was treated by its previous owner. More complete or up-to-date records might show that a truck is well-cared-for. That, in turn, can let you feel better about buying it.

However, a truck lacking records isn’t necessarily a no-sale. Try to learn about the truck’s origin or past owners from the dealer or from vehicle history reports. At the least, you should be able to learn about accidents or major work the truck has received before buying it. If you do see anything that makes you think twice, have a mechanic look the truck over and give you his opinion.

In the end, buying a used semi truck doesn’t have to be a complicated process. You just need to think about what you want and what you’ll use the truck for. Once you know that, the right tractor should be easy to find.  

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When it comes to buying a used commercial truck, truck and trailer, or any heavy duty truck, you need to be on your game to make sure you score a great deal, rather than ending up with a lemon.

There is a huge market for used commercial trucks, and you can start your search online for your fleet’s next workhorse, researching what’s available and average used truck prices. Purchasing a used commercial truck can be an excellent way to expand your fleet or strike out on your own as a contractor.

Here are ten tips when buying a commercial truck that could save you money, not just on the sticker price but on costly downtime and expensive repairs.

1 – Check the oil

We’re not just talking about oil levels but it’s about oil condition, which can tell you a lot about the health of the truck. In fact, a truck that has been well maintained will have had its oil (both engine and transmission) regularly analyzed for signs of contamination, metal traces or antifreeze. If it has, ask to see historical records.

2 – Check for rust

Sounds obvious enough but it’s not one to be underestimated as it can render your investment completely worthless. Surface rust can usually be fixed but structural rust, for example around the frame, may spell inevitable doom for the truck. 

3 – Review the service records

Service records will tell you several things about the truck that are worth noting. Firstly make sure the records are legitimate, with the VIN matching the vehicle. Check the history of repair work to make sure there are no recurring patterns of breakdowns that could signal an expensive problem. And be extra cautious of trucks with no service record at all – there’s every chance you’re not getting the full story.

4 – Inspect the suspension

Make sure the suspension is in good working order and parts are easily sourced. Due to the critical nature of suspension, as well as their custom design, repairs can be costly. Preferably the manufacturer of the suspension has a reputation for engineering quality systems.

5 – Verify major parts

If you’re not overly familiar with the inner workings of a truck, this point may involve bringing a trained truck mechanic to help you inspect the vehicle. You need to be sure you can verify the condition of the major parts in the truck, whether it’s the brakes, transmission, steering, hydraulic lines or the AC. If you can’t accurately determine its condition then you might need to budget for a replacement.

6 – Source at least 2 part suppliers

The last thing you want is a great looking truck sitting idle because you can’t get a small, but vital, part for it, which is sometimes the case with obscure or limited-run truck brands. Make sure you can easily get parts for the truck from at least two separate suppliers to avoid being left high and dry.

7 – Can you get finance for it?

Check this before you make an offer on the truck as some finance companies can be quite choosy about which trucks they will finance, and most won’t unless it’s successfully passed a DOT inspection.

8 – Will they insure it?

Similar to finance make sure of this before you sign anything, and not just that you can get insurance but that it will be at a cost that still makes the truck a viable, and profitable, business opportunity.

9 – Know their reasons for selling

You’re entitled to know! Don’t let them avoid the question, and ask it in a way that doesn’t give them time or opportunity to change the subject or rehearse a script. Look for body language or other reactions that might give away unspoken problems. Make sure you are satisfied with the answer.

10 – Use a broker

If you’re spending a lot of money then it may well be worth enlisting the services of a professional truck dealer. They can sort the good from the bad, and source an excellent deal on a used truck, even after they’ve added their commission.

Take your time buying a used commercial truck, there can be many pitfalls. By proceeding cautiously, and getting help when you need it, you can find a used commercial truck that will give you many years of faithful and profitable service.

For truck buyers building a fleet, something else that can be worth the investment is reputable fleet management software. In fact, many commercial operators using Telogis Fleet have experienced a positive ROI within 120 days, due to the savings made in optimized route planning and fuel savings.

If you are a business owner and would like to have your business professionally marketing, please do not hesitate to contact us today to discuss your business needs or for a free quotation.