If you’re a truck driver or a trucking company manager and you’re in the market for a new truck, the number one priority on your mind should be the cost to value ratio. While we all love our trucks, and it can be easy to get carried away when you want to drive a truck you love, the bottom line is that your vehicle is your livelihood, and you want to ensure it brings in the most income possible.
Performing at Peak Capacity
When buying a truck, you need to consider all of the factors that are necessary to get the job done first and foremost. The harder that you intend your commercial truck to perform, the better shape you’ll need it to be when you purchase it.
Capabilities Versus Appearances
You don’t want to risk buying a truck that has already seen years of use if you intend on working it to the limit every day. Likewise, you don’t want to buy a truck based on its appearance or how comfortable the interior or sleeper cab seems if the mechanics aren’t in excellent working order.
Buying a Used Vehicle
Everybody who drives knows that a vehicle depreciates enormously as soon as it leaves the dealership lot. The situation is basically the same with commercial trucks. Buying used can provide you with an affordable solution that will provide you with a great working truck that will yield significant earnings – but only if you purchase wisely.
The Pros and Cons of Used Vehicles
While you can find excellent prices on trucks in mint condition that have only recently been sold you can also find older trucks, and anything in between that may be more deceptive than it seems. An older truck may seem like a great deal, but the older a truck gets, the more risk you take in buying it.
The Trap of Endless Maintenance
The biggest issue that you’ll face if you buy an older commercial truck that looks a lot better than it performs isn’t that it will break down entirely but that it will cost you a bundle in maintenance fees. You can avoid this situation when you buy a Western Star truck from a reliable dealer like Metro Western Star or a similar premium vehicle that is known for being extremely rugged and long-lasting.
Bring Help When Assessing a Used Commercial Truck
Ultimately, the best way to pick out the right new vehicle to add to your fleet is to bring as informed an opinion as you can to the lot. If you’re employing a mechanic for your trucks or you know one that you can trust to provide an honest estimate, make sure that you bring them along to check out the vehicle before you buy it.
Buying a used commercial truck can provide your company with excellent value; just be sure to consult with an informed party to help you choose the right option.
