Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Freightliner Truck
When it comes to buying freightliner trucks as a small trucking business owner, buying used is often the most logical way to go. There is a constant turnover of trucks with larger companies, which means you can consistently find used models available at a much lower price than what you would have to hand over if you bought a new version. While buying a used freightliner is a good thing, you also have to be smart about how you shop. Here are a few questions to ask when considering a used freightliner truck.
Has the truck ever had an engine overhaul?
It is quite common for freightliner trucks to get an engine overhaul after so many miles in service. Most truck owners will schedule an overhaul at a certain point to avoid breakdowns in the middle of a scheduled run. However, some smaller trucking companies will retire the truck just before it nears the end of the engine's lifespan and sell it. Because mileage on the odometer may not always reflect actual miles, it is best to find out from the seller exactly how many miles the current engine has on it.
What was the truck typically used to haul?
This may seem like an irrelevant question to ask, but knowing what the truck was used to haul primarily can give you a hint about a few things, including:
- How much pressure has been on the suspension system
- How heavy the average loads were that were pulled
- How likely it is that there will be heavy tow component wear and tear
Just getting a general idea of the typical type of hauling can be a lot of help. For example, if a truck was often used to haul things like farm animals or heavy equipment, it has probably be put through a little more than a freightliner that only hauled dry grocery items.
Does the truck have DOT-required features?
Believe it or not, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations can vary between countries, so if you are looking into buying a used freightliner that was in service in another country like Canada or Mexico, it is best to ask about DOT required features. For example, seat belts are one thing a DOT inspection would involve in the US, but this may not be the case in other places. Therefore, a truck that has only been used abroad may not have functional seatbelts.
To learn more about your options on freightliner trucks, contact services such as Arrow Truck Sales.
