708-467-7181     16425 Van Dam Rd., South Holland, IL 60473

 

The year was 1939. T.A Peterman leaves the logging industry after finding an interest in buying excess trucks from the Army and rebuilding/improving them for heavy hauling. He bought a failed Fageol Motors, turning it into, well you guessed it, Peterbilt. The first few truck models that Peterman came out with were Model 334 and Model 260. Both of these were known for their all-steel cab. When WWII started, Peterbilt focused on bringing their expertise in trucking to help out their country by creating Model 364, which was known for being a dependable workhorse. T.A was unfortunately only able to enjoy his success for five short years until he passed away in 1944; a year before the war ended. His wife sold the company to a handful of managers.
Once the war ended, Peterbilt had new goals to reach.

1954 comes and introduces Model 351, becoming the longest production in Peterbilt history! It was then that the Peterbilt’s Red Oval logo was made. It was in 1958, that the Pacific Car & Foundry, who later changed their name to PACCAR, purchased Peterbilt, starting a relationship that has lasted for 60 years (and still going).  The 1960s was a period of innovation for Peterbilt. One of the biggest changes was Model 352. The 352 switched to a lightweight aluminum cab and had a 90-degree tilt UniLite cab. The next big addition was made on Model 358 with the addition of the Peterbilt bird hood ornament.

 

   There are several benefits of buying used commercial trucks that help make it a viable, and sometimes preferable, option for owner operators looking to build their fleet. Shopping the pre-owned market can be an excellent way to choose from a wide selection of trucks at a lower price compared to newer semi truck models.
Maximizing Investment and Choice is our first benefit of buying a used semi truck.

  Used Kenworth ModelThe obvious draw of a pre-owned truck is the lower price tag. This is just part of what makes used models a good investment for budget-minded shoppers. Pre-owned trucks also suffer less depreciation than new purchases. This means that they retain more of their initial value than new trucks, which can make them a better investmen for you as an owner operator. Financing options are also available on pre-owned trucks that can help ease the financial burden of these purchases even more.United Truck sales of Chicago offers financing for used commercial purchases through our  Financial affiliate.

 

      Whether you’re an owner-operator or a small fleet, buying a used semi-truck is much more intricate than basing your decision on a favorite make, model or cosmetic styling. When perusing used semi-trucks for sale, some important things to consider are Real Cost of Ownership , efficiency, warranty, and after-sales support. RCO expands the traditional Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis by considering both the hard and soft costs incurred over the lifetime of a running commercial truck. Hard costs are the hard numbers you get by using a calculator, like monthly diesel expenses. Other factors- like comfort, safety and connectivity options- are more difficult to express in dollars and cents; these are the “soft” costs. Both hard and soft costs factor into the real cost of owning a used truck. Once you calculate the costs and decide what truck is right for you, stop by at our truck dealership to receive an expert advice.