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

 

  Buying a used Class 8 truck or other commercial rig is a smart way for owner-operators to save a lot of money in the early days of their business. While newer models are great for mileage and compliance, they often carry the unfortunate downside of a six-figure price tag. Your truck is the most important investment you'll make in your business, so it's wise to talk to us with key considerations in mind. We advise to call our main office and our experts will be able to help you.

Some things to consider why looking for the used semi truck:

Transmission

Most operators learned to drive on a truck with a manual transmission. A manual transmission is more convenient for the driver, but there are automatic transmission semi trucks available. If you're in the small category of people who have learned on an automatic, you will want to stick with that kind of transmission.

If you opt for a manual transmission, there are more variables to consider. Find out how many speeds the transmission offers. The higher the speed, the more versatility you'll have when driving. If you're new to driving a semi truck, you may not want to choose a higher number of gears. The options afforded by the higher speed count is nice, but it can be difficult to operate if you're not used to a lower-speed transmission already. Also, unless you're hauling very heavy loads through the mountains, you probably won't need the higher speeds.

 

Depreciation
When you buy a brand-new semi, it depreciates in value as soon as you drive it off the dealer, just as a new car does. And most of the depreciation that follows happens within the first months.
When you buy a used truck that's been "around the block" for several years, depreciation no longer becomes a real issue, making your investment in a used truck much more solid. In fact, used models hold their value as time goes on, more so than a new truck does.
This becomes a huge advantage when it comes time to sell, particularly if you have to sell soon after buying; you won't take as much of a monetary loss as you would when trying to sell a new truck.  
 

 

      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.