Even with proper care and maintenance, your freightliner truck won't last forever. But how do you know when the time has come to replace it? Read on to discover the signs that it's time to replace your freightliner -- along with some reasons why, when the time comes, you're better off buying a gently used truck than a brand new one.
Signs You Need a New Truck
Every situation is different. One driver may be able to put up with some or all of these challenges for a year or two, while another may become unnerved by them very quickly. Sooner or later, however, these signs indicate your truck is on its last legs:
It Needs More and More Maintenance
Do you feel like you are always having to bring the truck in for repairs? All of the downtime can really eat away at your bottom line, so even if the repairs themselves are not too costly, frequent repairs can cost you profit. If you replace your aging truck with a newer one, it will spend less time in the shop -- and that's more time you can be driving it to make a profit.
It's No Longer Meeting Your Towing Needs
If you are constantly having to amend your plans to reduce the weight of your load to fit what your truck is capable of towing, then perhaps your business has outgrown the capacity of your current truck. Upgrading to a new one with a larger towing capacity could save you a lot of money if it allows you to tow everything in fewer trips.
Its Emissions Are Not Great
If your truck's last emissions test results were not great, and the truck barely passed, then you may want to replace it before it actually does fail an emissions test. Otherwise, you'll be stuck making costly repairs and changes to the truck in order to ensure it passes the test.
Reasons to Buy a Used Truck
While you could visit the local semi dealer and buy a brand new truck, buying a freightliner that has been on the road for a few years will save you a lot of money. But there are also non-financial reasons to buy a used truck.
You Can Be Confident It's Not a Lemon
Every once in a while, a certain truck is not made well, resulting in a lot of premature breakdowns and problems. If you buy a new truck, there's a chance you will get such a lemon. However, if you buy a truck that has been on the road for a few years without issue, then you can avoid this risk.
You Won't Have to Wait
If you purchase a new truck, you will probably have to wait a few weeks while the dealer and manufacturer assemble everything to meet your specifications and needs. (Most new freightliners are a custom order.) With a used truck, however, everything is pre-assembled. You can just find a truck that meets your needs and drive it away.
There's Less Pressure to Add Features
If you buy a new truck, it's easy to get talked into additional features you don't really need. When you buy used, on the other hand, what you see is what you get. There is little to no pressure to make upgrades or add features.
If your truck has begun breaking down often and is no longer serving your needs, then start shopping for a different one today. There are plenty of used freightliner trucks for sale with a lot of life left in them, and you can easily find one with your desired engine size and towing capacity.
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