Truck Buying Guide
Buy New or Used Truck
The truth is, a used truck is not for everyone. A new truck generally costs less to operate and maintain. The rule of thumb is "If you drive more than 25,000 miles a year and will need a truck for at least 5 years, buy new".
A used truck on the other hand can be the best & most cost effective solution in a variety of situations. A quality 4 to 5 year old truck will typically cost 40 to 60 percent less than when it was new. Also Physical Damage Insurance premiums ans taxes are likely to be lower as well.
If you are not sure for how long you will need to keep the truck, a used truck may save you money. It will not substantially depreciate in value and you can sell it for almost what you paid for it.
Warranty on most new trucks runs about 2 to 3 years. Extended warranty can also be purchased which covers all major components. Warranty repairs are available on any of the truck manufacturer's dealer nationwide.
If provided, the most common warranty in the used truck market is a 30-day limited coverage on the drive-train. Any repair cost incurred during the first 30 days may be split between you and the dealer and the repairs must be performed at the dealer's location.
What Do I Haul
If you are hauling bulky items such as furniture or light boxes, the volume of the truck is most important. For heavy items such as freight or steel, the key factor is weight capacity.
All trucks are built to handle a certain amount of maximum weight. if a truck has plenty of volume for your product but weight capacity that is too low, you may wear the engine out and also run the risk of operating it illegally. On the other hand, using a truck with a high weight capacity to carry a light load wastes fuel and money.
Select a truck with the proper GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Choose the rating to meet driver licensing requirements and load needs.
If you are shipping refrigerated goods, look for truck with the correct cooling unit and insulation for your product. A cooling unit with an electric standby would let you connect the unit to an outlet for power during stop-overs and save fuel. For refrigerated goods, corrugated aluminum floors allow better air flow.
How Do You Pick-Up & Deliver
For city driving, consider a truck with a smaller turning radius so the driver can negotiate sharp turns. A truck with a cab-over design will turn most sharply.
You may consider an automatic transmission. They are now more desirable than manual shift type.
If you plan to pick up goods at street level, consider buying a truck with a lift gate. Adding one later can also be done. If you load and unload curbside on city streets, your truck should have a side door.
If you load and unload with a forklift, keep in mind your loading dock height and interior clearance requirements. You should also verify that cross member spacing and floor strength is adequate to support a loaded forklift. Scuff liners will help protect the side walls of the truck body from damage.
Buy Gar or Diesel
If you expect to log more than 15,000 miles a year, you should consider a truck with diesel engine. A diesel engine has 1/3 the moving parts of a gas engine and used half the fuel.
For less than 15,000 miles a year, a truck with gas engine may be more appropriate as the purchase price is usually less than that of truck with diesel engine.
Legal Requirements
In California any truck with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs requires the driver to have a Commercial Driver License (CDL). This also requires a physical exam and a drug test.
All commercial vehicles must also pass annual D.O.T. inspections. California has recently passed new emission laws for diesel trucks and refrigerated trucks. For more information about these laws click here.
All operators of commercial vehicles must have proper insurance coverage at all times. If you plan to finance your truck purchase you must have proof of insurance before taking delivery of the truck.