If you’re an owner-operator or fleet manager and you’re thinking of getting another truck, or you want to start a trucking business, you already know that finding a truck is the next step. Maybe you already know what make and model you want, or you have a general idea and now need to narrow down your choices.
One of the important questions you should ask yourself, though, is whether you need a used truck or a new one. To answer that, here are several things to consider.
Budget
This is arguably the most important factor to take into account when you’re deciding between a new and a used truck. Take a look at your funds and how much you can afford to set aside to invest in a truck while still being able to handle other expenses. If you think you can make the monthly payments for a new one without having to cut back on spending in other areas, then go ahead. Otherwise, take what looks to be the safer option and get a used truck instead.
Maintenance
New trucks are less likely to need major maintenance work and repairs soon after you buy them, but lightly used trucks as well as older ones that have been well cared for can be just as good.
There’s no denying that getting a used truck can be something of a gamble because you don’t know how much you might end up paying for repair work. But if the previous owner was reliable and you have the maintenance records so you’ll know what to expect, then you can factor those future expenses in to help you decide. If you’re not too sure about the previous owner, though, or the maintenance records aren’t complete, you’ll be better off looking at another truck, used or otherwise.
Commitment
If you’re getting a truck, you need to be certain about your own commitment to the job. Of course, no career is completely smooth sailing from the beginning, including anything in the trucking industry. If you’re ready to deal with the ups and downs and don’t think you’ll be changing course sometime soon, then getting a new truck is your best bet.
On the other hand, if you’re just testing the waters, it may help to know that you didn’t invest as much as you could have, so you don’t end up forcing yourself to stick with a career path you’re not completely interested in. Or perhaps you’re just seeing if you’re really ready to expand your fleet, so you want to be able to scale back if the opposite turns out to be true. In either case, a used truck would be a better purchase.
When all is said and done, used and new trucks have their own pros and cons, but those pale in comparison to the factors mentioned above. As long as you don’t rush to a decision, though, you should have nothing to worry about. Just examine all your options, decide which factors are a priority for you, then choose the truck that fulfills your needs. And when it comes to finding semi trucks for sale, you can visit this page to get started.