No matter how much you know about driving a big rig, there’s always more to consider when you want to buy one. Apart from the large number of manufacturers producing capable trucks, new development comes along every year, so you’ll want to know you’ve kept up with all the latest capabilities. Here are a few of the most things to consider when you’re in the market for a previously owned big rig truck.
Is Brand Loyalty Hurting You?
You might even be partial to a particular truck brand, but different brands are better at offering certain features, so you should be aware of whether your brand loyalty may lead you astray. After all, just because you enjoyed a specific truck you regularly drove ten or twenty years ago doesn’t guarantee that that manufacturer is still at the top of the game in offering the most desirable features.
Research the Brand You Want
Doing the research yourself is the best way to get over loyalty to a particular brand that prevents you from remaining open to better options. Look at the specifications of the new trucks manufactured by the most popular competitors to the trucks you’ve been accustomed to driving.
Get Behind the Wheel
Another essential step in assessing a truck is to visit a used big rig dealership so you can take a test drive. If you’re in the market to buy a used commercial truck, there’s a high likelihood that either you or your employees are going to end up spending countless hours driving the vehicle you ultimately end up purchasing.
When assessing whether a truck model will be a joy or a pain to drive for long periods, there’s no comparison to a real-life road test. If you’re interested in assessing a particular truck brand, you can even find a dealership specializing in carrying that brand. For example, you can visit a Metro Western Star location near Toronto to experience what it’s like to drive a Western Star truck in person.
When you visit a dealership specializing in a particular brand, you’ll also gain access to experienced dealers who know that truck brand inside and out. No matter what aspect of the truck you’re interested in learning more about, a great place to start is by talking to a dealer familiar with all of the latest features offered by that company.
Money Matters
There’s no question that when it comes to vehicles, you’ll end up saving an enormous amount of cost by purchasing a previously owned model rather than a brand-new option. Visiting a used big rig dealership will help you to get a sense of the amount of money you’ll stand to save by providing you with a better sense of what used trucks are valued at and what’s currently available on the market.
Consider the Mileage and Maintenance History
While the most economical choice for your business will likely be to purchase a previously owned big rig, not all used trucks are created equal. By far, the greatest factor determining how long a used truck will last will be how much wear it has already sustained. Determining the wear of any vehicle will require a close look at both the maintenance history and mileage of that vehicle.
If the truck you’re looking at has a long history of repairs in the same area, then the chances are that that part will continue to trouble you in the future. No matter how confident you are in your knowledge of truck maintenance, it always helps to bring along a knowledgeable partner who can help you to decide whether a truck will be worth buying.
Durability and Dependability
Along with the history of the truck, you’ll want to consider how rugged the model you’re looking at buying is known to be. If that truck has a reputation for durability amid hard-working conditions, it’s likely going to be able to perform well for you on a longer basis. If a truck is known for breaking down quickly or repeatedly, you could end up paying more than you bargained for in ongoing maintenance costs.
Buying a previously owned big rig for your trucking business is an excellent investment because it will provide you with a way to bring in more income – just as long as it stays in good working order. Visit a Western Star dealership today to get started on a deal so you can own one of the most reliable trucks in the industry.