Which truck model and spec are the most comfortable for team driving and sleeping?
Posted by ChiTruckDGAF@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 19 comments
I've looked at market conditions and decided that now is the best time for me to become an owner/operator and am looking to buy a truck, and I want to get the least uncomfortable one possible.
I know the new Freightliner Cascadias have air ride on the front suspension, but I have heard good things about Volvo trucks as well, and the Kenworth W900 with the longer wheelbase.
Right now we are in a Peterbilt 579 doing reefer and are not too impressed, but I think a large part of the problem are the 16 ply tires that our company equips on the drive axles. The older Cascadia I've driven on 14 ply tires when I did dry van seemed more comfortable to me, but I'm not sure if that was more the truck or the tires. I drove a tanker with super singles and those were not more comfortable when I was loaded, but I think that had more to do with it being a tanker truck.
Auquaholic@reddit
Also, a good bed makes all the difference in the world when you're team driving. A nice, thick tempurpedic is so damn nice.
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
We bought a mattress during our first load. Lol
homucifer666@reddit
Wow, you looked at current fuel prices and freight trends and thought now was the best time to be an owner op?
😬
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
Before now I didn't have enough experience or enough capital for a down payment.
threeglude@reddit
You need A LOT more then enough for a down payment if you're gonna be stupid enough to go OO, in any type of market conditions, even more so in this current market.
You need at least 3 months worth of fuel and insurance costs saved up. And at least $50-60k in the bank for mechanical expenses.
But you do you, look at and get excited over the bigger numbers like all the other dipshits who go OO without looking at all the expenses that come out of those bigger numbers. I've ran the numbers COUNTLESS times, and I'm in a highly specialized field -- you won't catch me going OO simply because I'll make on average, $5-15k less then a company driver after all expenses are factored.
threeglude@reddit
As a follow up. Why not just switch companies. Go to a smaller carrier where they value hard workers. I'm only a few months into new job, but because I've proven myself, I'm about to take a month off. Smaller carriers WILL take care of you far better then these fucking Megas
Socketz11@reddit
If the fuel prices doesnt scare him the rates will. These predatory leasing companies promise you incredible rates and then when you look at the rate con and its only $1.50 a mile they give you a song and a dance as to why its not the $3 a mile they promised. But we are the bad guys not pumping sunshine up everyone's butt thats thinking about buying or ~getting robbed~ leasing a truck.
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
I'm tired of not being able to have the flexibility of taking a day off spontaneously when and where we want to. I'd rather be at the mercy of the load boards and not at the mercy of dispatchers and planners.
Naborsx21@reddit
Ahh my friend, you are in for a treat if you think load boards are the way to go lol. If you do reefer spot market gooooddd luck.
Brokers not paying you, claims, "take time off when I want" oh baby you don't take time off unless you have like 20k in the bank , shits expensive and not rolling is expensive.
Spot market reefer is basically 80% waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Lol it's bad.
Due-Technician3715@reddit
New Volvo 860 is great
bizzywhipped@reddit
Ohh you Sweet Ssstupid Child
bigpierider@reddit
Volvo is the quietest smoothest truck jve ever drivin....obviously assuming all the components are in proper working order...but these roads are so bad in some places....nothing is going to be "nice" to sleep in going down the road...I was just like you guys...running a company truck for 28% of gross....reefer off DAT exclusively....my checks were regularly north of 2k$ a week. (1099) so I bought a truck....now i keep ~50% of what it makes as opposed to 28% ....my bank account definity notices....but yes its risky. Bigger checks but bigger bills....and they come whether the checks come or not. And as counterintuitive as it might sound...running team hurts you. You both would make more money in ur own truck. The truck will make ~50% more as a team than solo...but ur splitting it. So u both net less....it needs to make over double what a solo truck makes to make each person make more money.
Auquaholic@reddit
Peterbilt 579 Ultraloft. It's the most roomy and the Pete's handle nicely.
Environmental-Pear40@reddit
That's what I would do. I have a thing for Peterbilt though.
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
We're in a 579 now. Handles great when driving, doesn't feel as great when sleeping. Not sure the size of the sleeper though, how would I figure that out?
Boring-Picture-7349@reddit
Tire plies mean jack diddly. Replace the shocks every 50k miles or else you're gonna feel the bumps.
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
That's what we had to do on the last one, damn things leaked fluid right at 50k.
Freightliner15@reddit
So, have you ever been a LP driver or only company driver?
ChiTruckDGAF@reddit (OP)
Company driver only for now.