I get emails and phone calls all the time asking what to look for when buying a tender truck for agronomy operations. So over the next few weeks we’re going to be discussing the purchase of a new or used tender truck or trailer. Some of the questions we’ll try to answer are what to look for, what to avoid, who to buy from and what to expect after you’ve got your new truck home.
We use the same Peterbilt trucks in our agronomy operations that we sell. And we’ve been doing that for many years. So we’ve built a base of knowledge about the things we look for when buying trucks. And that’s item number 1 on our list…find a seller who also uses the product they’re selling.
Why? First they’re going to know what works and what doesn’t. They’ve already worked through a lot of the problems you’re facing in the field and developed a solution.
Second, and this is a big one…avoid one of a kind trucks. It may be the sleekest looking, have the shiniest paint and coolest wheels tender truck you’ve ever seen but avoid it like the plague. What? Yep! If it’s broke down and you can’t get parts for it for a week what good is it to you? Not much. That’s why we’ve stayed with Peterbilt trucks. Parts are universally available, mechanics are familiar with them…and to be honest we just don’t have problems with them.
Which brings us to our next item to look for…regular maintenance. Has it been done on the truck you’re looking at? Can the seller produce the maintenance records? How about the interior? Is it neat and clean. Odds are if the seller is meticulous about keeping his rolling office clean he’s been particular about having the maintenance done regularly, too.
If the seller has the maintenance records look them over. Do the records show the obvious things like oil & filter changes, replacement of wear items like belts, hoses, tires and brakes? Or do the records reflect major overhauls of the engine or drive train?
Finally, does the truck fit the needs of your business environment? If you’re hauling corrosive products like fertilizer stay away from trucks with mild steel fenders, hood and cab. You’re looking for a truck that’s able to stand up in a corrosive environment so that means aluminum or fiberglass fenders, hood and cab.
Thats gets us off to a good start but there’s a lot more we’ll be talking about so bookmark this site now so you can come back regularly. And remember, if you have questions about your next tender truck or trailer be sure and give us a call or email me using the form below.
Brad
