Should you invest in a New Semi Truck or a Used One?

You will find there are plenty of choices out there when it comes to buying a semi truck. You can have your pick of color, make, and model as well as various accessories. One of the biggest decisions you will have to make though is should you invest in a new one or a used one? This is often a personal decision that is influenced by many factors.

If you are limited in funds to make the purchase and need low monthly payments then you will likely need to opt for a used semi truck. You don’t want to get yourself into a situation where you can’t make the monthly payment and the equipment gets repossessed. If you aren’t sure about the work you will have lined up then you definitely don’t want to invest in a new truck immediately. After you have work that will be ongoing you can always upgrade.

The warranty offered on a new truck is often a good sales position because the cost of repairs on semi trucks are so expensive. Many truck drivers feel more confident with a truck that comes with a long term warranty. This is especially true is the equipment will be used for over the road trucking as a large number of miles will be accumulated in a short span of time.

If the semi truck will only be used locally or seasonally, then investing in a used one may be more cost effective. Keep in mind that most used semi trucks only offer a very short term warranty or no warranty at all. Still, there are so many used semi trucks at the dealerships that you can generally get them for a very low price.

For many truck drivers, the fact that they spend the majority of their time in their truck means they want something new. They want comfort and style so they look for a semi truck that offers them all the accessories they will enjoy. They take great pride in the presentation of the inside and the outside of the semi truck, so only a new one will do. These types of truck drivers often upgrade their semi every two or three years so they are always behind the wheel of something beautiful and under warranty.

If you are considering investing in a used semi truck, have it independently inspected inside and out. This type of inspection is generally less than $100 and the information will be invaluable to you. The last thing you need is a used semi truck that will need one repair after another. You also have to consider the money lost as you can’t earn anything with it while the repairs are being done.

If you can get a great deal on a used semi truck, you will be able to save more money that can be used to pay for any repairs or towards a new truck down the road. For those new to the profession, you really need to start out with a used semi truck. This way you don’t get in over your head while you are trying to make a name for yourself in the trucking industry.

You can easily compare the prices and the options on new and used trucks at local dealerships and online. If you have a specific type of truck and various accessories you want it to have, you can narrow down the search. You can even search by price to find out what you are able to buy with the funds you have available. The decision to invest in a new or used semi truck is different for each person, but you need to take the time to weigh the pros and cons of each one before you make a final decision. You want the semi truck to meet your needs in the industry as well as offer you reliability and comfort.

Semi Trucks and Drug Trafficking

Drug dealers and smugglers use all forms of transportation in order go keep up with the supple and demand of this underground industry. Since semi trucks move all over the country, it is only practical to assume they are used for this purpose as well. Under the pretense of delivering actual goods, many trucks travel along the highways with drugs in the trailers. In these types of instances, the truck drivers are aware of what they are hauling. They often due it for the amount of money they can earn hauling it.

In other instances, the truck driver and the trucking company aren’t aware of the drugs on their vehicles. The drugs are placed behind the wheels of the vehicle or even in some of the merchandise in the trailer. The drug smuggling is a process that is done behind the scenes among individuals at various cargo pick up and delivery points.

The FDA is always on the look out for suspicious activities that take place with semi trucks. They pay close attention to the trucks that are coming in and out of docks. Suspicious activity that is reported is quickly investigated. They have the right to use drug dogs in order to check the inside of the cab if they suspect drugs are on board. They also have special gauges and tools they can use to check for drugs stored in gas tanks or under the vehicle.

Sometimes the drugs found in semi trucks are for personal use. That is quite dangerous when you consider the professional responsibilities that come with being a truck driver. To help alleviate such issues, most truck drivers have to belong to a drug pool. These are in place by the companies they drive for and owner operators can sign up to become part of one on their own. If the driver is randomly pulled for a drug test they will be contacted. They have a set period of time to comply with taking the test. If they drive over the road they will be given instructions on where they can go in the area to have the drug testing done.

While most truck drivers are hard working individuals who strive to make a living doing what they enjoy, others take the easy way and want to earn the money associated with drug trafficking. The risks are very high though and any truck driver caught with drugs in or on the vehicle can be charged with possession. It can be very difficult for a truck driver who is innocently the transport without knowing it to prove they are not part of the process.

Blogging About The Great American Truck Driver

I started this blog to write about the American truck drivers, how I feel that there jobs are not appreciated enough, how tuff there life is, what they have to deal with everyday and how important it is for the rest of us that we realize without these truck drivers we would not get our things which help us live, such as food and so on, everything is moved one way or the other through trucking.