3 Great Reasons to Buy a Used Truck and Get Your Money’s Worth!

Used Truck

The delivery industry is one of the most promising business niches nowadays as the demand maintains at an all-time high. This happens because buyers’ behavior has shifted in favor of online shopping over the last couple of years.

And while the e-commerce upward trend was in part supported by the pandemic, buyers continue to prefer shopping online. Plus, with new challenges that disrupt the traditional supply chain system, long-haul trucking seems to be the world’s best bet. 

So if you’re looking to enter the industry or extend your existing delivery business, now is a good time. However, when it comes to costs and return on investment, it may not be as easy. After all, not everyone can afford to buy a truck nowadays. 

Luckily, there is the option of buying a used truck and using it wisely in order to get your money’s worth, and then some! Of course, used vehicles, especially ones of the size and complexity of a long-haul truck, are a bit of a gamble when it comes to future maintenance costs and reliability on the road. 

But if you know how to choose the right used truck for your business needs, then you will get all the benefits and none of the headaches. And, if you need more convincing, here are some of the benefits you can expect:

3 Reasons Why to Buy a Used Truck

#1: Durability in Time

There’s a reason why you don’t see trucks at the side of the road, waiting for repairs. That’s because these vehicles are built to handle the everyday wear and tear of the road. They can take on the elements, off-road terrain, and all these, with the added stress of a heavy-duty load!

Plus, the chassis of a truck is designed to endure up to 30 years of use. That’s why it usually won’t make much of a difference if you buy a truck that’s a few years old (up to a decade). As long as it is still considered reliable and up to the latest standards and regulations, your used truck should do just fine.

Overall, trucks are feats of engineering developed to resist in time if they are properly maintained. This is why it’s important to check the vehicle’s maintenance and repair history when you buy used. 

The Secret to Choosing a Reliable Used Truck

Just like with cars, some trucks are more reliable than others. That’s why it’s important to look for specific models, like the Peterbilt 579 truck

This type of truck was designed with durability, comfort, and reliability in mind, but it also has an extensive support network across the US. 

This way, if something goes wrong and you need to change a part, you don’t have to wait a few months for the part to be delivered from the other side of the world.

#2: Reliability

The main advantage of buying a used truck is that you know it can hold its own on the road. Plus, you can check the reviews, talk with drivers who have experience with that model, and ask owners’ opinions to understand how the vehicle fares in the long term.

Also, a truck that’s already been in the delivery industry for some time is tried and tested. While this doesn’t mean new trucks get out of the factory without going through thorough testing, the real trial happens on the road, after a few long haul trips, with maximum load. 

If you buy a used truck that’s been on the road for at least a couple of years, you already know its weaknesses and strengths. Plus, if the model is popular with long-haul delivery business owners, you know it is worth the money. 

#3: Price Depreciation

A new truck loses up to 50% in value in the first five years after leaving the factory. In fact, its value goes down 10% the moment you take it out of the dealership! 

Plus, if you take a loan to buy your truck(s) – not everyone has the funds for such an investment – the price of the vehicles will get even higher. By the time you manage to pay the loan, the vehicle’s value will deteriorate even more. 

On the other hand, a used truck is already at its stable value (meaning it won’t go further down). Plus, if the model is appreciated for its reliability, durability, and versatility, you can hope it will maintain that value for years to come. 

This means that you’re actually paying for the value the truck will bring to the business, and not the brand name and features that have little to do with efficiency.

Used Truck Wrap Up

Used trucks are a good investment for long-haul delivery companies, as long as the buyer pays attention to the overall performance of the specific model and its alignment with current regulations. 

Still, in a world where last-mile drone delivery is a thing, trucks continue to be the best way to move large cargo loads from one side of the country to the other.

Used truck article and permission to publish here provided by Cristina Par. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on March 18, 2022. 

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