Whether you are an owner-operator trucker who only needs one truck or you are a trucking company owner looking to expand your fleet, you have one big decision to make: Should you buy a new or used Freightliner truck? New models have their advantages, and used models can save you a lot of money, but which direction would be the smartest business move on your part? Making the wrong move is bound to hurt your business, which is never a good thing. Here's a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly about buying a new versus a used Freightliner truck for your business operation.
The Good: A new Freightliner will have a warranty, but so will a used one.
One of the biggest advantages of buying a brand new Freightliner truck for your business operation is it will come with some kind of extended warranty. These warranties are wonderful for peace of mind, and they will cover things like engine trouble before a certain mileage point. Thee warranties are great, but most buyers have no idea that you can also buy a used Freightliner truck that comes with a warranty. In fact, a lot of used Freightliner dealerships offer an extended warranty to cover their trucks.
The Bad: A new Freightliner usually doesn't come with affordable extras.
Especially important as an owner-operator trucker, finding a used Freightliner with all the extras and additionals is fairly easy. For example, you can usually find a used Freightliner that comes with a trailer at a decent price. However, if you are buying a new model straight off the lot, that truck isn't going to come with any extras, so everything you need will have to be purchased separately. This can run into a lot more money than what you had planned to spend.
The Ugly: The investment in a new Freightliner truck is pretty massive.
Unless you are an established business with plenty of funding available, it's probably going to be hard to afford a brand new Freightliner truck. These vehicles can cost as much as a brand new home in some areas, with some of the more elaborate models reaching $200,000. Even if you can find financing for a truck this high, you'll be facing massive monthly payments. By comparison, a used Freightliner will run you only a portion of that, with much more affordable payments if you get a loan to buy it.
For more information on Freightliner trucks for sale, contact your local dealer.
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