Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/535950
40 | Overdrive | July 2015 For buyers of new post-2010 emis- sions-spec equipment in Overdrive's survey, 23 percent reported the emis- sions system as their most significant maintenance issue. For buyers of new 2007-'09-spec equipment, the share is higher – 29 percent. For those later model-year ranges, "emissions system components" is second only to "routine maintenance" in maintenance-issue choices in Overdrive's survey. The problems for those buying post- 2007 equipment on the used market are more pronounced – almost four in 10 owner-operators reporting emissions problems for 2010 and newer equip- ment, three in 10 for 2007-'09. This underlines the importance of mainte- nance records in evaluating a used truck purchase or lease. South Carolina-based Steve Reichard in late 2013 used Johnson Leasing of Ap- pleton, Wis., to upgrade to a California Air Resources Board-compliant truck. Reichard had been going through a di- vorce that took his credit with it. Given that he runs for California-based United Van Lines agent Chipman Relocations, he was looking to upgrade from his 1999 Peterbilt 379 to meet CARB's upgrade deadline for the end of 2013. He bought a 2008 tractor with an engine whose emissions system gave him no shortage of trouble. After a nightmare spanning four months at the beginning of 2014, Reich- ard had $17,000 worth of repairs on a truck he didn't own. "That's the equiva- lent of a year's worth of payments," he says. "Luckily, I kept my old truck for those four months, and I put it back on the road, and off I went." But not to California. Vacaville, Calif.-based Travis Fly had a similar experience lease-purchasing through the United-affiliated Trans Advantage company. His problem was the engine in his 2008 tractor. Fly got the truck at the end of 2012, and it was "one thing after another with the emissions system," he says. "I was in at just under $20,000 in repairs on the emissions system" when he finally got out of it late last year. Emissions-related issues aren't limit- ed to any engine brand or even 2007-'09 emissions-spec equipment. Holly Knoll Services owner-operator Dave Palmer of Greer, S.C., purchased a new 2012 truck with a dump body in Greenville, S.C. He financed it at the end of 2012 at 5.5 per- cent interest. He got the good rate partly on the strength of his credit, partly on the size of his down payment. "I put about $57,000 down on it," he says, financing $83,000 and some change on a six-year note with $1,371 payments. His problems aren't with repairs' direct expense as of yet, given that a two- year/275,000-mile warranty on emissions Emissions system: Newer trucks' potential handicap In service for just two years, owner-operator Dave Palmer's 2012 has had the sensor and mounting hardware shown in the top picture, part of the truck's emissions system, replaced twice. The fuel doser, shown on the bottom, was replaced following what Palmer says sounded like explosions inside the exhaust aftertreatment system. "Emissions components" as the biggest maintenance issue for buyers, by emissions-spec year* NEW OR GLIDER 2010 or newer: 23% 2008-'09: 29% 2004-'06: 16% 2003 or older: 3% USED 2010 or newer: 37% 2008-'09: 29% 2004-'06: 1% 2003 or older: -- LEASE-PURCHASE 2010 or newer: 30% 2008-'09: 47% 2004-'06: 60% 2003 or older: -- * Percentages indicate the "emissions system" choice's share among all reports as owners' biggest maintenance issue from their last purchase. Source: Overdrive's 2015 Truck Purchasing/Leasing Survey. BUYERS' MARKET