Buying your first truck

Buying your first truck

Purchasing your first vehicle can be an intimidating process, more so if you’re taking on the title of owner-operator for the first time. You want a truck that fits your budget and matches your needs, but it’s often difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, buying a truck doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you take the time to plan ahead and know exactly what you’re looking for when it comes time to go shopping.

Determine your needs

Write out a list of must-have features. Know ahead of time what applications you’ll use the truck for most often, and let that guide the purchasing process. Consider the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of trucks because that will determine what kind of body they can support as well as how much they can haul and tow.

If you don’t want to buy a body separately, then make sure you find a truck with the right cab, chassis, and body configuration for the task at hand, whether that be long-distance hauling, waste management, or any other application. This is also the point at which you should determine such as requirements as engine horsepower, transmission type (manual, automated manual, or fully automatic), and other specifications. If you don’t need the most powerful truck on the market, then don’t pay a premium for it.

Go new or used

Not everyone can afford to buy a new truck outright, even with financing help, but you do get the benefit of a clean, unused vehicle that shouldn’t need major repairs or incur the same maintenance costs you might have with a truck that has 250,000 kilometres on it. However, if you can find a dealer you trust and a model that meets your needs, then buying used can save you money in the long run provided the previous owners properly maintained the truck. Inspect the engine, transmission, cab, tyres, and every other component when looking at pre-owned vehicles to make sure you’re getting a reliable truck.

Consider total cost of ownership

Beyond buying new or used, consider your truck’s total cost of ownership (TCO) as it relates to fuel efficiency, fuel type, maintenance needs, and more. There are traditional diesel trucks, those that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as hybrid-electric or fully electric models. Different fuel types will affect maximum operating ranges between fill-ups or battery charges, but they’ll also affect costs. Once you find a style of truck that matches up with your job, prioritise features that will provide long-term cost savings.