Semitruck Brands

I have driven volvos, freight shakers, 13 letter crap spreaders (international), and kenworths. To me the best riding truck is a kenworth however they are also bigger and do not turn for anything which makes them harder to back.

Easiest truck to back is a volvo but IMO they ride like crap and are very small inside. Overall I'll take a KW followed by a freight shaker but that's my preference.

As far a reliable trucks I know that a Freightliner with a Detroit in it will never die but all big trucks should be good for more then a million miles even though most fleets retire a truck at 500k

Yes that chrome will make the truck run faster and make more money.....not. Shinnies are not a good thing

Not only that, but God help you if you run that Christmas tree on wheels across a scale with so much as one LED in one of those lights burned out. That right there is an engraved invitation to a surprise level 1 inspection.

I happen to think that is a very sharp looking truck.... I think there is a method to the madness of rolling a "Christmas tree on wheels"... to prove my point, can you spot the burned out bulb in the following image?

Go on... I dare ya to find it! LOL

Yes that chrome will make the truck run faster and make more money.....not. Shinnies are not a good thing

Not only that, but God help you if you run that Christmas tree on wheels across a scale with so much as one LED in one of those lights burned out. That right there is an engraved invitation to a surprise level 1 inspection.

On a serious note... I wonder if an over the top pretty, shiny, cool lookin' truck could be just as much a magnet for an inspection as an over the top junky one? I'm sure there have got to lots of DOT officers who are truck buffs like the rest of us... and what better excuse to get an up close look in & around a truck he really likes than pulling it in for a nice thorough inspection?

That is not true anymore about the burned out chicken lights. You have to have stop, tail, blinker and headlights. Those ALL have to be in working condition. The rest don't matter. It used to be that way but it is not any longer. Heck, I have air cleaner lights that are not even hooked up. Ran a truck with a dead clearance light. They do not even check them any more.

I...#4 International and the last thing he told me was never drive a Volvo if you can help it !!

My company has about 700 Volvos, having sold off most of the older trucks. The exceptions are we are still running some International machines, and although they have more room than most of the other trucks, they have a lot of electrical problems. They just purchased some Freightliners, not many miles on them as yet.

The Volvos have had excellent reliability, they do not ride as nice as some of the longer wheelbase trucks, but trust me, if you get into tight turn/backup situations as we constantly do, nobody beats the Volvo turning radius.

I went from a Freightliner to a Volvo and the space was smaller, but I found I didn't need the crap I was hauling around with me that I got rid of. My last Volvo had a Cummins, which I didn't want to give up, but the new Volvo engine is pretty nice. That being said, the Volvo tractor is still heavier than the Freightliner I had.

I still really like my Volvo, despite what some say, which I suspect is mostly sour grapes. The amenities are great, and I have no desire to give it up. I had a driver tell me it wasn't a 'real' truck, but I can pull a heavier load up a grade faster than he can.

As was said, it is probably the 'Chevy/Ford/Dodge' syndrome for the most part. I sure like my Volvo though.

Tracy

I think when i get a truck, i am going to be pretty excited no matter what it is. Its cool to get free stuff, i was happy about getting a tablet for my current job.