Pepsi versus Coke.
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Ford versus Chevy.
Freightliner versus Peterbilt or Volvo.
There are some debates that people will probably go back and forth on for eternity, and the debate about which truck make and model you should drive as a truck driver fits into that category.
Do a quick Google search and you’ll find that everyone has an opinion on which semi-truck make and model is better.
At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), every day we help drivers like you choose a truck with the specs that will meet your needs and help you to be successful on the road.
Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Volvo are among the most popular semi-trucks on the road. As a former driver, I’m here to help you learn a little more about each of these trucks so you can feel good about your truck selection.
Freightliner is one of the most popular trucks around — specifically the Cascadia model.
They’re future-focused and aim to lead the industry in quality and innovation. In terms of their product testing, they far exceed other brands. They primarily build heavy-duty class 8 diesel trucks but they also build class 5-7 trucks.
A primary focus of Freightliner is to make the cost of ownership accessible to drivers so that they can make their business competitive. That means they have addressed the top factors to maximize profitability, which include fuel efficiency, connectivity, safety, quality, and uptime.
Freightliner is known for its robust dealer network. That means as a driver, you have access to new and manufactured parts and components. You can rely on excellent service and maintenance across the country if you have a breakdown. Their impressive dealer network means you’ll have better access to parts, which means less downtime and more uptime for you.
Freightliner is also unique in terms of how they manufacture their trucks. Their trucks run on the Detroit Integrated Powertrain. The engine, transmission, and axle are specifically engineered Detroit components that work together seamlessly to create an efficient system optimized for performance and reliability.
Each of these components is powerful on its own, but when they work together, they have unprecedented levels of performance which in turn boosts your fuel economy, safety, and reliability.
Peterbilt was founded in and aims to create purpose-built vehicles that last. They’re focused on ensuring that they’re an environmentally friendly company. They make both medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. Peterbilt is an iconic brand known for its rugged and reliable products.
Peterbilt offers industry-leading technology features on each of its trucks, superior comfort, maneuverability, and value. The ergonomic interiors of Peterbilts offer best-in-class visibility.
Peterbilt also relies on SmartLINQ™ remote diagnostics, which is designed to monitor the health of your truck at all times. If there’s an issue, the system sends an alert to your driver manager or dispatcher (if you have one) and the closest Peterbilt dealership.
Peterbilt trucks rely on an integrated PACCAR Powertrain. This differs from the Freightliner Detroit Integrated Powertrain. Most Peterbilts have a Cummins engine, but there are a ton of customizations that can be made with truck specs.
A note on PACCAR, Cummins, and Detroit: PACCAR engines are manufactured in-house and are known for their durability and fuel efficiency. They’re used in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. The powerful, reliable Cummins engines are not manufactured in-house, so they’re used in a variety of trucks — no matter the brand. Detroit engines are known for their raw power.
Volvo has been a major player in the trucking industry for decades, known for its focus on safety, fuel efficiency, and driver comfort. Volvo Trucks North America is part of the larger Volvo Group, which also manufactures construction equipment, buses, and cars.
One of Volvo’s biggest selling points is its commitment to safety. They were among the first to introduce features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist in semi-trucks, setting the standard for accident mitigation technology.
Comfort is another area where Volvo stands out. Volvo trucks are known for their spacious, ergonomic cabs with a quiet ride, making them a favorite among long-haul drivers. The VNL series, for example, offers premium interior options to reduce driver fatigue.
Volvo’s powertrain is also unique. They use the Volvo Integrated Powertrain, featuring Volvo’s own engines and the I-Shift automated manual transmission. The I-Shift is designed to optimize fuel efficiency by automatically selecting the most efficient gear, which can be a game-changer for fuel-conscious owner-operators.
Volvo’s dealer network isn’t as large as Freightliner’s, but they still offer strong parts availability and service support. They also provide Remote Diagnostics, which allows fleets and drivers to monitor their trucks in real-time and detect potential maintenance issues before they become costly breakdowns.
Mack is owned by Volvo now, so if you’re looking into a Mack truck, know that you’ll get a similar truck but with a fancier look.
Brand loyalty is certainly an important factor that many drivers consider when choosing their next truck. There are some drivers who simply must drive a Freightliner or they must drive a Peterbilt because that’s the only thing they’ve driven and that’s the only thing their family members have driven.
However, before you can make your decision between Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Volvo — or even Kenworth and Western Star — you must first understand more about the truck manufacturing world.
The Class 8 truck manufacturing world isn’t the same as the automobile manufacturing world, where each company manufactures its vehicles differently.
Only seven truck manufacturers are serving the U.S. and they’re all sourcing the same parts from around the world from similar manufacturers. Several of these companies share ownership.
That means that, depending on how you spec your truck, you can end up with a very similar truck whether it is a Kenworth or a Volvo or a Peterbilt.
For instance, both Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks are manufactured by PACCAR, so they both use PACCAR engines. You could build out a truck and cherry-pick the parts and the end result would be two very similar trucks.
While the truck brand is important, the most important thing to consider when you’re choosing your truck is what you’ll be using the truck for.
The next time you head to a dealer to buy, lease, or custom-build a semi-truck, you must consider a few important factors — not just the brand.
Whether you’re building out a truck that’ll be ready in a few months or you’re purchasing a used truck, consider how the truck’s features will meet your unique needs. Brand might be important to you but spec the truck to your needs.
When you’re speaking with the salesperson, make sure you keep these ideas in mind and ask the right questions to get the make and model you need to succeed.
Ask the following questions:
If the truck can’t move the freight you need it to, it’s not right for you.
No truck is one size fits all. The number one thing you should consider when you’re building out your truck or buying a truck is whether or not the truck can handle the job you need to do. Your truck needs to have the power to handle the freight you plan to haul.
When you walk into a dealership, it’s your job to make sure the salesperson knows how your truck will be used. Consider the following:
If you’re a heavy haul driver, you need a more powerful truck with more horsepower. If you’re driving through the mountains, you’ll need a different gear ratio in your truck. When you take these factors into account, you’ll be buying a truck matched to your specific needs.
You may want the fanciest truck, but you have to be realistic about your budget.
When you’re meeting with the salesperson, be upfront about your budget from the start. They can provide you with a list of truck options that fit within your budget and you can go from there.
There’s nothing worse than finding your dream truck with every feature you desire only to find out there’s no way it’ll ever fit into your budget.
Comfort and space are huge, especially when you’ll essentially be living in the truck. There are different sizes and shapes of sleeper cabs and you can customize how much storage is in the truck.
If you’re purchasing a used vehicle, look inside the cab, test it for comfort, and see if it suits your storage needs. For instance, some trucks come with a coffin sleeper (a small, cramped, and basic sleeper). This style simply won’t work for some drivers.
You should test drive the truck if possible. If you’re building out a new truck, see if you can test drive a model similar to the one you’re going to be purchasing. The truck should ride smoothly and maneuver easily.
A quiet truck is preferable. Studies show that louder trucks can lead to more driver fatigue.
A warranty is an important consideration and your options will vary depending on if you’re purchasing or leasing, and if you’re looking at older or newer trucks.
Talk to the dealership about warranties and make sure it suits your needs.
Ask the following:
Safety features are important. Whether looking at a newer or older vehicle, ask about its safety features.
All the newer trucks will have accident mitigation equipment and modern safety features, but some of the older ones might not. Accident mitigation technology is an important feature for some drivers, while others may not have a preference.
Related: A guide to buying your first semi-truck
When it comes down to it, Freightliners, Peterbilts, and Volvos are great trucks and can be built to meet your unique needs.
Just be sure when you’re building out or selecting a truck that you carefully consider what you’ll be using the truck for and how that should carry over to the design of the truck. Be honest with the dealership about what you need.
longyong supply professional and honest service.
Want help finding the right truck for your needs? At ATS, we work with Competitive Equipment Sales (CES). You can lease a truck with CES and sign on to haul freight with ATS.
Are you ready to purchase your first semi-truck? Or are you at least considering it? It’s a dream many drivers have.
However, it can be a confusing, frustrating process and you may not know what you need to do to get there. After all, it isn’t just a matter of buying a truck — there’s a lot of experience you need to gain first and details you need to work out.
Becoming an owner-operator is a big step, and buying your first semi-truck is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It’s not just a vehicle — it’s your business, your livelihood, and your home on the road.
Here at Competitive Equipment Sales (CES), every day we help drivers get on the path to ownership by first leasing a truck and then eventually purchasing one. You could say we know a thing or two about this process.
With so much riding on this decision, let’s break it down step by step to help you make the best choice for your future.
Financing a semi-truck is a huge step. Most drivers don’t pay for their first truck in cash — that’s a massive chunk of change to come up with — so financing is the way to go. Preparing for financing involves more than just comparing interest rates. In fact, many drivers start planning to purchase their trucks for years before they ever do. It can be an excessive, lengthy process.
The more you can put down upfront, the less you’ll pay in interest over the life of the loan. If possible, aim for at least 20 percent of the truck’s price.
A great way to come up with a hefty down payment is by using the money you’ve previously put into a maintenance or savings account. For example, if you’ve been leasing, most companies require you to place a minimum per-mile amount into an account. Doing so means you’ll have money to cover inevitable repairs. If you’re leasing a truck from them, they want to know that you’ll take care of the truck.
If you’ve been lucky and had few repairs or you filtered extra money into your maintenance account, utilizing these funds could be a good way to make a down payment on a new truck. This can significantly reduce the amount of money you have to come up with for a down payment.
However, if this is the route you take, make sure you consider what will happen if your new truck requires repairs. You don’t want to use all your money on a down payment because you won’t have money for repairs. We’ve seen plenty of drivers get into a bind this way. They can’t afford the repairs so they have to get a loan to pay them off or they end up defaulting on their truck payment.
Don’t be afraid to consider offers from a few different lenders and dealers.
Compare rates and terms from banks, credit unions, and specialized truck lenders. Ask about prepayment penalties and other hidden fees.
You can buy a semi-truck from a dealership or a private seller. Both options have their pros and cons:
Regardless of where you buy, always get agreements in writing and double-check the truck’s title to ensure there are no liens or ownership disputes.
Consider talking to a dealer years before you ever intend to purchase a truck. They can give you advice on how to get your finances in order.
Getting approved for a loan to finance a new semi-truck can be a long process and multiple factors are considered, from your credit score and debt-to-income ratio to your driving experience and previous experience leasing or owning a truck.
A dealer or lender may or may not look at your bank statements or tax returns, but they’ll definitely look at your credit history. Specifically, they’ll look at your pay net (your commercial credit score) and some sort of comparable debt in your credit history, like home ownership. If you own a home, it shows the commercial lender that you can not only talk the talk and commit to making monthly payments, but you can also walk the walk because you’ve been doing it.
This is where previously owning a semi-truck can help you out. Some lenders won’t even look at you until you’ve financed a truck before. But because you’re a first-time truck buyer, you obviously won’t have that in your credit history. You’ll have to find a different lender and utilize your truck leasing history. Making regular high truck payments will look good on your record. Lenders won’t consider approving your loan request at all if you haven’t leased before.
If you don’t have this sort of credit history, it’s going to be very hard to get approved for a truck loan. To understand why, consider this scenario:
You’ve just left the house for the first time at 18. You’ve landed a good job and decided to purchase a new vehicle. However, no lenders will approve you for a car loan because you have no credit score. The only way any lender will give you a loan is with a very high down payment and an equally high interest rate.
It’s the same thing when you’re trying to buy a semi-truck with no leasing history or comparable debt.
For reference, a standard interest rate on a truck loan is usually somewhere in the 11 to 19 percent range. If lenders want you to pay significantly more than that, it’s probably not in your best interest to take that deal. If you can get an interest rate below 10 percent, it probably means you have a phenomenal credit history and/or you have a large down payment.
Where you also could run into issues getting approved is if you have a lot of credit debt. For example, if you’ve purchased a pickup truck, motorcycle, and a four-wheeler all on credit, lenders aren’t going to be very confident in your ability to make a truck payment.
If your credit needs improvement, consider paying down existing debts before applying for financing.
Before you sign on the dotted line, look at the total cost of the loan, not just the monthly payment. Make sure you can afford the payments even during slow freight periods. If you have questions about the leasing terms, ask. Consider bringing in a legal expert to help you understand the terms if needed.
Owning a semi-truck is about more than just the purchase price. It’s crucial to plan for the ongoing costs that come with ownership. A lot of drivers only care about what’s being taken out of their check for the truck payment; they don’t think about the other things they need to pay for to keep the truck running. You can set yourself up to fail if you don’t consider all the other expenses you’ll be taking care of as a truck owner-operator.
Here are the other costs to keep in mind:
By planning for these costs upfront, you’ll avoid financial surprises and maintain a steady cash flow. If you don’t think you’re making enough money right now to cover these costs, it may not be the right time to buy a truck.
Before you start shopping, take some time to think about your specific needs as a driver and business owner. This is more than just deciding on a truck. Ask yourself:
By knowing your needs, you’ll narrow your options and save time during your search. This step ensures you find a truck that aligns with your work style and goals.
One of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to buy a new or used semi-truck. Both options have their pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your budget, goals, and risk tolerance. Let’s take a deeper look:
New trucks might be shiny and fun, but they come with a high cost. However, you’ll be less likely to require major repairs — at least at the beginning of the loan.
Here are some pros and cons of new trucks:
If you want to purchase a used truck, you’ll have fewer upfront costs. However, trucks that are older than six or seven years old are hard to secure financing for. Lenders think about what the end of the term is going to look like and how many miles will be on the truck.
If you’re purchasing a truck that’s already seven years old, by the end of the loan that truck might need a major overhaul. That means a catastrophic failure could be near — and therefore you might default on the loan and they won’t get paid.
Here are some other pros and cons of a used truck:
If you’re new to ownership, a well-maintained used truck can be a cost-effective way to start. However, ensure you thoroughly inspect any used truck (details below) and research its maintenance history to avoid surprises.
Not all semi-trucks are created equal. Popular brands like Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Volvo each have their strengths, and the right fit depends on your specific needs. Spend time researching the models available in your price range, and don’t hesitate to ask experienced drivers for recommendations.
Consider the following factors:
Visit dealerships, attend truck shows, and explore online forums to gather insights about different makes and models. A little extra research now can make a big difference later.
If you’re considering a used truck, a thorough inspection is critical to ensure you’re getting value for your money. This step can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and downtime. Here are the areas to focus on:
Don’t hesitate to bring a trusted mechanic or experienced driver with you to inspect the truck. A small investment in an inspection can prevent significant headaches later.
Once you’ve purchased your truck, there are a few important steps to take before hitting the road:
Buying your first semi-truck is a big step, but with the right planning and preparation, you can set yourself up on a successful path as an owner-operator. Take your time, ask questions, and lean on the experience of others in the industry. Remember, this isn’t just a purchase — it’s an investment in your future.
If this article felt overwhelming and you still aren’t quite sure where to start, that’s okay. You might not be ready for ownership now, but you will be one day.
For now, you can gain experience making truck payments by trying out a truck lease. CES offers a one-year lease with no money down and no credit check, making it easy for you to get into a truck and start getting the experience and credit history you need.
The company is the world’s best Specialty Semi Trailers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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