Trucking: buying a truck, fuel mileage, cat engines

Question
Hi Bob,
      when purchasing a used truck, do you think cat or Detroit engine is better? i mean good fuel mileage and less problems. what is the difference between regular o/p and having your own authority.

Answer
Hi Mike.

I've owned and driven both.  I love CAT engines.  Their big, powerful and top of the line.  That also comes with a big price tag and dig deep in your pockets when it comes time for a rebuild.  That being said, I've run a lot of Detroit Series 60 engines and those things will run forever.  I never had a problem with them.  Generally, fleets love them because of their durability and economy.  CAT engines are like the "Harley Davidson" of engines and have a big cult following.

A regular O/O owns his own truck and leases out to company.  He may not even own a trailer, just the truck.  When you have your own authority, you can haul freight intrastate or interstate.  Without out the Authority, you have to lease out to a company that has it's own Authority.  Many O/O like owning their own trucks, but don't want the headaches of running a company (finding loads, getting paid, etc.), so they don't want authority and will lease out.

Hope I helped!

Bob Stephens