• Used trucks can offer great value with less investment and lower financing costs than acquiring new vehicles, but doing so requires vigilance on the buyer's part to assure equipment does not present safety liabilities down the road.
• It is important to buy from trusted seller. Then, there are five points to keep in mind:
  • 
    Don't buy from someone without inspection if you're not comfortable with that seller – and carefully consider doing a full inspection anyway.
  • The transmission, interior and fifth wheel (for tractor-trailer rigs) are places to check for value-added opportunities.
  • Make sure trucks will meet emission standards for where you plan to operate and look for aerodynamic design features that reduce fuel consumption.
  • Think about mileage rather than the year the truck was manufactured.
  • For financing, find out more about the lender than just interest rates, such as whether they will work with you if your business in cyclical.

From the article:

In today’s operating environment, not all contractors want new trucks in their fleet. Often buying used trucks allows a smaller contractor the opportunity to go after business that may not provide standard operating margins. ...