Give me your thoughts on this truck

[Waterloo]

I have a new job opportunity, and want your thoughts on this piece of equipment.



2009 International PayStar 5900 SBA 6x4 Day Cab Tractor; Cummins ISX 15 Liter Diesel w 525 hp; 395,000 miles on the ODO; Fuller 13 Speed Transmission; Conventional Cab w Eagle Interior; Full Gauge Pkg; Air Ride Suspension; Air Brakes; Power Steering; Engine Brake; 58,000 lb GVW; 18,000 lb Front Axle; 46,000 lb Rear Axle; 210 inch Wheelbase; 4.10 Rear End Ratio; Steel Wheels; /315 Tires; AirSlide 5th Wheel; Double Lockers; 200 Gallon (100 + 100) Diesel Fuel Capacity $69,000

This new opportunity is in construction. We have several huge construction projects kicking off in the coming few months. Projects that are scheduled to last up to twenty years in some cases. I have a line on a quad axle dump, which I will need to purchase. The pay is running $100 an hour as a lease op, and I have friends already at these companies working, so I have an in. And yes, I have operated a dump trailer. Typical load weight in the dump is 100,000 lbs. Normally crushed concrete.

I found the above tractor yesterday. It looks pretty good, good rubber and brakes, has a new clutch, bell housing gasket, EGR Cooler and the air compressor head has been replaced. It will need new torque rod bushings x 2 on the rear end and pin bushings in the suspension x 4 along with fixing a leak in the exhaust. It had a wet kit installed, but it was removed, that will need to be installed. The motor sounds solid, but will still test the head gasket. ;-) And of course the mandate needs to go. The cab interior looks barely used, everything works, and is still air tight when you close the door. The frame has been blasted and repainted along with the cab. The truck has been sitting for nearly a year and the owner of the dealer has told the salesman to get rid of it.

The asking price is a bit to much in my book, this is a bare bones truck, nothing fancy in the least. But, I cannot find anything comparable in the PayStar line to compare prices. I'm thinking of hitting them at $48,000 and go from there. What are your thoughts on this truck and the price? I will be paying cash if I can get it low enough or will walk away. I'm not in love with this thing. And give me your thoughts on the hourly wage too. This is all local work, average length of haul is under ten miles. Construction is a new racket for me, on paper it looks like it will work. I will not be the only driver, and still have my ProStar with the fresh motor.

The goal here is to purchase more equipment and get drivers in the trucks.