Tips for Selling Long-Haul Trucks: Conventional Day Cabs and Sleeper Cabs
Whether you’re retiring from the road or simply looking to upgrade your own accommodations, having the right resources available to sell your truck can make the process much easier on you as well as any potential buyers. Commercial Truck Trader wants to make sure the experience selling your long-haul truck is a seamless experience with these tips for selling both a truck with a conventional day cab and those with a sleeper cab.
Prepare Your Truck for Listing
Before you list your truck, you’ll want to make sure that all necessary maintenance has been completed. Make any repairs that are necessary to pass inspection so that your truck is in good condition for your buyer. It’s best to spend the extra time and money to ensure that everything is squared away with fluids, filters, hoses, tires, and any other components that might need attention before sale.
Perform a deep clean of both the interior and exterior of your truck, including your sleeper cab, as applicable. Double-check to make sure that you have removed all personal items, stickers, and any other semi-permanent fixtures that you do not intend to include with your sale. Replace any damaged fixtures and make sure everything, including your truck’s cab lighting and temperature controls, are in good working order.
Ensure all your documents are organized, your maintenance records and registration are up-to-date and available, and your title is available and ready for transfer of ownership.
How to Take High-Quality Photos
Certain listing companies have specific pictures they require for vehicles they will list, so make sure that you get a detailed list of required photos to save on time. If you have the resources to have someone with professional photography skills to take the photos for you, that is the best option; however, if you have a decent camera and can get your rig to an open area with plenty of space to walk around, that should be all you need. Below is a list of guidelines for photos:
- Find the right light: Unless you have access to a studio large enough to hold your rig, chances are you’ll be taking your photos outdoors.
If you can, wait for an overcast day that isn’t too dark. Bright sunny days can cause glare and cast harsh shadows, making it difficult to capture all parts of your rig with good detail. - Find the right location: Look for an open field or lot without distracting signs or structures in the background. You’ll sometimes have to stand farther away than you’d expect in order to get the perfect shot.
- Take your time: Hold the camera steady for a second before taking the picture. If your camera has auto-focus, it will need that time to detect the objects in the frame and adjust the focus. Even if your camera doesn’t have auto-focus, holding it steady will help avoid blurry shots from camera movement, especially in darker areas such as inside the cabin, where exposure times will be longer.
- Remove distractions: Let your truck shine by removing any clutter and giving it a proper clean. If you have any items in or on the truck that are not part of the listing, remove them while you take your photos.
- Take lots of pictures: While your listing may only feature a handful of the photos you take, having those detail shots and alternate angles will come in handy if a potential buyer has more in-depth questions – and in such cases, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Essential Photography Shot List for Selling Your Truck
This list covers all the elements of your truck that most buyers will be looking at. Note that while each entry here is described as a shot, you may require two or three (or more) photos to cover certain items.
You’ll be walking around your truck twice – once for wide-angle shots of the whole truck, then another go-around to get detail shots – then going inside to get interiors. You may also want to do a quick video walkthrough for your listing.
- Wide-Angle (make sure to get the whole vehicle in the shot, you can always crop it down after the fact if needed)
- Front
- Left and right sides
- Back
- All four corners
- (Optional) “Hero” shot for the main image of your listing, if desired – an attention-grabbing image that perhaps has a dramatic background, or is taken at an unusual angle (e.g. low to the ground)
- Detail
- Engine
- Undercarriage
- Components, e.g. lights, steps, exhaust, hitch
- Special features that you want to highlight
- Any damage or rust
- Interior
- Seating (may be easier to take from outside the cab)
- Dashboard (may be easier to take from behind the seats)
- Instrument cluster (make sure odometer is visible or take a separate photo of it)
- Footwells
- Sleeper cab, if applicable
- Special features that you want to highlight
- Any damage
Set Your Price
The best way to determine your asking price is to research current market values for similar trucks based on your truck’s make, model, mileage, condition, and any special features that it has. Also consider your engine type, transmission, and any upgrades that you have made to your truck. Set a competitive price that will attract buyers but allow room for negotiation so that you and your buyer can come to a price point that works for you both.
Getting Your Truck in Front of Buyers
Before building your listing, put your information together so you can quickly fill out any forms without having to look things up. Create a detailed outline of all information including mileage, engine details, and unique selling points. Draft a description for your listing that summarizes those unique selling points and tells buyers why they should be interested.
Download the photos you took of your truck to your computer or other device that you’re using to make your listing, and pick out the best ones that you want to include.
List your truck only on reputable selling platforms, but also consider contacting a dealer to see if they might have a preferred selling platform.
Be Transparent With Potential Buyers
Ensure that you disclose any damage or other issues with your truck. Include pictures and details in your listing so that buyers are not caught unaware. Be upfront about your truck’s repair and maintenance history, including any previous owners, accidents, and any other pertinent information so that potential buyers are fully informed.
Day Cab vs. Sleeper Cab: Benefits to Spotlight
Day Cab Benefits
Maneuverability
Day cab semi-trucks tend to offer better maneuverability because they are smaller and easier to drive in cities and on challenging roadways.
Fuel Efficiency
Because they are smaller and more compact, day cab trucks often offer better fuel efficiency, reducing fuel cost for drivers.
Cost
Day cabs typically cost less than sleeper cab trucks because they have lower upfront and ongoing maintenance costs. Because they are smaller and have fewer interior components, they have fewer associated costs.
Sleeper Cab Benefits
Resale Value
Because of their versatility and high demand, sleeper cab trucks are a great investment. Trucking companies often prefer to purchase these trucks, despite their higher running costs, because of the benefits they offer for long-haul operations.
Efficiency
Sleeper cab trucks allow drivers to maximize their driving hours by allowing them to sleep at locations like truck stops and rest stops, eliminating the need to look for lodging. For those drivers who drive as a team, a sleeper cab enables near-continuous operation, allowing one driver to rest while the other drives.
Comfort
Offering amenities like mini-fridges, kitchenettes, entertainment systems, washroom/bathroom, and a compact dining area in addition to sleeping accommodations, a sleeper cab can provide the comforts of home on the road. Sleeper cabs also provide storage compartments for all essentials that drivers need during their trip.
Get Your Truck Sold!
There are three key steps to selling your long-haul truck: preparing, listing, and selling. Set yourself up for success by having your truck looked at, organizing all your documents, filling out your listing fully, and knowing what paperwork you’ll need in order to complete the transaction. Taking care of each step properly means less guesswork and stress at the following step, ultimately resulting in the maximum amount of money in your pocket.
Anna Cecilia Tozzi
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