Should You Hire a Consultant or Inspector Before Buying a Truck?
Trucks aren’t cheap, and buying the wrong one is the most expensive truck of all. But sometimes you can’t get out to see a truck in person; or when it comes to inspecting it, you’re not completely confident with what you should be looking for before a purchase. In this case, a consultant or inspector may be a worthwhile investment, but only if you have the right one.
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How much assistance do you need?
Obviously, the more someone does for you, the more it’s going to cost. You need to determine the level of service you need in respect to what you could be doing otherwise with that time and money. Your level of assistance could be finding your own truck and then sending it to a shop to have it inspected, right up to hiring someone who will do all of the legwork by going through listings to find appropriate vehicles, deal with the owners, and arrange for the inspection, purchase, and delivery.
What should you be looking for with services?
Whether you’re engaging an individual or a company, it goes without saying that they must be entirely familiar with the type of truck you’re looking to buy. It’s very rare that someone will be equally skilled on pickup trucks, medium-duty, semi trucks, and specialized models such as dump trucks; and if your fleet contains several types, you may have to hire more than one consultant.
Your candidate must be able to supply references, and if possible, you should check them against online reviews to see if there are any negative reports. Transparency is key, and your candidate should give you a detailed written estimate of what will be done for you and how much it’s expected to cost. This also should include how you’re going to pay for the truck. You want a method that includes a paper trail at your end, such as a check, bank draft, or credit card.
What should you look for in a truck inspection?
The shop must have licensed technicians. If possible, especially with semi trucks, look for techs who have factory training from the brand you plan to buy. The shop needs to have equipment suitable for the size of truck you want, including hoists. Ask to see the checklist the shop will use when examining your potential purchase, so you have a better idea of the things to look for when inspecting commercial vehicles.
Some operators advertise mobile service, and that’s obviously more convenient than getting the truck to a shop, but they have their limits on older vehicles. Without a hoist, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to provide a detailed, wheels-off, hands-on examination of the undercarriage that’s vital on a truck that’s around the 10-year-old mark or older, or with high mileage.
What should you look for in a truck consultant?
If someone’s taking over most or all of the shopping and buying process for you, they have to be trustworthy. In addition to references from people who’ve bought from them, see if you can contact someone who’s sold to them. Someone working out of a home office can potentially be just as good as a company that maintains a streetside business, but do your homework. In both cases, find out what shop performs that consultant’s inspections, and if appropriate, what car-hauling services pick up and deliver the vehicles the consultant has purchased on behalf of clients. Contact those third-party companies—without the consultant being present—and speak to them personally, in addition to checking their online reviews.
What questions should you be asking a truck consultant?
No matter how much of the process the consultant is doing, from simply finding and inspecting an appropriate truck to buying it and delivering it to your door, you need to know what to expect. One essential document before the truck is purchased is proof that there is no lien against it, as a bank or financial institution can repossess it from you if that lien isn’t paid out.
Other questions you should be asking include:
- How many trucks do you plan to seek out to give me choices?
- What is your responsibility, and what are my options for recourse, if the truck isn’t the quality the shop said it was?
- With your experience buying trucks, is there any brand you would not recommend to me?
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What is your responsibility to the consultant?
Providing a full list of your expectations and your parameters is key to the consultant providing good service. This includes how long you expect it will take to find and inspect a truck; your acceptable truck age and mileage; what features you absolutely need, and where you can compromise; what you’re willing to pay, including how much wiggle room you’ll allow for negotiating if necessary; and anything else that will affect the deal. Then sit back and wait for the truck you want to come to you.
Jil McIntosh
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