If you need to purchase a used freight liner for your business, here are five things you need to make sure that you learn about the freight liner before you go through with the purchase.

#1 Oil Changes

First, you need to learn how often is how often the oil was changed. The oil should have been changed according to the mileage guidelines that the manufacture recommended. A truck that often exceeded the mileage before getting an oil change most likely has an engine that is more worn out and not in as good condition as a similar aged freight liner that had its oil changed on time.

Make sure that the seller can back this up with records of where the oil was changed. If the former owner changed the oil themselves, make sure that they kept a record of the information. 

#2 Oil Analysis

Second, you should ask for the oil from the engine, transmission and the rear ends to be analyzed. This analysis will tell you what shape the oil is in. If the oil is old and full of residual particles, this could be a sign of additional engine problems. Be sure to have all the different types of oil and locations on the semi-truck checked before you purchase it.

#3 Maintenance Records

Third, make sure that you ask for maintenance records. When you look at the maintenance records, pay especially attention to the mileage on the engine and the condition of the engine. If the engine has too many miles on it, you need to factor the cost of rebuilding the engine into purchasing this particular big rig. 

Also, pay attention to the different parts on the rig that have been replaced and repaired, and ask for a list of what needs to be replaced soon in the future. This will give you a better idea of what shape the vehicle is in overall and what type of maintenance and repairs you are going to need to invest in when you purchase the vehicle.

#4 Tires

Fourth, take the time to inspect the tires. Make sure that they have some tread left on them. If the tires are bare and worn down, ask for the tires to be replaced or work to see if you can get the cost of replacement tires taken out of the purchasing price. You should be able to feel safe driving the freight loader away from the lot where you purchased it. 

Finally, research the type of problems that this particular make, model and year of semi-truck usually experiences, and check the maintenance records to see how the performance of this particular rig lines up with other's experiences. Having a clean picture of the shape of rig, the work that has gone into it and the work that will to go into it will help you make a more informed purchasing decision.