Choosing basic truck specs

Before you start talking to truck dealers, it’s important to understand exactly what your needs are. Keep these considerations in mind throughout the purchasing process, and you’ll be sure to get the best truck for your work.

How far are you going

The first big distinction to keep in mind is whether your trips will be mostly local (where the truck is returned to your location each night) or long distance (requiring multiple nights out on the road).

Local work requires a very different set of truck characteristics than those required for long-distance highway driving. Negotiating city traffic and accessing crammed loading docks demands a truck that’s maneuverable and has great visibility. You can skip sleeper cabs and other long-distance amenities to cut down on weight and costs.

Long-distance trucks, on the other hand, need to maximize comfort and fuel efficiency at highway speeds. A sleeper cab is a must, and you’ll want to make sure it has the extras that make overnight stays comfortable. In addition, aerodynamic contours and fairings provide a nice boost to fuel economy at high speeds.

What specs do you need?

The guiding principle to keep in mind when choosing specifications for your truck is that you want the vehicle that will ultimately make you the most money. There are several components to this:

• Initial purchase price
• Resale value
• Maintenance requirements
• Fuel costs
• Cargo capabilities

Balancing all these requirements can be a challenge, but simply keeping them all in mind can help you avoid moving too far in any one direction.

The basic truck specs you’ll need to determine include:

• Axle ratings – Typical axle ratings are 12,000 lb for the front axles and 40,000 lb for the rear, but can be as high as 20,000 lb front and 80,000 lb rear.
Don’t upgrade unless you know you're going to be hauling extra-heavy loads.
• Power – Heavy-duty truck engines usually spec out between 320 and 550 horsepower. Don’t get too focused on horsepower – often, peak torque is a more important indicator of the power a given engine will deliver. When matched with the right gear ratio, modern truck engines run most efficiently at lower RPMs, thanks to improved torque. Work with your dealer to select the right match of horsepower, torque, and gear ratio for the loads you plan to haul and the type of driving you’ll be doing.
• Transmission – An automatic transmission may seem unnecessary to some trucking veterans, but they’re gaining in popularity. For on-highway applications, automatics save on fuel and can prolong the life of your drivetrain, as they ensure your truck runs in the right gear at all times.

Some additional specs to consider:

• Wheelbase – A shorter wheelbase offers more maneuverability, while a longer wheelbase providers a more comfortable ride. 230" to 245" wheelbases are more common in local applications, while long-haul trucks are more commonly 260" to 280".
• Rear axle – A double rear axle greatly increases your carrying capacity and the resale value of your truck, but a single rear axle improves maneuverability. Most over-the-road trucks use a double drive axle.
• Tire setup – Some manufacturers are moving from dual tires on each side of the rear axle to "super singles." Super singles help increase fuel economy, but you lose the safety that tandem tires provide in case of a blowout.
• Type of tires – Low-resistance tires can help improve your mileage, but they’re not as durable as tires designed for long life. High fuel costs currently make low-resistance tires the most economical long-term choice for highway usage.


Well-polished aluminum truck wheels offer a professional appearance and help maintain your truck's resale value.

• Wheels – Experienced truck buyers recommend spending a little extra to get polished aluminum wheels on your tractor, mainly to help maintain resale value.
• Wheel cut – In the city, a truck with a 50° wheel cut (instead of the more common 40°) can improve maneuverability quite a bit. Be aware that oversized tires can limit the wheel cut.
• Engine brakes – Jacobs (Jake) brakes and other engine brakes are common on most heavy truck engines. While their use is restricted in many communities, they can really increase brake lifespan if you regularly run long downhill stretches.