When it comes to buying and selling Freightliner salvage, the prospect can be exciting but also exhausting. For those looking to start their own trucking business or expand their fleet, having a good truck is vital as it offers the perfect opportunity for the future. This Heavy Salvage guide aims to make it easier, with tips and information on what to look for when you’re on the hunt for a salvaged Freightliner or if you’re looking to find the right place to sell.
What is a Freightliner Semi-Truck?
If you are new to the salvage world, you may be unfamiliar with Freightliner semi-trucks. Freightliner is a truck manufacturer that produces a range of heavy-duty trucks. Freightliner manufactures several models and styles of commercial trucks from on-highway, medium-duty, and heavy-duty.
Buying and Selling Trailer Salvage
What buyers need to know
Owning a truck can be a large investment, thus your decision has to look to the future. Buying a salvage Freightliner requires research, attention to detail, time, and planning. While there are several factors to consider before buying, it’s good to look for a salvage Freightliner truck that can give solid service for at least a few years. The lifespan of an average truck is 10-12 years or 600,000 miles on average for long-haul service.
However, before you buy, take time to consider what you may need your salvage Freightliner to do and the different features you may need or you consider a ‘must-have’. It is also good to have a full understanding of the condition the vehicle is in - all those little details are important. Consider whether the engine and parts are working. If there’s damage, you need to decide if it's replaceable or not. This is why it’s important to buy a salvage Freightliner truck from a trusted source.
In addition, here are a few more questions to ask yourself before you start:
The first truck can be very special for many. Thus, it can be useful to weigh all options to find the perfect truck.
What sellers need to know
When it comes to selling your Freightliner salvage, no doubt you’d like to get top dollar. While salvage Freightliner sales don’t have to be complicated, it’s always worth considering the different selling options at your disposal. That’s where finding the right online auction site is essential, whether you’re selling one heavy-duty truck or an entire commercial fleet. Before you pick an auction site, there are a few questions you’ll want to consider.
Make sure you know upfront what your Freightliner truck is worth. To know your salvage truck’s worth do a bit of research on Freightliner pricing and industry trends for comparable equipment. Knowing this upfront will help you gauge your expectations and offers. A few other things to ask yourself:
Types of Online Salvage Sites
When it comes to buying and selling Freightliner salvage, you want to ensure that you pick the right site that fits your needs. There are many ways one can buy and sell salvage semi-trucks, each with its pros and cons.
Private Sales Forums and Websites
In a private sale, sellers can sell their Freightliner salvage directly to the buyer, also called direct to buyer. In this scenario, the seller solicits bids on their own directly from potential buyers, usually on web forums devoted to commercial salvage.
The seller is responsible for managing and keeping track of all offered bids and ensuring any contractual obligations are upheld. In this sense, sellers assume complete responsibility for the salvage trailer until the transaction is completed.
In private sales, the seller has to verify potential buyers to ensure they have the financial capability to bid. Direct-to-buyer private sales can be difficult because sellers must be willing to manage bids that may ultimately fall through the cracks.
In a direct-to-seller transaction, the buyer reaches out to potential sellers. This can be on sales websites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craiglist through private messages. While similar to direct-to-buyer, in this scenario, the buyer is initiating the necessary communications with potential sellers. One of the benefits of selling on sites like Craigslist is that it is free to list your truck.
Private sales like this are labor intensive, it becomes the buyer’s responsibility to reach out and find potential sellers for the type of salvage they are looking for. While the buyer may already have potential sellers in mind, the process to find sellers can be time-consuming if the buyer doesn’t have any leads.
When it comes to private sales, there is limited protection for the buyer as there’s no third party involved to contractually protect both parties.
Online Salvage Auction Sites
One of the more common methods of buying salvage is through online salvage auction sites. Most insurance companies, individuals, and salvage resellers use these sites to advertise and sell their Freightliner salvage.
Online auctions have enormous reach, and thus, they’re a favorite choice for the buyer. Plus, buyers get access to the entire salvage auction listing online, offering a glimpse into the range of makes and models currently available. Buyers can filter results by age, pre-existing condition, location, and price.
To save time and energy, find an auction site that makes it possible for buyers to filter results so that buyers only see what they are looking for, otherwise, buyers are in for endless scrolling hours to find the vehicle they need. Additionally, many auctions handle the transaction, so you don’t have to chase down your money.
As part of Heavy’s online auction format, we use a blind-bidding method. Buyers who submit bids remain anonymous to the seller. This method ensures that each bid is protected and we can ensure a fair sale. Plus, we require bank proof from each buyer that they have a large enough line of credit to make their purchase. This protects buyers and sellers both.
Buy or Sell with Heavy Salvage
Buying and selling Freightliner salvage can seem intimidating at first, but with the right resources and support from a company you trust, the process is much easier. Heavy Salvage offers the industry’s most trusted system of selling transportation salvage. Through our nationwide pool of verified buyers and 24-hour customer support, we go to great lengths to ensure buying or selling salvage is easy.