As the name suggests, pre-purchase inspections are inspections performed by a qualified and trusted mechanic on equipment or vehicles before making the decision to purchase. Pre-purchase inspections are absolutely essential to ensuring that you are making a sound and educated investment. The quality and dependability of the truck you buy can make or break your business.
If you are new to the industry, it can be a daunting task to understand what should even be looked for in a pre-purchase inspection. Afterall, you don't know what you don't know. Mechanics can charge anywhere from $200 to $400 per inspection, and at those prices, you want to make sure they are doing a thorough job. That is why we put together a comprehensive PPI form that you should have your mechanic fill out when inspecting the truck.
However, before bringing a mechanic into the picture, you should first inspect the basic components of the truck yourself - cosmetic condition, frame rust, interior and exterior lighting, air conditioning, and warning lights on the dashboard. Bring a driver with you to test drive the truck to ensure it picks up well, maintains speed, doesn't drift abnormally, shake, and that it shifts through all the gears smoothly. Additionally, ask the seller or dealer to provide a JPRO report or computer diagnostic report so that you can see various important parameters from the truck's computer such as the number of engine hours, the mileage on the ECM vs mileage on the odometer, and any active or historic fault codes, among others. Though you will have your mechanic use their own diagnostic computer, having access to one with no cost can help reveal red flags.
Once you feel sold on a truck based on your own evaluation, it is time to bring in a qualified diesel mechanic. We discuss the approach to finding a good mechanic for the inspection in our comprehensive guide.
“Performing a prepurchase inspection on your truck with a qualified diesel mechanic is non-negotiable if you want to maximize your chances of succeeding in this industry.”
Our PPI form is organized by category of the truck's system: Interior Electrical Functions, Interior Condition, Exterior Condition, Structural Condition, Tire Condition, Battery and Alternator, Engine, Transmission/Differentials, Suspension/Axles, Braking System, Computer Diagnostic Scan, Aftertreatment System, and Steering.
This PPI form has served us well in all of our equipment purchases, and we hope that you benefit from it as much as we did.
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