We’ve always been told to avoid higher mileage cars, but is the same true for trucks? The simple answer is no, just because a used truck is showing a lot of kilometres on the tacho does not mean that it should be avoided in the used market.

What is important for a truck is the level of maintenance the truck has enjoyed over its lifetime and the type of work that it has been engaged in.

What is a High Mileage Truck?

The duty cycle of a truck is massively different to that of a car which will sit around at home or at work for most of the day. Put simply, if a truck is not moving it’s not earning its keep. For this reason, trucks are engineered to withstand this type of use and, as a result, we see plenty of trucks advertised in the used truck market with more than a million kilometres on the tachograph.

How can this be? If you are looking at buying a used tractor unit, expect it to have been covering at least 100,000 kilometres per year – so a five year old example should be around 500,000 to 600,000kms. A ten-year-old example will have covered over a million kilometres.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, (ACEA), the average age of a truck in the UK is eleven years, (for Greece, this is 22.7 years!). This means that there are plenty of higher mileage trucks floating around the used truck market in the UK.

Check Maintenance Records, Duty Cycle and Condition

Rather than simply focusing on the number of kilometres showing on the tacho, a prospective truck buyer should be focused on maintenance, the type of work the truck has done and the overall condition of the truck.

All companies are expected to carry out regular inspections of their trucks and keep those records for years. If you are buying a used truck, it is reasonable to expect at least some of these records accompany the sale. In addition, there should be records of any repairs carried out including mileages and dates. If the previous owner could not keep records of such things, a buyer may wonder what other corners have been cut.

Also consider the type of work a truck has been involved in. A refuse truck with 200,000 kms recorded will have had a much harder life than a tractor unit that has spent all its time on the motorway. For box trucks and curtainsiders, consider that local, multi-drop work takes its toll on a truck. For tippers, local tipping runs on/off road on building sites will show signs of premature wear.

There are exceptions to this – think trucks with generators onboard, film support trucks and similar. Most ex-council vehicles will be well maintained and low mileage – especially those involved in seasonal activities.

Finally, have a sensible look around the truck – high mileage or otherwise. Are the tyres all approaching the end of their lives? Have body panels been damaged and not replaced or repaired properly? Look at the windscreen and cab interior – is everything worn or dirty? If so, how well will the motor have been maintained? Usually if a truck looks tired, it’s because it is tired.

A well maintained and cared for truck should be considered regardless of the kilometres showing on the tachograph.