One of the numerous options you’ve got, as regards transporting freight, is the box truck. The freight and truck industry consists of a variety — wide variety — of class-8 truck types and trailers used for the purpose of hauling the nation’s cargo. In this article, we’ll give a response to the possible question of our visitors, How Many Miles Can A Box Truck Last?

Ready? Let’s get to it.

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How Many Miles Can A Box Truck Last?

A truck can last 15 million miles with proper maintenance.

7 Interesting Facts About A Box Truck

1. Box Truck Regulatory Authority

So, let’s ask, who exactly has the authority to oversee the activities of a box truck, is the Federal Government or the State Government? As a response to that question, the answer is “both.” Here’s how it works: the Federal Government exercises authority in terms of setting the standards, while the individual states exercise theirs in the area of enforcing those standards. But, you might be wondering “how and why do they find it necessary to do this?”

The Federal Government has been in charge of overseeing the entire highways since the Federal Aid Highway Act was enacted in 1956. The aim for enacting that was to ensure that the infrastructure of the nation is preserved — while keeping commercial and private vehicles mobile. It’s completely up to the various states, the individual states, to regulate this compliance — in order to ensure that commercial buses and trucks are not operating outside the law.

There’s a department called the “Department of Transportation (DOT);” this department is responsible for continuously updating these regulations. The department also makes sure that these regulations are available on their website for the “viewing pleasure” of the public. It’s highly recommended that all drivers and transport companies out there familiarize themselves with these guidelines.

2. Additional Regulations Regarding Commercial Vehicles (Including Box Trucks)

In 2015, the then president, President Obama, signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). This stays in existence for the next 5 fiscal years and oversees the numerous regulations — which cover the oversight of and use of the highway system of America. This doesn’t exclude the vehicle’s size classifications, just like the box truck — as an example.

It’s on the basis of probability that this will directly affect your operation, but it’ll definitely make an evident impact on the entire industry. The compliance of the state with 23 CFR 650 Subpart C stands as one of the major areas — of the National Bridge Inspection Standards. As it concerns your box, or even other fleet vehicles, the significance of this is simply the possible changes that could come into play to bridge load ratings. The changes around these weight limits might require the presence of bridges in order to have their ratings changed — having an effect on their load-carrying limits, their maximum load-carrying limits.

3. Box Truck Design

How do you recognize a box truck? It’s using its “box,” right? In other words, the design of a box truck can be described as “box-shaped.” People also refer to the box truck using other names — names such as box van, cube truck, cube van and there are people who even refer to them as rolling toaster. But there’s one major thing you mustn’t forget, and that’s the fact that they’re a straight truck (bed and cab are positioned on the same frame.)

Aside from the shape of the box, usually, you’ll see this kind of truck having the cargo space separate from the cabin — although there are some that have an access point between the both of them. Most come with the roll-up doors, we mean the standard roll-up doors, though some might come with hinged doors. Many of these kinds of trucks have the standard pull-out ramp, while as for others, they may come with a hydraulic lift.

4. Truck Box Sizes

You can get the box truck in several sizes and can have one axle that supports the load — it could be two axles though. Have you been to a U-Hal rental shop? The common box truck, as we’ve described, is one you can find at those shops. In terms of sizes, they come in a range of 10 feet down to 26 feet in length.

Another thing you have to consider, as regards a box truck, is its height. The height of the smaller box trucks is about 6 feet tall, while those larger ones can have a height that exceeds 8 feet. This is something you must ensure you don’t forget whenever you decide to visit the local fast food drive thru.

5. Box Truck Weight Limits

Just like it is in all vehicles, this particular kind of truck is designed to accommodate [haul] a specific amount of weight. The moment you exceed this set weight limit, you will need to either get a larger box truck or ensure you divide the load. If that load of yours is very big, you may require the service of a full semi.

In respect to Section 127 of title 23 of the United States Code, there are a couple of weight requirements for those vehicles that operate on the American highway system — those weight requirements include 20,000 pounds for a single axle, 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle, and 80,000 pounds gross weight (According to the Federal Bridge Formula, that’s maximum).

How do you know a typical truck box (class 3 to class 7)? Well, it comes with a weight limit between 12,500 lb. to 33,000 pounds (GVWR — Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). So, ensure you’re in the know of the weight limit: this will help you to be in compliance with them. We are sure that you wouldn’t want to be overweight and spend money paying off-scale penalties.

This will definitely cost money and time. Sometimes, you can rearrange the loads in such a way that they’re distributed evenly, but usually, it’ll be required of you to transfer either part or all of the load. As a result, this will cause an increment in the salary of those drivers.

That’s not all, there will also be an increment in the time lost while doing this and the associated tickets and fines. And, always remember that fines can impose an unfavorable effect on your safety rating.

6. Box Truck Uses

As we’ve already stated in one of the afore-paragraphs, including a box truck as a part of your fleet can be of a useful advantage. Don’t forget that it as well solely depends on your company operation type. Using this type of truck — box truck — for long hauls isn’t really common, though it would be dependent on the needs of the customer and the load.

This truck is tremendously great for those local routes. They ensure that the cargo is kept safe from the environment’s damaging effects — and while at that, they keep the loads more manageable and smaller. Things — such as perishables, packages, household goods, print (magazines/newspapers), etc — are just like a small sampling of what a box truck has the ability and potential to deliver.

7. Box Truck Good Points

Just like we said in the previous paragraph, this type of truck is often — most often — used for local runs. The reason this is possible is, they’re — compared to the large semi — more maneuverable. Typically, this very truck will noticeably get a gas mileage better than that of a larger truck. Their fuel consumption and size make them a perfect choice for operating in tight areas and in heavy traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is Good Mileage For A Used Box Truck?

As a rule of thumb, the lower the mileage, the better. For gas engines, go in search of trucks with under 100,000 miles. For diesel, under 200,000 would be just as good.

Is It Bad To Buy A Truck With 200,000 Miles?

A truck that comes with 200,000 to 300,000 miles is pretty bad, based on the fact that a good chunk of its lifespan has already been used. However, if the cheap truck you saw is one with a huge mileage, then even getting a few months or years of use out of it could be worth it for you.

Is A Box Truck A Good Investment?

A box truck business is one of the profitable types of businesses yet also the most competitive. While many box truckers are lucky enough to experience success at the start, the chances of it continuing only diminish as time passes. This is prominent with truckers who don’t know how to properly handle their businesses.

Does Box Truck Have To Stop At Weigh Stations?

The answer to this question is a big YES.

Is It Worth Buying A Truck With Over 200,000 Miles?

If you think it’ll go another 200,000 and 10 years, maybe, but likely not, Keep in mind that with 200,000 things are going to need service, work that into costs, If it is a rusty POS that barely runs don’t bother. Luis, yes many times a very high mileage car can be a good idea.