When you're ready to invest in your first semi-truck, knowing what to look for can be difficult. If you're just getting started, it's typically more affordable to invest in a used truck. You'll need less money up front and your payments are likely to be lower. If you're not sure what to look for in that truck, here are a few tips.

Body Shape

The body of the truck will have a significant effect on its aerodynamics and handling. Since that can affect your fuel consumption, it's important to evaluate the body shape carefully. For example, look for a body with smooth lines along the top edge of the cab and along the side mirrors. The sleek body style this creates will help air travel more smoothly over the cab, reducing resistance and subsequent fuel consumption.

While you're evaluating the body lines, look for a truck that has chassis-side fairings. Fairings and extenders will also help to make the truck more aerodynamic, because they provide a smooth surface for the air to flow past. If you can't find a truck equipped with them, you can find inexpensive after market fairings that are quick and easy to install.

Mechanical Features

In addition to the body style, you should also consider the mechanical features of the truck carefully. Evaluate the mile-per-gallon rating of each truck you're looking at so that you don't inadvertently invest in a truck that will consume more fuel than you're prepared for. When the emissions regulations changed for commercial trucks, it increased the attention paid to greenhouse gases. Those changes have led to more fuel efficiency in the newer truck models, even if they're used.

The transmission is an equally important consideration. An automatic transmission is likely to give you better fuel economy, because the shifting will be programmed at optimal times for maintaining engine power and moderating fuel consumption. Additionally, you won't have to be concerned about missing a shift or damaging the engine with delayed shifts. Automatic transmissions can even be programmed after the fact for optimal shifting according to the engine RPMs.

You'll also want to think about the size of the engine in the truck. The horsepower, engine displacement and torque are important considerations, but you need to be realistic about what you actually need. Look for a truck that has enough engine power to handle the loads you'll typically haul, but don't go overboard and invest in a truck that can haul twice as much as you need, because that will cost you more up front and more in fuel than you really need to spend. Think about the average weight of your loads to determine how much you'll be pulling. Then, select an engine rated appropriately for the weight range that you'll need.

Driving Habits

Don't discount the importance of your driving habits in your truck selection. For example, if most of your driving is done on the interstate, you won't need to worry so much about a transmission designed for frequent shifts. If, on the other hand, you'll be driving on a lot of rural streets, you'll want a transmission that offers more versatility in your gear choices.

The information here provides you with a great place to start when you're evaluating used semi-trucks for your new rig. The more attention you pay to details like this, the better prepared you'll be when you hit the road. These tips will help ensure that you get a truck that will work well for you and your business needs. Talk with a local used truck retailer near you to see what your available options are, or check out sites like http://www.arrowtruck.com/ to get started.