Best Truck I ever had was a 1986 Ford LT 9000 with no air conditioning, no sleeper, no power steering, no radio and a 350 cat hauling a-trains in the British columbia mountains.

Why?

Because that was 15 years ago and I was making almost $60,000 a year back then.

Sure, my rides are nicer, but the road is the same and the food had gotten no better.

As a company driver, I’ve been in some real pieces of junk, especially the first couple years of my career. I think a lot of the answer to your question depends on what kind or schedule you’ll be keeping. Back when I was driving beaters that weren’t mine, I would only be out three or maybe four days at a time and for many of those trips it was as a team and the truck never stopped moving. The tiny sleepers in those company trucks didn’t matter that much in those situations. These days, my wife and I (and our cat) team together and stay out for perhaps as much as month (and occasionally more). In our current operation, having a bigger sleeper and a bigger bed is VERY important. When our truck was stolen a couple of years ago, we went back to a place I had started my career out with for a few weeks until our new truck was ready and I couldn’t believe just how cramped it really was in those crappy little company spec’d Freightliners.

One more thought: I always thought, even back when I was living it, that a newbie really shouldn’t expect too much. I always figured that I was the new kid on the block with little or no experience and I hadn’t earned the nicer equipment. I was there learn and do the best job I could that was about it. As a trainee, equipment really shouldn’t matter to you. Learn the job and the industry and then perhaps you should raise your expectations.