What is a good mileage for a used truck?

At Hesselink Trucks, we know how important mileage is when buying a used tractor or truck. In this article you will read what a healthy mileage is, what to look for and why it can vary by make and type.

In this article

• What does mileage mean?
• What is good mileage?
• Checkpoints for high mileage
• Preferred questions (PAA)

What does mileage mean?

Odometer reading indicates how many miles the tractor or truck has driven. It says something about wear and tear, maintenance intervals and residual value. A low mileage is attractive, but it is also about how the truck has been maintained and in what conditions it has been driven. There's more to it than just the miles on the odometer.

What's a good mileage?

General you can keep in mind:

• Up to 500,000 km: young used, often under 3–4 years old.
• 500,000–1,000,000 km: mid-range, well-maintained specimens.
• More than 1,000,000 km: real mile-eaters, usually built for long-distance transport.

Drivers of Scania and Volvo often choose 600,000 to 800,000 km because these engines remain reliable precisely at higher mileage and have a lot of service history. With DAF and Mercedes-Benz, you see well-maintained examples running as much as 1.2 million trouble-free.

It is important that the truck has been properly inspected and that the maintenance history is known. At Hesselink Trucks we check the trucks in our own workshop and give honest advice about the condition of the vehicle. Are you looking for a young used tractor or a cheaper mileage seller? Then check out our current range of tractors and trucks. 

Checkpoints at high mileage

With every tractor and truck, regardless of mileage, always have these points checked:

• Motor oil and turbo: check for traces of metal particles.
• Shaft and clutch: smooth shifting is essential.
• Body and chassis: check for cracks or rust spots.
• Maintenance history: minor servicing every 50,000 km or sooner.

Frequently asked questions

Test driving and certainty

At Hesselink Trucks we always give you the opportunity to test drive. This way you can see for yourself whether the engine and transmission still run smoothly. View our current offer and simply request more information or a test drive if you are interested.