Bought my first truck in the spring of 2013. It was a toss up between either an R model or a superliner. I personally like the look of the R more than the superliner and was more within my price range. Anyway I was searching online, in magazines etc. for a couple months and came across an R for sale in Covington, Pa on the truck paper website. Emailed the owner and set a date up to go look at it. I asked a friend from work, Jeff ( some may know him from the show undercover boss) and my dad if they'd go along with me to look at this truck. They both agreed so it was off to Covington (about a two hour drive north from my home). This was in March with about an inch or so of snow on the ground (and on the truck as it sat outside) that were crawling around looking over this truck real closely as I didn't know it's history. The gentleman who was selling it owns and operates a scrap recycling outfit just outside of Liberty, Pa (where by the way it was painted its current color of Sherwood green metallic about a year before I purchased it). He purchased it from a guy that had it painted and left it sit then sold it to the recycler from what I can remember. He only hauled one load of scrap with it and determined it was spec'd too light for hauling heavy steel so, it was time to buy another truck and sell the R. After two pages of notes taken by Jeff and a test drive, the three of us went home and I had some thinking to do. After a month went by I called the owner to see if he still had it (thinking he sold it). He said it's still here! So again, the three of us picked a day to go pick it up. She ran flawlessly the whole way home and didn't skip a beat. I think I made an unregretable purchase and still own the truck today. I retired the truck as it is now an antique, only participating in shows, parades and some other small functions. Got my CDL at 18 and bought my first semi at 22 was a great accomplishment for me and something I'll never forget nor regret.
Here are the specs.....
1989 R688 ST model tandem axle tractor
340k miles
E6 350
9-spd T2090 maxitorque trans
12/38 axles
5.02 rears
reyco spring ride rear suspension
Truck was originally painted royal blue from the Oakville Canada plant. Was spec'd to pull a tank trailer and left the plant as incomplete (assuming it left without a fifth wheel). Purchased buy Susquehanna Motor Co. and sold to Montour Auto Service Company in Montoursville, Pa. Was also built with budd wheels and currently has 22.5 Alcoas. I don't know anything about this trucking company as nothing turned up with my research. If anyone knows of them or has any pics please share them with me. They are still in service to the best of my knowledge.