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RDK Truck Sales · The Blog
Straight Talk on Trucks, From the People Who Sell Them
Meet the Author
Every Post Written by Richard Kemner, Founder of RDK Truck Sales
Richard Kemner started RDK Truck Sales in Tampa back in 1997 with a simple idea: sell good trucks to good people, and stand behind every one.
Nearly three decades later he's still in the day-to-day — spec'ing chassis, talking with manufacturers and fleet operators across Florida, and paying close attention to how trucks actually hold up on real refuse and roll-off routes. This is where he shares that perspective: plain-language takes on emissions rules, pricing, residual value, and fleet planning, written to help you make the call that's right for your operation — not to push whatever a press release says you should want. No hype, no jargon, just the kind of straight talk you'd get standing in the yard on Adamo Drive.
Every OEM says 2027 diesel engines are ready. History says otherwise. See the sourced calendar of promises, delays, and what it means for you.
Leaving a load in a refuse truck overnight quietly costs you thousands in corrosion, hydraulic, and pest damage. Here are 10 reasons to dump at end of day.
RDK Truck Sales reports from Work Truck Week 2026 on the 2027 emissions changes and new 48V-heated DOC/DPF/SCR systems for refuse and roll-off trucks.
Spring hydraulic system maintenance checklist for refuse trucks — fluid, hoses, cylinders & filters. 40+ years of expertise from RDK Truck Sales.
After 40 years in refuse, RDK's Richard Kemner shares real cold-weather hydraulic maintenance tips to keep your fleet running all winter.
Richard Kemner breaks down the EPA 2027 rule: 82% lower NOx, warranties jumping to 450,000 miles, and whether refuse fleets should buy now or wait.
RDK Truck Sales summer checklist for refuse fleets: cooling and hydraulic system prep, body-specific tips, and OSHA heat-safety guidance for drivers.
DEF freezes at 12°F and hydraulic fluid thickens fast. See how extreme cold hits refuse trucks and get a pre-trip checklist to avoid breakdowns.
One misfuelling mistake can destroy a $15,000 system. See the DEF filling, storage, and DPF maintenance procedures that protect from costly repairs.
EPA 2027 emission standards could add $20,000–$30,000 to every new refuse truck. Here's what fleet managers should know before their next purchase.