Anyone lease and truck and work with a load board from a company?

Discussion in 'Lease Purchase Trucking Forum' started by KayleyC, Sep 5, 2013.

  1. KayleyC

    KayleyC Bobtail Member

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    Sep 5, 2013
    san Juan Capistrano, CA
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    Hi, I am a newlywife of a trucker. He has been trucking for about a year and his miles were not quite what he thought they were going to be as a company driver. He is thinking about leasing a truck from another company that has a load board so that way he can push as many miles as he can and track the expenses and revenue by choosing the loads rather than a dispatcher giving him short miles and many breaks in between. The other reason is because he wants me in the truck with him to help do all the paperwork and find the loads for him.I have fibromyalgia and am finding it difficult to find a job thats sitting and that is entry level as I am only good at physical labor jobs not really data entry. Its a huge change for me to not beable to work like I used to so he wants to give this a shot a starting out slow to eventually owning our own fleet or starting a small one at least.
    I have been doing a lot of research and find that I am getting confused on what is the right way to go. I see that alot of companies make it seem so easy to get a lease when in fact they end up screwing you in the end with hardly any take home or miles to pay for the lease itself. Now I do know about load boards themselves, we would have to get our own authority and my husband said he didnt want to do that and wouldnt expect to have his own authority with a lease.. So essentially what he is looking for is basically Landstar with a lease program. Has anyone heard of a company like this with a load board and a 65%-75% rev, or a good cpm? We also live in California. He has so many standards which is also making it difficult to find the right one. He wants to run southern routes for fuel efficiency and because of whether in the winter etc. Because we live in CA we also have a new emmissions law, so the truck has to be 2008 emissions or higher. So many factors right?

    Anyways here are my questions:

    Are there any companies that lease and also have a load board? (Preferably, refers or vans. No flat beds)

    Has any one had experience with a lease and a load board with the same company and has it proved successful for you???

    Would any one suggest doing a third party lease and having your own authority? Doing online load boards instead of company load board and dispatching?

    Lastly, Would it be easier to stick with the company he is a company driver for? I hear that dispatchers favor their veteran drivers better and give them loads and now that they have a lease it makes them want to help you out more than the newbie. I guess this depends more on the company right? he would be getting .92cpm. I forget what the lease program is, but then I wouldnt be working with him.

    I know alot of things are factored on our own expenses of the lease and bills etc to determine which would be the right way to go. But what I am looking for are opinions.

    Thanks newlywifeofatrucker
    KayleyC
     
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  3. LongHaulHighway

    LongHaulHighway Light Load Member

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    Apr 29, 2013
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    Companies that offer lease or lease-purchase and have load boards.


    ATS - They have vans, flatbeds and specialized oversize haulers. ATS has a great lease program. Drivers speak of making $1,000 and well beyond that (if they get into oversize hauling). I met a female driver that said her fiance was doing $1,200 - $1,400 net in vans. She claims that one time he had a check for $3,000. She was joining ATS to team with him.

    JB Hunt - I know two guys making serious money at JB Hunt, picking their own loads in vans. They have mostly older equipment. I didn't believe what they were making so I had both of these guys take pictures of their revenue statements and send them to me. It is possible to do $1,200 - $2000 a week or more picking the right loads. My buddy Kevin sent me a pic reading $1,400 net on only 2,300 miles. Don't expect to get to California driving for JB Hunt.

    CRST Malone - Malone is the flatbed division of CRST. Contact CRST to find out if their van side has load boards available for independent contractors. You're looking at mostly older equipment at Malone but there's money to be made. My buddy Johnny does $500 - $800 in 3 - 4 days and then spends 3 - 4 days at home every week. He admits he can make a heck of a lot more but he really loves his hometime. If you run two weeks at a time it's possible to net $1,200 - $2,000+ a week. Again, this is flatbed. . .and they will train drivers with no flatbed experience.

    Schneider - There are numerous drivers on here that will praise Schneider's "Choice Program" where you can pick your own loads. My buddy Lois nets $1,600 a week driving 2,500 miles or less. Keep in mind that with any load board system you have to learn where the freight is. Lois has excellent backing skills and doesn't shy away from New York, New Jersey or other places many drivers refuse to go.


    Landstar and Farm2Fleet are good companies but you'll need to bring in your own truck. You'll need $3000 - $6,000 down to lease a truck through Lone Mountain Truck.

    It is always easier to stay company than take the risk and strike out on your own. Only the latter has the potential of a much, much greater reward. It also has the potential of catastrophic failure.

    I can put you in contact with drivers from any of the above mentioned companies.
     
  4. KayleyC

    KayleyC Bobtail Member

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    Sep 5, 2013
    san Juan Capistrano, CA
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    Thanks so much for the info. Ya I would love to hear their input as well. And you are right The greater the risk the greater the reward, but it is a risk nonetheless. Thank you so much. I've been looking into Roadrunner transportation services. They have a few terminals in CA for him to come home at least. I'm still reading up on how the company works and still shopping.
    But I really appreciate you taking the time to give me this information.
     
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  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Study Farm2Fleet website and call them.

    Greatwide has a truck purchase program(not lease) and you haul their freight. You choose the truck you purchase from anywhere you want or buy one of their trucks. They provide $2000.00 to help with the down payment. You choose to do your own bookkeeping or they provide bookkeeping service for a fee. The successful drivers I know, bought used trucks from trade-in lots of dealerships, such as Volvo, Freightliner, International. The dealerships keep the good trade-ins and wholesale out the potential problem trade-ins.
     
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  6. bigcountry1967

    bigcountry1967 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 11, 2013
    California
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    I wouldn't listen to people with only 1 yr. experience. It's kinda like the blind leading the blind. Nothing personal, but if you want to be an independent, then be an independent. Your drive is all you need, and a few good contacts for loading. With your own authority you can get on as an carrier with any of the names mentioned above. Anyone can spout out names of companies that may lease to you. But don't allow to be misled without doing an intense research for yourself. I was a company driver for 20 yrs before I got my own authority and it is far better "if you have business discipline" to succeed and get to your real goal. OOIDA can easily give you the legal and secure advice your looking for. I would get a membership with them and test the waters. They will guide you and equip you to succeed. Big Country
     
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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Yes, definitely join OOIDA; good advice. Check the website
     
  8. KayleyC

    KayleyC Bobtail Member

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    Sep 5, 2013
    san Juan Capistrano, CA
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    Yes ill definately check out ooida. Thank you so much for your input big country. I definately dont want to jump in head first into the shallow end. I am doing as much research as i can before comitting. My husband and i want to start our own small fleet eventually. Given it might be a long term goal but a goal nonetheless. His passion and his dream is for trucking and im willing to do whatever it takes to help him acheive that dream of owning his own truck. There arent that many guys out there who have dreamed out being a truck driver or wanting to own a truck as a life long goal. Most guys out there right now are trucking to make endsmeat (company). But thank you so much and ill definately keep my nose to the grind before committing. And im very business minded this is why he is having me do the research for him. Crunching numbers etc. He wants me to be in the truck with him doing the paperwork so all he has to do is drive his truck. :)
     
  9. bigcountry1967

    bigcountry1967 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 11, 2013
    California
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    That's encouraging to have your kind of support behind him. That's a very positive impact on him I'm sure. He'll most likely need every bit of help he can get, but the most important is the kind your showing with that go getter attitude. That's what it takes to succeed in this business. I believe you will go far with caution and unbridled determination. Being your own entity is easier when the ethic is evident. Anyone who puts their hand to the plow, then looks back, is usually unsure of where they're going and more concerned about what they should've done. Know where you will go, don't doubt! Ever!
    Big Country
     
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  10. KayleyC

    KayleyC Bobtail Member

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    Sep 5, 2013
    san Juan Capistrano, CA
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    Apparently I cannot send private messages to people until I have 7 posts. But thank you all for your advice and I'll PM you when I get a chance.
     
  11. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    And so does everyone else ... and the rates reflect it. Learn to go where the freight and the money are.


    Dispatchers favor the drivers who know how to run ... if he doesn't know how to do it as a company driver, he won't get any special breaks as an O/O.
     
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