Anyone ever completed a ROEHL Lease purchase and got truck title?

That's a good question, I've been curious about that one

 

I know a O/O that completed his lease. He left Roehl and is working for a flat bed company down south with the truck he bought off of Roehl and is doing much better at his new company.

 

That's good to hear. I just don't see the benifet in doing it , I've tossed it back and fourth if I knew I would make better money than I think I'd give it a shot.

 

You would make a little extra money but not enough to justify it. What's good this week wont be next week when you are broke down, or freight is slow, or you just got 5 mpg and your paycheck can only cover the lease payment while your tummy grumbles...

 

My wife and I are looking for outside financing to buyout the note on the balloon. I talked to a finance company today and unfortunately they only would finance my repairs if I really did need them to tear into the engine. However, the consultant I talked to gave me some very helpful information. Legally I now own the truck and they should have already transferred the title and simply put themselves as lien holder. She told me that in Illinois the truck is considered rolling stock and there won't be any transfer fee when I do get the title. As things stand right now I would no longer recommend Roehl's lease program. They used to be very helpful to their lessees, but they have made some changes and you had better have money socked away in the bank. Just remember I went in for a simple P.M. and ended up with an $1800.00 repair bill. Then I was talking to a mechanic at Freightliner in Springfield. He told me they have a technique that shaves several hours off the labor, but better yet they have a tap kit to fix the problem. It also looks like I am about to replace the third air conditioner compressor that I have gotten from Roehl. Guess I will spend the extra money and from now on just go back to getting my work done at the dealer in Springfield.

 

Preach,

Find a good independent mechanic and you will save alot of money.

 

From all the information I have gathered, from this thread, and the lease operators I have spoke with at the terminals, I have come to the determination that I will stay a company driver for Roehl. Should I decide to purchase my own truck, I would do it outside of any trucking company and finance through a Bank. There are several opportunities for an Owner Operator out there without burying yourself in a lease of an older truck! Maintenance and repair cost are exceedingly high in today's economy, so its my opinion that a new truck warranty will help you through the first couple of years and allow you to save enough to cover those unexpected major repairs. Sure, a new truck payment can run you as much as $2,000 a month plus all your other expenses. But consider having the truck paid off in 4 years and you are still ahead of the game. Again, this is my opinion and the way I would choose should I choose to become an owner operator.

 

The key to making serious money and your first goal should be a truck with no payments. In my case when the truck is paid off I will have an automatic income increase of $478 a week. That is why I question these guys that are constantly trading in trucks and signing new lease/purchase agreements. When I got into this deal my first consideration was how much life would be left in the truck before the major repairs would start? I would agree that outside financing is best since you can take your truck wherever you want, that option wasn't available until I was at a point of no return on my lease deal.

Keep in mind, the reason you see so many ugly Landstar tractors isn't necessarily because they are broke. They have learned that not having a truck payment is a huge cost savings. If my wife has her way we will pay this truck off at least a month early and when that happens instead of starting the week almost $600 in the hole I will only be down $100.

Etch I know what you are saying about an independent mechanic and if I find one that is who I will use, but in the meantime I'll probably just go back to having as much work done at Truck Centers in Springfield and Troy as I can. Their prices have always been fair and they stand behind their work. The nice thing is that just like this last repair I was at home instead of sitting in a motel room.

Let me say one more thing. If you can be happy as a company driver then you probably should remain a company driver. I am the type of person who absolutely has to be the one in charge charting my own course. If I fail, then I fail, but I know I can learn from my mistakes and try again. I was almost suicidal as a company driver and felt like nothing more than a slave. Now I feel like I have at least some control over my life.

 

I agree completely, however if you start off with a newer truck then you aren't taking the gamble in getting a "lemon" and then spending mucho cash on repairs. My plan Is to buy outside from a dealer I don't want any part of leasing a truck, I take that back SNI program I've heard very good things after I get my year I may decide to do that if I can't afford to go to a dealer. What are some banks or finance company's that will work with someone with not so great credit? I think that will be my biggest hurdle but I am very determined to own a truck so I will make a way whatever if I have to do. I've been doing tons of research on it so when a year comes which is only 6 more months than I will have a good idea on what to do.