Heavy Dude is right a new truck can make you money if your rates are good and YOU run smart. I have had both new/used and both have advantages. My last 2 trucks have been used ones and I plan on buying new next time....I think. With a new truck you have a little higher payment but usually Tires and fuel are your only major expenses and also money set aside for the repairs that will come. My current truck a 2005 is paid for and I plan on maybe 1 1/2 years with it.

Back to the current topic at hand. The trucks (2) that I bought through a lease purchase from my current company were used fleet trucks. I paid a little more for them than I could have obtain on the open market but I had a lease with No interest charge and good rates for a dry van company. Made good money, home when I wanted, and Was a great company to work for. You were expected to pay off the truck and own the truck good or bad. Those that didn't were usually first time O/O's who didn't have a clue to what they were doing.

okay guys I am looking at getting into a lp with a small company, The deal sounds ok over the phone, payments 500-600 weekly and that is for 05/06 volvo 780 4xxxxx mileage and a 01 thermo king trailer, the term is 36 month. Again I have not been to the company or seen papers just talked with them over the phone. My questions are this I have terrible credit and have some saving but no where near the 4500 I am seeing some dealers want for a dwn pymnt, Am i wrong for trying to lp with so little in savings and is 2k mnth seems decent for tractor and trailer corect? They are saying june of 2010 trucks averaged 1.68 mile? i get 78% and pay fuel maintence etc out of that I am trying to do the numbers because I am wanting to be an o/o and think I could run a very well ran business Any help or thoughts would be great.

Again Over the phone they are telling me the buyout at the end is 1.00 Truck and 1.00 Trailer....... No baloon and they say that if at some point I decide its not worth it i can walk away and like many other companies they will just sell the units at the same price again. I am going to meet them this week and get some papers go over the fine print with my lawyer, But I figure heck you guys have all done this and know what to look for where my lawyer may not.

Read the article on Fleece Purchase in the new issue of Landline.