to all swifties leasing

I just became a L/P operator and only did so after a lot of research and many questions. For now things are going good but only have had the truck going on 2 weeks now. Things will only get better for me with what I have planned. My advice is to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research before signing the papers. If you have questions, feel free to ask. There are still a lot of things I need to learn about, but I do have a lot of friends that are L/P's. I will check back on this section as often as I can and try to answer what I can.

The main thing that I have learned is to be very careful on fueling. But to make sure you buy enough so that you do not run out. Also, do not base your pay off the miles you run (or are dispatched on) base your pay off the paid miles with the fuel surcharge, that is where you make the money. So run like the win and keep the empty miles to the minimum. Make sure that you understand that you are always in the hole at the beginning of the week (wensday is the beginning). For the most part, you will have to run 1,700 to 1,800 miles per week just to break even. And that is just to make the payments on the truck and fuel. My break even point is more around 2,300 miles, but i have medical insurance added in and I have taken into account the amount of taxes I will have to pay per week.

If you are single and have no bills, it will be easier on you. But I have a family to support so I have to work harder to make what I need.

Be safe out there and enjoy being your own business, I am and enjoying every day of it.




I would post a pic of my truck, but unable to upload it from my phone.

 

Everytime I consider doing it something happens to me and I'm quickly reminded how little I still know about just trucking in general much less trying to make a business out of it. That clearly means I am not ready. Besides another part of me considers saving for a down and not being tied to any one company. Good luck to those who do, it certainly is interesting to read how it goes for you.

 

YEP,wait until you know more about getting miles,dealing with winter,nothing wrong with waiting.............I was 18 months in before i did it.Learn the job,know the job,keep the job! Then worry about miles,make sure you know enough about Swifts system so that you consistently do 2500-2800 as a company driver,then you should be able to slip into l/p and still make some money,also always have some money in the bank(can't emphasize that enough) because stuff happens and you can go in the hole easily. Yes, really!

 

Heard the lease is walk away? Not that failure would be an option by any means just that if for some reason it didn't work out your credit would not be annihilated.

 

IIRC 90 days you can walk away. If you do your home work and keep track of everything you do as a company driver etc see if it makes sense. There has got to be a way to find out how much the shop charges to do repairs.

Don't forget to figure in loss of revenue while that truck is being worked on.

 

sounds nice but too much stress maybe one day...

 

Buy one. That way you can walk and take your toys elsewhere. Or keep your company bennies.

 

Actually Ladytrucker99,I am a lot less stressed out and having a whole lot for fun as a lease op than as a company driver,simply because I have the power to say one very tiny,powerful word...............no!. But i also don''t have the financial and family pressure that others have.