Driver intrested in Stevens

I dont know if these companies lease, train or what but some that were on my list were Maverick, KLLM, Averitt and SRT was a possible. Check these out and see if they are what you are looking for.

I will say that a buddy from Stevens went to KLLM and loves it.

 

There is no such thing as a company with a "great lease program"

You will get screwed on a lease no matter who the company is

 

That is absolutely not true and only shows your ignorance in business.
First, let me say I am NOT encouraging people to lease, whether thru Stevens or any other manner. But let me expound on how leasing can work and be beneficial to people.
Leasing is fundamentally designed as a preservation of capital method of expanding a company's business model and exponetially the profits there in.
If I make widgets and derive 10 cents profit from each widget by using a piece of equipment that costs $1,000 (and paid for), that's great. However, if I have to take the profits of 10,000 widgets to buy another machine to increase production, this may mean months or years of work before I can expand.
If I lease a machine, that thru the payments produce widgets 40% sooner, but because of lease costs, reduce profits to 6 cents, I'm still further ahead.
Yes, buying the machine would probably be better, but by preserving capital, I have cash for labor, raw material and other necessities, all of which would require much more time if I was to work on a cash basis.

Trucking is no different.
If a driver wants to start a trucking business and has to save $40,000 or more dollars to buy a used truck it may take some time...in some cases, a lot of time.
If he leases the same truck, he can start in business sooner (albeit, a single operator), learn the business as he goes and risks less capital.
A truck is a tool. Just like a wrench, a jackhammer or a bulldozer.
It's purpose is single fold: To make the operator money.
If I can 'rent' a tool for a specific period of time and make money with it...more money than I can make operating an employer's tool for wage, then I'm better off.
In it's basic concept, a lease operator will make more money for doing exactly the same job: Picking up and delivering freight.
I have leased and owned trucks for many years. I've leased and owned capital equipment costing many millions...yes millions of dollars. I've made money in most cases.
I speak from experience.
As for truck leasing, I leased from Stevens and made an average of just over 0.50 per mile over the term of the lease. Had I driven as a plain driver for them or for nearly any other company during the same period, my pay would have been considerably less.
Now that's not to say a lease driver makes money automatically. It takes hard work...harder than a company driver. It takes dedication and it takes business savy, all of which one gains as they operate and gain experience.
It is encumbant upon the individual to study the terms of the lease and the company to determine if that particular lease will work well for them. Ask around, get opinions from operators and make an informed and intelligent decision.
Now speaking on Stevens' behalf, there are lots of drivers that began their career with Stevens as company drivers, joined the Alliance lease program and leased a truck, then purchased that truck at the lease completion. They drive for Stevens today as O/O. Yes, they have the title. And there are some that have left Stevens (with their trucks) and moved on.
Leasing (if used properly) can be beneficial and profitable to an individual.
One more thing to keep in mind, and I'm speaking of Stevens lease now, since I can't speak from personal experience with others. I don't know where a new(er) driver can go into business, gain the opportunity to learn how to profitably operate a business and the chance to be successful with such low risk as with the Stevens lease.
What makes it so good? The single point that says you can walk away from it at any time for any reason if you so desire, with virtually no penalty. (There is a $500 completion bond that you will give up if you terminate early in many cases)
So a person that decides they want to be (eventually) an O/O has the opportunity to go into business, be guided as they learn and develop that business and if they find out it's just not for them...for any reason...they can terminate it.
And if they desire, they can stay with Stevens as a company driver without penalty. In most cases, if the drive decides to stay with Stevens as a company driver, they will waive the bond cancellation fee.

 

One game leasing companies play is to lease you a truck, and run you hard for a year or so, and then start starving you out of the truck.

I know a few with Crete that get great miles, another one to look at is Holland out of Fargo, they predominantly run LONG haul coast to coast average load length is 1700+ miles I know a few drivers that run for them and and consistently get LONG loads.

http://www.hollandent.com/

 

Can you make more money leasing? YES

Can you lose money leasing? YES

Anytime you are leasing a vehicle and your credit report is not being run and the vehicle is being financed through the company with your name nowhere on the ACTUAL lease then your basically financing a new truck for said company. Its only a good idea IF there is an escape clause.

 

The way the lease is set up at Stevens is the more money you make, the more Stevens makes. If you are not making money, then they aren't making as much.
There are certain asset utilization factors for lease drivers at Stevens. If the number falls below that number, the DM has to stand before ownership and explain why. It's not a comfortable thing to go upstairs and explain why truck xxxx didn't have the required minimum miles.
This happens every week, so it's followed closely.
The fact that so many lease drivers at Stevens re lease at term speaks for its self.
Again, let me stress....leasing isn't for every one. As a matter of fact I'd say the value of leasing is probably good for about 20-25% of drivers I see come thru Stevens.
But if you're wanting to give it a try and if you're willing to work HARD, it can be very rewarding and certainly a good step towards ownership.
The Stevens lease isn't a 'lease to own' contract. The last of those went out about the time I leased my last truck because it ended up being in the driver's favor. (The purchase clause). However, you have the option to purchase your truck or another one in the fleet at fair market value if you choose. And quite a few drivers do choose these days.
Those are not leases. Those are purchase contracts just like the bank. Your name is on the title with Stevens the lien holder.

 

People just say random, nonsensical things and sit back feeling proud as if they just made a profound and intellectually aware comment derived from aged thought. Either way, entertainment at its most free and ejaculated form. Good day.

 

I'll wade into this one.
Came to Stevens as an experienced driver. Leased right away. Completed my two year lease and purchased the truck. I have two more payments and the title loses the lienholder (Paragon Leasing, aka Stevens ).
So it's been good for me.