Running with JCT, Part Deux

I picked up the truck with those tire pressures. I think I will try your pressures and see what happens. Esmeralda has the XZA3 on the steers and XDN2 on the drives.

I say go for it also. You can request to go anywhere you like and take your time off anywhere you like. From what I have seen, alot of drivers don't plan on paying off the truck and look at it more as a rental. They key factor here is run it as a business. Because that what it is. People don't make it here for a variety of reasons, but the common cause is they don't control their expenses and run it as a business.

As for me, I plan to pay-off this truck and turn around a sell it, pocket the money has a bonus to me, and turn around and do it all over again.

 

Right there is why a program like the one JCT offers puts it above most others, and definitely above any company driver position. When it's time to take a few days off, I want to dictate how long I can put my feet up. A bonus is dictating where I put my feet up. The industry standard of giving drivers 1 day off for every week you're out is IMO what leads to so much burnout and drivers leaving for other careers or job swapping. I like to run hard when I'm on the road, and take needed time off when I want to...and not worry that I'm not getting enough off time to relax and recharge...and definitely not worry that I'll come back to weeks of negative settlements due to unreasonable lease costs. JCT fits my needs perfectly, which lies between making a decent wage, coupled with the ability to dictate how and where I spend my free time.

 

What are the downsides?

 

You mean besides the obivious things like truck payment and you buy the fuel. Gonna have to give this some thought.

 

Yes. The obvious things are common everywhere. I'm interested in the JCT downsides, not general leasing downsides. Anyone can PM me if you prefer answering in private.

 

Honestly, the only JCT downside that I can think of is the truck selection process out of orientation. As has been documented by others in this thread, there is a very good chance that you'll drive away from Sapulpa on your first load with a truck you're not 100% satisfied with. Now in JCT's defense, it's obviously impractical to put every new JCT driver in a brand new truck. So when you're there for orientation, it's truly a crap-shoot on the selection of trucks on hand there and what you may have to choose from. And again, in JCT's defense, they do allow you to upgrade after 90 days to (hopefully) a better truck should you not be happy with what you got initially out of orientation. But just know that if you're considering JCT, there is no guarantee whatsoever on the truck you may initially get.

Having said that...honestly..JCT is a great company. They have intelligent, caring people running the place...and give you the tools and the opportunity to make a good living and be your own boss with little risk of failure.....provided you treat your business as just that, a business. Running smart and controlling costs and anyone can make it work.

 

I agree with Treputt about truck selection.

 

Yes, truck selection can make or break you. Period. You get a truck that has bad tires out of the gate, you eat the cost. You get a truck on the verge of needing mandatory services, you eat the cost. Your maintenance account will get eaten alive if you pick the wrong truck.

That being said...I love the way I run between sit times, I hate the sit time, I love the per mile lease that allows you to go home and still have a paycheck (even after a double dip based on fixed expenses). Bottom line, if a lease purchase is what you want, I don't know if it get's any better...honest about the "I don't know"...my first lease and I have no comparison. But, based on the lack of complaints, I'd say go for it.

I know I've gotten the worst truck you can possibly have on a lease, but I've still made money. I did take a cut in pay from my company driver job that I had previously, but it is what it is.

 

So you're saying the company doesn't bring the trucks up to some minimum standard - like having new or at least good rubber or service - before re-leasing them to the next guy?

 

Compared to the new tire I just got, nope. You'll get the tires DOT legal, not new.