What is the best choice?

I am purposely leaving company names out of this mix because I do not want responses based on the companies involved. Both seem to have equally good and bad reputations on here. In all my research both come out fairly equal, hence my difficulty in deciding and why I am asking what you would do in my situation?

Both companies offer the same out to home time ratio and with both companies I will probably stay out 4 weeks at a time (personal preference).

On paper the pay from both companies will be about the same both on the company and owner op side.

Both have apu's on the truck and run pretty much the same equipment.

One is a refrigerated carrier the other dry van.

The refrigerated carrier will primarily keep me in the west but could get me into the middle of the country from time to time while the dry van company will send me anywhere.

The refrigerated company is a lease plan for owner ops while the dry van offers a purchase plan.

The refrigerated wants about 30 days with a trainer (I have previous experience) while the dry van says two weeks max.

The refrigerated company has no local terminal/drop yard while the dry van company has a drop yard within 75 miles of my house and a terminal within 6 hours to the west.

The refrigerated company has limited inbound freight to my region and closest outbound freight is about 300 miles away. Dry van company has a couple of good inbound and a couple of good outbound customers in the area.

The refrigerated company has less than 4,000 trucks while the dry van company has more than 4,000 trucks.

The safety ratings of both companies are pretty much the same.

Listed average miles per week and length of haul are similar between the two.

Again, with all these items mentioned, which would you choose? If you want to include reasons why you would choose the one you would, that is fine.

 

I may, when I choose (which will be early this next week). Any of the companies I choose, if I say who it is, someone will rag about the stupid choice. When your choices are limited, as mine are, you kind of have to choose the lesser of two evils; kind of like the 2008 elections. That is why I am seeking this help in this manner; I don't want the name to be a hangup. Besides, the thing is, it is probably going to be a short visit as I have already picked a company I will go with once I get the necessary experience they require. So, I know going into this decision that it may be something where I need to suck it up for about a year and then can move to "the promised land." For that very reason I may not reveal publicly who I choose since management sometimes reads these boards and I wouldn't want them to know I was only planning to "visit" them and not make a career with them.

 

Actually, in my current situation, these are not as important for me. My wife's employer is paying our health insurance premiums and we already have good life policies. Because this is probably going to be a short haul tour, I will be building my own retirement fund (which I already have started years ago) while here.

I have, on the other hand, obtained the information on their insurances and retirement and both are pretty much the same. Health is by the same carrier with similar benefits. I looked at that because if they overwhelming impress me while there, I could change my mind and stay. And one of our goals is to get where my wife is no longer working for this company and we would have to pick up what he is doing.

 

One is a lease one is a purchase. Either one I can buy my own (which I have been approved for already; just need to get the down). I would only consider their plan if I could not get the down because in both situations you can refi away from their plan at any time. Refi's are easier to come by right now then initial finances because most of the lenders are looking for proven track history as a "1099 individual" before they will lend money. They are a little gun shy due to all the repos lately. One company wants you to have 2 years in a lease before they will finance and then they want between 15 and 20 percent down based on the credit score. Plus this may be a short visit and so I would not consider their plan unless I decided I was going to stay on with them for several years.

Alot of people on here knock the lease plans but nowadays it is the only way most will be able to get financing to purchase a truck. They will have to be in a lease plan for a year or two before they will be able to qualify for a loan to purchase their own truck. That is too bad because most lease plans come with high payments and nothing at the end. Maybe that is why the IRS allows a complete write off of the lease payment where in a purchase you can only take interest and depreciation.