I was actually looking into what Bison offers recently. My dad and I crunched the numbers and you make WAY less leasing vs working directly for them.
It's not that easy hiring a driver to drive your truck that won't mess it up. Any driver worth his salt can make over .40 a mile and get full Bennies (vacation, matching 401k, medical, etc). That leaves you either rookies, job hoppers that no one else will touch who usually complain about everything.
Worth it? With the right combination of good loads or a dedicated route and you doing your part its possible...its not easy though (or everyone would do it,quit their secure company jobs today.I have seen a handful of drivers try it over the years and come back to company driver 6 months later.Example when fuel was $5 a gallon this guy had a dedicated $720 a day rte, 550 miles to Lincoln/ Omaha Ne. 4 days a week. Peterbilt payment $2100 month,fuel $450 a day (90 gallons). Insurance $720 month.Later... admitted he was netting about $70 a day. Had a fuel surcharge but,not much. Turned in his new Hum vee... said for $70 it wasnt worth it for 52 hrs work a week.Said,he may as well be working at KFC.
Left out about the companies getting successful.They make a lot on these loads and selling you a truck they get to Keep most of it.They just recycle that lease to the next driver,when you quit.
May as well work at KFC. Keep him away from the register too. How in the heck did he expect to make money running 2200 miles for $2800 gross? Regardless of fuel prices, that was a bad deal. He would have went bust on the first flat tire.
Most o/o's tell me it's not worth it unless you're a good mechanic and have reliable loads that pay good. Hiring drivers to drive your trucks? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
