Lease Purchase nightmare

I finally did it I went crazy and let some serbian with Hero Transport

HERO TRANSPORT LLC
DBA Name:
Physical Address: 7313 EDGEMONT AVE
GREENDALE, WI 53129
Phone: (224) 795-5550
Mailing Address: 751 N EDGEWOOD AVE
WOOD DALE, IL 60191
USDOT Number: 3355313 State Carrier ID Number:
MC/MX/FF Number(s): MC-1073001
DUNS Number: 11-668-7163
Power Units: 23 Drivers: 22
MCS-150 Form Date: 10/12/2021


talk me into leasing a truck from him. After 3 weeks of seeing settlement statements eaten up with him overcharging for everything, I told him I quit. He said no, your next check will be 5000. Your stupid to quit. So I gave him another week to show me this $5000 dollar check. The settlement came and there was 8k gross and I netted 2k. I could haggle all I want over different things hes overcharging on to no avail. It simply boiled down to the fact that I saw no way to keep up the truck maintenance and repairs with what I was having left over. So I quit again.

The only way you can make enough money to be paid and maintain the truck with this company is to drive illegally which they are more than happy to let you do, and will provide you a ghost co driver to take your last shift so that you can have 14 more hours to work. I guess my days of doing that kind of thing are past. I am willing to fudge a few hours or such maybe at tops. But for my old ash to be driving 20 hours straight is not safe. I hate to say it but I just cant do it anymore.

Then I wait for my direct deposit that I have the settlement for. Of course I'm not rich and I am waiting on this check. It never comes. I call him on my way home from Texas and hes withholding my check all right. And hes not going to give me my last one either. So I deliver the load and drive home for Christmas. He says he will give me my money if I work for him two more weeks. He wants me to drive his truck to Chicago otherwise and leave me stranded with all my stuff, (and I do carry quite a bit. I am OTR). in chicago. He says, while hes laughing when i quit the 2nd time, and I did confirm this with an fmcsa person that it is not his obligation legally to get me home. Ok this is not right, but it's the way it is. Now Ive told him to come get his truck, and he refuses. Its been setting in the truck stop for three days now. I moved its spot today so they don't tow it for being abandoned.

He texted me the other day and said just sell the truck. He said many times over the 2 times I quit and the one time I refused his offer that he was going to report it stolen. I talked to a state trooper about it and he said as long as I told him where the truck is and he is to come get it and I was leasing the truck or a genuine employee, then the guy is just blowing smoke up my ash telling me hes going to report it stolen.

This is the first time in 15 years I have ever told someone to come get their truck, but it seems to me that he wants to basically hold me hostage in chicago with no options but to continue working for him. I wouldn't even have the money to get to a bus station or get a bus ticket home now that he has withheld every bit of my money. I of course have no money for an attorney. I had just went back to work after depleting my savings trying to ride out covid and not be out there. I depleted my savings and had to go back to work. I do have some medical concerns and pre existings. I am 52 and not such a young buck, especially to be stranded in chicago where i cant just call a friend or relative to drive 400 miles to come get me.

So I'm just wondering what someone who may know a solution for me here or have any input please feel free. Am I under obligation to take this truck to him and let him keep my money?

 

Of course I don't have a copy of that. I don't remember seeing anything about this type of situation tho. Yes I know stupid me.

 

Like I said , I went crazy, It was a stupid thing to do but I guess I was blinded by the promise of 5k a week. It would have been enough if his deal was true. And when I found out that wasn't going to happen It quickly ended the fantasy.

 

Pretty sure I cant just run under his DOT number,. My first time ever being non company so I'm no expert. I just wish he would come get his truck so I don't feel responsible any more. I kinda wonder if he is going to just leave it and try to sue me later because he never retrieved it. You know like a years worth of not being able to make money with it or something crazy. Towbills. etc. Impound fees... All because he refused to go to ohio from illinois to come pick it up. This is a new one for me. All the companies I ever worked for would come get a truck. Ive flown to a few. So the fact that he's like I don't care what you do with the truck attitude and not coming to get it makes me a bit leary.