Central Refrigeration Service, Inc. - West Valley, Ut.

My Trainer is a Lease operator and has be for two years. I highly respect him. He has been really successful. I have also talked with quite a few others who are successful as well. I personally decided to lease because you have a little more freedom and have the potential to make a good living and also as a stepping stone to owning one in the future. Leasing is not for everyone and i would highly recommend you do your research before attempting one. My trainer taught me what to expect and even now being solo even though i am not personally paying the expenses i operate like i do to see if i would be profitable and to which type of truck i would like to get into weather a new or used. how much fuel, repairs, tolls, truck and trailer washes, routine services, lumpers pallets. road and usage taxes plates insurance and even a good trucking related accountant. I just think it is for me. JJ Ranch.

 

I have to disagree, my trainer has a W9 it is all in how you drive it. Any truck you run at top speed is going to consume fuel but if you drive it smart you can conserve fuel. He averages between 7 to 9 miles per gallon depending on the weight of the loads in his W9 just by running at between 62 to 63 miles per hour, adding Lucas to his fuel filters when he has them changed and constantly keeping up on fuel prices. His key to success is to conserve fuel and control his fixed costs. a lot of the L/O's i have met that are not really successful was a result of Miss managed money, running flat out. not managing fixed costs. not assessing the truck as to the potential problems it might have due to the age, mileage and how the previous owner treated it prior to the new owner obtaining it. you are quite correct in the buyout process but if you manage well you should be able to save enough through your maint acct and other revenue to be able to get into a new one that is not associated with the company. With that said Leasing is not for everyone. It will work for some but not all. JJ Ranch.

 

Sounds good hope all works well for you

 

As I stated upon talking to the one driver from Central he was happy with his choice and you are right it's only for certain people.
A good acct would be of help as well as everything is a right off.
Hope it goes well for and I will watch for any post to come.

 

I would have to see his actual numbers to believe that a W-900 could average over 7 mpg loaded. Not what the computer says, because they say all kinds of wild stuff.
I treat my volvo like it is mine. I never drive flat out. I keep my idle very low. This truck has the Volvo engine in it and is not as economical as my last truck, but I average 7.1 mpg in this one month to month. My last truck, with a cummins averaged 7.3 mpg.
These are all actual fuel used to miles driven. My computer numbers are not even close to what is actual. Computer says this truck is at 6.3 and my last truck the computer said 10.5.
If he was running that W-900 at 55 mph, and running all flat states, never having to stop or slow down, then I may believe a loaded average around 7 mpg. But the wind drag on that brick is just too much, at over 60 it will be loosing too much.
I will not bother to argue with you anymore. You will see what happens. Please keep us posted and after you get 6 months in it, if you last that long, figure up your earnings after costs, and you will probibly see that you are not making much more than I am.

 

If you are leasing a truck amd must rely on students to help make money. I would remain a company driver and make the same money at a better carrier. W9 getting 7-9 mpg I do not think that the numbers are correct I drive a T2000 and I average 6.2. I only drive 65 my truck will only run 66. I try not to run the fuel press the max. We run alot heavy loads so high 5 and low 6 is waht all our company trucks average.

 

ChromeDome, that is a very insightful post, and very well thought out. I had a trainer who I respected greatly, and this is what he said,

"An average Owner Op will make the same money as an average company driver. A highly successful Owner Op will make more money than a highly successful company driver".

Would you agree with this statement?

Sixpack4-two,
I think you are right, the lease is good for certain people. You said it better than I could.

Jess-Juju,
You seem to have found a good and successful trainer, and you seem willing to listen to good advice and work hard. I hope you are very successful.

I like this thread, it makes me feel like we are all in this together.

-- Lastkidpicked, Simon (Central) tractor 1357

 

I will agree that an owner operator, that is careful to get the proper equipment for the job, and that is careful with his fuel usage can do very well. It is hard for many owner operators at Central to get the miles they need to really make any money, unless a team or a trainer.
Trainers do very well. But the ones that seem to make the most money are also the ones that push there trainees too fast too soon.

They are more in need of the miles and money, and usually the training suffers. I am glad his trainer does well, and I hope he gave him some of the tools he will need to be a good owner op.
I just dont think it is worth it to jump into the owner op world too soon. If I was going to screw up in my first 8 months driving, like many do, I would rather it be in a company truck. If it is his, they will terminate the lease, and he will still be responcible for any damages.
I am not saying he is a poor driver, but a large percentage of accidents occur around the 6 to 9 month time area. They get comfortable and mess up.
I am serious about the aero thing though. All Central tractors have the same specs, and it is proven that a more aero truck will typically get .5 mpg more than a non aero truck at speeds over 55 mph.

 

On ChromeDomes thought of 8 months I do agree I would state at least 1 year mak'n it tru the 4 seasons to get the full feel of driving.

I also agree with Lastkids statement on a good O/O can make money putting aside the price of fuel.
People need to remember theres a big difference between L/O and O/O and only one of them is a bussiness.
I know a guy O/O thats hauls trailers for Watkins/Shepard his Pete is at least 7 years old and supports 800 thousand on the motor.
I know for a fact he was able to bye a nice house for his family ya his wife works to but he's been driving for 28 years now.
His 3 main rules on the highway are Drive/Eat/Sleep no TV or such miles equate to money.
You will never be able to tell someone what there going to do is wrongthere ears listen but the rest of them feels more compelled to do it just the nature of the being.
I wish JJ the best if it works more power to him if not life still goes on.

 

You can believe what ever you want to believe, i have driven the truck in question watched him crunch the numbers balacing off of his milage actual and fuel reciepts not just the qual comm and it does get the stated fuel milage, it is all in how you take care and drive your truck. I only drive between 62 to 63 in my still 65 mph company truck with the cummins and are doing better in fuel milage than you or chromedome. I collect all my fuel reciepts and at the lowest running mountains and near gross i average 6.4 running out east was 7.4 to 8.3 so believe what you will. i only believe in facts.