escaping

Don't lease.

 

Check around and read about freight volumes and freight rates. I'm not thinking a lease deal would be a wise business decision at this time, especially given the fact that you only want to do it for 6-12 months.

 

Leasing will more than likely keep you driving longer. It's like quicksand. Going to college is good only if your going to do something with it. Imo
A good education puts you in front of many others but if you don't use it, your just stuck with student loans.

Nothing to be ashamed of in trucking. Trucking jobs are plentiful and the pay is up there as high as many jobs requiring a degree. I make double what the school teachers make that used to tell me I'd be stuck driving a truck or something if I don't read. The hard back "cat in the hat" book is the only book I've read from front to back that I recall. I'm still smart with a very high IQ. I can spell nearly every word with asking questions. Just not educated. My neighbors have degrees. Make the same as I do only they work more hours.

 

We have lease drivers. The company tells us they are much cheaper than us. Something like .27 cents a mile cheaper. That was all I needed to hear other than I was an owner operator for 8 years and know all about it

 

Why can't u just cut expenses now, and run hard as a company driver. If you switch, you're just adding 3-5 more years in trucking

 

Because most L/P contracts are written to benefit the carrier at the expense of the wannabe O/O. You're basically assuming 100% of the operating expenses (and the associated risk) for a vehicle you will likely never own, and those operating expenses are paid BEFORE your wages as a driver. It isn't unheard of for a L/P driver to be "under water" in that their paychecks are negative due to any number of reasons ranging from time off (no income, but payments continue) to breakdowns (no income, but parts & labor to be paid) or just really slow freight (little work, but payments continue). When that happens, you've got to dig yourself out of that hole and get back in the black before the carrier will pay you ANYTHING...and there isn't much you can do about it other than keep working for nothing. As a "contractor", they aren't obligated to pay your wages if there is nothing left on the check after paying them what you owe them under the contract.

As a company driver, you get paid what you are owed for the work you did. The operating expenses on the truck are the company's responsibility, and if the truck breaks and you're stuck at a shop for 3 weeks, at the very least it won't cost you anything...but most companies will pay something (even if it isn't much) for that down time. When you get back to work, you're earning a paycheck again the second you start rolling.

For a short-term deal like you're looking for, you'd be better off finding a decent paying company gig.

 

Lease and come back here after 6months or so,to tell us how wonderful it is.

 

I agree with what some of the others have stated, if you're looking to get out, leasing/purchasing a truck seems to be going in the wrong direction