First time leasing

That isn't a business plan ... it's just kind of a concept, of sort of an idea, of some wishful thinking.

 

I'm not familiar with lease terms regarding a 'walk away' but if that is something that allows you to walk away at any time, that is definitely the way to go. If you have to slug it out 1 year (or whatever term) I would reconsider it unless you want to send all your savings to Schneider Finance. I think we are in for a tough year economically. If you have 2 years under your belt you should have some insight into costs, but it can't hurt to put costs down on paper. I found this OOIDA spreadsheet that opened my eyes to some costs I would not have expected. http://www.ooida.com/EducationTools/Tools/costpermile.asp

 

Yep, there is another statistic in the making. If he can't even understand what a business plan is, how is he suppose to understand running a successful and profitable business.

@Cw5110 you need to research what a business plan is, write one, see if your idea that you have now can be successful and what will it take. You pipe dream you posted earlier isn't a business plan. It's a hope and a wish. Go read books on running a business, accounting, being a startup, drug trafficking, how to understand a profit and loss statement, and get a copy of a the lease to read and fully understand before you apply. There are plenty of books and audiobooks on small businesses, startups, accounting, and how to run a business, go get one!

 

Trucking payment is going to make you go belly up. Because of low miles and your only going to average 2000 miles a week . Because of electronic log book . Only owner operators that are making it out here are the one's that go to a used truck dealer and get a truck payment of around $700 dollars a month by asking the dealer if you can get a payment around that. Look for a used Fleet truck , like a international pro start condo sleeper , some of those international trucks have a exhaust filter system where you don't have to buy DEF (exhaust fluid) everytime you fuel

 

Does one really need a business plan when leasing from a carrier? Considering you're pretty much a company driver with expenses and at the carrier's mercy when it comes to loads and such.

If I did the lease thing (not that I ever would) my "business plan" would be to very rarely turn down loads so they'll keep feeding me good stuff and watch where I fuel. That's pretty much all you can do under this set-up. It isn't brain surgery.

 

Well the op is talking about leasing at Schneider which you use a load board to select your loads, no dispatch at all.

 

Still, just pick the best paying loads into the best freight areas, no?

 

I pick the loads that work for me and my business plan. Sometimes that does require taking a load that pays crap to cover fuel back into a great market, which honestly I would rather get paid for the driver back then busy dh. But yes, you usually pick the best load that fits your plan in the market.