Thinking of SNI Choice

Hello fellow Schneider drivers, I am new to this forum and am seeking professional help. As in, professional IC help from choice drivers.

I've been with Schneider for nearly six months, I came over as an experienced driver from a company where I "Sure Wish I Finished Training". Anyway, I'm getting familiar with most of the other parts of the life besides holding the steering wheel and getting very comfortable with that even during winter ( I actually played slip and slide through some crappy iced up roundabouts in Washington state this morning).

Now as I'm coming up to the point where I'm "allowed" to switch from Midwest Regional/OTR to another division of SNI, I've been considering joining the IC Choice program. At least (if they still offer it) the one year "try before you die" cascadia lease to start with.

My reasons for considering this course of action are: I only have $200 of weekly personal expenses (food, phone), trucking is definitely for me, very low risk due to my lifestyle , higher potential to have a lifestyle in the near future , No kids/wife.

I have read through the forums here and there however it seems like the information is all spread out. therefore, my questions are:
What do I need to do before I go to SFI to lease a truck?
What do I need to do before I apply for IC Choice at SNI?
Are we in an ascending or descending market going into 2017?
Should I form an LLC in advance of going through any steps to become a L/O IC?
What are the answers to the questions I don't know to ask?
What are the questions?

Thank you in advance, I should say that I'm going to wait until I finished collecting my sign on bonus here at Schneider before I transfer to IC, however I want to get the ball rolling at my six months. I should also add that this is a precursor thread to a few I will make in the future detailing my adventures, throughout setting myself up to succeed as an IC, my trial year as and IC, and any future endeavors as an IC as well as if i ever grow up to be a real O/O on my own authority or not.

 

I take a week off every few months, shouldn't be much of a problem to save a grand in that time even with poor rates.

@truckdriver337

 

Well I will definitely sign up as soon as I'm ready, however I don't want to begin everything without a solid plan, which is why I asked the questions .

 

That was my thought, and given my current lifestyle, if I have any self discipline at all I should be able to put a large down payment on a truck I really want, plus have a big reserve for going into a three/five year lease... I think anyway.

Does anyone have answers to the questions I asked?

 

It's good that they assist but I'd rather learn enough beforehand rather than wait until I'm under pressure. that way I can concentrate on learning the rates and lanes, not taxes and paperwork stuff.

Also , the big down payment makes weekly expenses less, and the reserve lowers risk over the term of lease as well as previves standing capital for anything might want to better my business with .