My experience in Prime's lease program so far.

Ok, wanted to give full disclosure, I came out of the breakdown ok. I ended up with a bit over $2k in breakdown pay I then ran 2 loads and was out of the hole and cleared $1,2k last week ($6k week). Granted I lost income from not being able to run for a week and a half but all in all even with the tow and hotel costs I at least made a bit of money.

Unfortunately it seems to be a unlucky month, as I just turned my truck in today due to a medical issue. Over the last week Ive been in the ER twice and been in the hospital 3 days. I had my left elbow swell up really really bad to the point I could barely move my arm and was in a ton of pain. It was elbow bursitis, but for whatever reason it became infected, so I ended up in the hospital for 3 days tied to a IV. They were worried it might be mrsa so they wanted to be aggressive with the antibiotics and kept me in the hospital.

I was released on Friday and they cleared me to drive apon release at the hospital but my arm is still swollen at the elbow and is not good enough for me to drive a truck 8 to 11hrs a day.. I decided to turn my truck in, go home and let my arm get fixed up before continuing rather than try to limp along and maybe cause more issues. Im planning to take a month off, let my arm get well then get another truck.

 

Dude you are a idiot.. Here is a picture of my elbow the 1st day... and then a second one from just now..

Care to eat your words?

 

Lets see if big bad Westren Flyer the troll is man enough to own up to being wrong...

 

Thats not really accurate. Ive gone home 2 times, but Im single with no kids, so I have no reason to return home every other week. That doesnt mean I work non stop. I do 34hr resets fairly often to give myself a break but Ive also visited a few friends around the country.

Reguardless, Im not here to make the case for how someone else might choose to run. Im stating my experance and simply that..Ive stated from the start, that Id never run this way or do a lease for the full 3 years. I stated my goal early on in this topic and explained why Im willing to run like I do for my 1st year. The lease is just a method to get myself into a better situation faster than someone would do if they ran 5 days week or went home all the time.

If I wanted to be home all the time, Id never do lease and I probably wouldnt drive a truck..

 

The problem is leases are in general bad deals and its something I agree with. It is however possible to make more money then you would as a 1st year company driver. No 1st year company driver is going to make what Ive been making in my 1st year. On the flip side its also quite possible to lose your ### if you arent on the ball.

What Ill say is my break down gave a lot of confidence in the fact that if something bad happens that puts me out for a week or two its not going to put me out of business.

Other than loss of income, I came out of my breakdown in good shape. My arm issue, sucks and the last thing I wanted to do is stop for a month, but due to being a walk away lease, Im able to turn the truck in, go home get better and come back.. If I bought the truck on y own from a dealer, Id be making payments even if I couldnt run..