Back on the road. Lease purchase with JB Hunt

Yes..the cone fared worse than my fender. It was a goner. We had to give it a decent burial.

 

Throwing in the towel after surviving 1 year and 2 days. Yes, folks. I have terminated my lease and am going to work for jbhunt as a regional intermodal driver.

Been sitting since Monday waiting for lease company to approve (!) clutch throw out bearing repair. Apparently in the entire 129,000 miles this truck has existed it has never had the clutch greased. The last shop (TA) that billed me for that service has agreed to pay a portion of the $4000 repair so that is not the reason I'm quitting the lease.

I am quitting because, as so many have pointed out on this thread and others, the lease operator takes all the risk and abuse yet has almost no control over what happens income or repair wise.

When I first started, I leased an older truck with the intention of completing 3yr lease with $1 buyout at end. It was a lemon and ultimately drained all (all all all) of my resources.

At that time I wanted to go company but instead was offered a different deal.. A 2018 t680 with 60k on it. $650 a week payments 4years and 48k buyout. I knew I would not make the buyout but I gambled new truck with warrantee (blah blah blah) would keep running long enough for me to rebuild "war chest".

It did not. Furthermore, my miles dropped crazily and after 6 weeks of tiny checks (smallest $191 before taxes, largest $934) I was again drained of all money and want to. It will cost 10k to break the lease.

I start company job the week after thanksgiving with low end expectation of $900 after taxes and out 5 days home 2 every week and no frozen north runs.

Please understand that, even though this was a business decision to quit throwing good money after bad, it is also highly charged emotionally for me. I have some grieving to do. I'm asking you to refrain from cruel, snarky posts. A simple "I told you so" will be sufficient.

I promised to be honest and forthcoming at the beginning of this thread and so I have. I enjoyed your support and comments immensely. I hope you found this an entertaining cautionary tale as well.

Let me know if you would like me to start a new company driver thread. Thanks to all. UturnGirl.