Company driver looking to go O/O - leased steps

I am a company driver looking to buy my own truck and lease onto a carrier. I am just trying to get the steps in line here, so I am not putting the cart in front of the horse.....at least in this area...lol. I understand the route to get rolling independently, but if I am going to be leasing to a company and do not have a truck yet, do carriers hire you first, then you get your truck? It sounds like a strange question to the experienced folks on this forum, but I have combed through a large number of posts and cannot find this info. It seems strange, but it appears as though folks are completing applications with carriers and then going truck shopping....hmmm.

My reason for asking is simply financial. Insurance costs and registration...truck payments...etc., being made without truck being put to use right away seems like a waste of money. Many of these costs appear unnecessary if I am planning on leasing to a carrier.

Thanks in advance!