Go with Werner or Trans AM lease ??

There are other companies that employ and lease. I know Prime hires students and would lease not sure how long after but they do. My trainer is an O/O with Werner and as long as he is a trainer for them they keep his wheels rolling, which is extra dough. The longest weve been down was maybe a day other than his home time. I was happy with the company. Just do your own research and make the opinion yourself not by what others do or say. Good luck.

 

If you want to be an O/O and a trainer then yeah, but also depends on your dispatcher as well. The one my trainer hasis pretty good. Of course I am his second student. SO far weve been to all of our appt. on time. Not to say that others dont, I dont know. Just remember being an O/O has its pros and cons. Costs is the biggie. Ive seen my trainer make a good pay and then again a few hundred in a week. He did go through a company that leases to people who want to be O/O but cannot not break the contract with Werner untill paid. Nice thing with them is that they dont require any money down. Im not sure about TA Im only going with what I know. I have friends with Prime and also C.R. England and one with FOltz. AGain sounds like your doing your research so good luck with who you decide. Good Luck again and play it safe.

 

Have you driven OTR before with a company or will this be your first job?

I'm not aware of anyone hiring on as a lease operator prior to being offered it after you begin working..?

 

I've been camped out at this site the past several weeks and can front you the homework.

I really wanted a lease deal through a company to be good and was reading everything from that standpoint. The first week I weeded through all the testimonies and discarded the negatives or found at least one reason to hold the belief that they were bitter or were at fault in some way for the failure of their lease.

The second week it became clearer that I was not going to find many success stories and those that were not losing their ###e$ were clearing about half what a company driver should be making.

The profit margin if any is really really thin for O/O's right now with conventional financing which has a MUCH lower truck payment, and even for those who own their trucks outright. With a lease you will be paying nearly twice a normal truck payment and have absolutely no control over your freight. You will not be able to supplement poor freight and miles with other companies or load boards or improve your fortune in any way. The large carriers simply do not have the work to give you to support the numbers no matter how well-intending they may be. After you have delivered, they HAVE to give someone who has been sitting the next load to try and keep things fair. There's just not enough freight to go around.

Even a couple years ago there are not many success stories from lease operators issued a truck from the same company. It is the WORST thing you could do right now.

Sometimes when everyone is saying the same thing you have to listen. There are recruiters going to the schools and telling prospective hires not to get involved in the lease at the company they represent. Really they're speaking for all the companies that take newbs.

Even if it is theoretically possible, you/I simply don't have enough experience to work any shortcuts. There will be a learning curve where everything is going to take longer as well.

You have to research major decisions, and the data says DO NOT DO IT. Not like this anyway. Wait a year, get a truck on your own terms and bring that to the table. It's the only way you'll have a shot. Hopefully freight will be better by then as well.

 

Pharm your right. I guess I wasnt clear enough. My trainer is buying not leasing but regardless he did drive company truck for a while. Ive already been mentioned about being a trrainer when the time comes. Not sure about that. This is my first OTR job but have done local farm work and many years straight truck ( not close to the truck/trailer) but I do feel more comfortable behind the wheel. ANyways you have a good strong point and as I mentioned it was just from the view I had.But yeah get the feel of the job first before getting into contract and keep an eye on the market. Goosd Luck

 

Well now training will make you some more money for sure. Also if you're going to team you have a better shot on a lease. Twice the miles for the same payment.

The question is can you sleep when the person driving always has less than a month's experience?! Lots of other drawbacks to sharing that tiny space. I think it would be like the Shining after a month or so.

 

Do not lease a truck. It's a scam. I've never met anyone who finished a lease. Never. You can't walk away from a lease after a year without losing your ###. They tell you you are a contractor, an owner operator. You are neither. You are a company driver making less than minimum wage because the company is skirting the laws by not classifying you as an employee. You are making payments on a truck they had paid off 5 years before they handed you the keys. If you have a slow week, and trust me, you will, you will get paid NOTHING. I can't tell you how many guys I talk to out here who haven't seen a paycheck, all their money went to the truck.
Go with Werner or any other company that will take you on as a company driver. Run from any company that wants you to lease. If you want to become an owner operator, save up about 15 grand after you get your feet wet in the business, and go buy a truck outright. I've been driving ten years, I'm still not ready to take that step. But that's me.
But don't lease. Especially if your new. You are stepping into a bear trap. I don't know how those people at Trans Am sleep at night.