Hilarious job offer

Warren Transport
Dry Van Lease Purchase Details
65% of linehaul + 100% FSC
$1,500 – $1,800/week average after expenses
$75,000 – $90,000/year average after expenses
Out 10 to 14 days
2,500 miles/week average
Running in all 48 states(Primarily East of I-35)
No forced dispatch!
No money down and no credit check!
No truck payment the week of orientation or the next 2 weeks!
Warren allows the trucks to idle no more than 65% of the time
The trucks come with a 1500-watt inverter and a bunk heater.
Equipment: Freightliner Cascadia and Peterbilt 579 2020-25
Lease the truck for 1-4 years
Orientation in Waterloo IA

That's a copy and paste from the email. Let's break it down!

65% of linehaul + 100% FSC → That percentage cut structure is common, but it gives the company a lot of control over what loads you’re offered and how much you actually take home. They can inflate or hide numbers. Nothing mentioned about drivers being provided rate cons. So I'm assuming we're supposed to take their word for it.

$1,500–$1,800/week average after expenses → For being out 10–14 days, running 2,500 miles/week, that’s really not much better than a solid company driver job — and you’re taking on all the risk and liability of being an “owner-operator.”

$75–90k/year after expenses → That’s the best-case scenario average. Any slow freight market, breakdowns, or unexpected deductions will drag this way down.

Out 10–14 days, all 48 states, mostly east of I-35 → That’s a heavy grind, coast-to-coast runs, and you’re not home often.

No forced dispatch! → That’s a nice selling point, but usually not as free as it sounds. If you decline too many loads, you’ll just stop getting good ones.

No money down / no credit check → Sounds good, but means you don’t build ownership equity in the truck — you’re basically renting it while carrying all the risk. At the end of 1–4 years, you may not actually own it.

No truck payment for 2–3 weeks → That just means you start in the hole slower. Payments always catch up.

Idle restrictions (65% max) → They’ll micromanage your comfort, even though you’re technically the “owner.” This one really got me because if you're the one paying for all the fuel and all the maintenance then why do they care about your idle time? I've only ever had one company get onto company drivers about idling and I told them it's over a hundred degrees in Texas so if they don't want me idling then get me an APU because I'm not roasting in an oven for anyone! Needless to say I didn't last long at that company. That was one company. Nobody else has ever given me any issues about idling without having an APU installed on the truck. So a company wants to regulate idle time on a truck the driver is paying all the expenses for is completely insane to me.

This is proof that the driver shortage is a myth because these companies are more audacious than ever doubling down on low pay, no work/life balance and micromanagement. Definitely not acting like they're having difficulty recruiting.

Oh and the unsolicited phone call from the recruiter said there's a $2,000 deposit required so the no down payment part is a lie. He assured me that it's fully refundable though. Vladimir in Chicago says their escrow payments is fully refundable too but those who been around long enough knows how that works out.

 

Yes which is definitely not a contract written to benefit the one leasing the property. I can provide you the definitions for a pyramid scheme as well as a ponzi scheme. I can also provide a definition for usury. Just because something has a clear definition doesn't make it not predatory.

 

Well, they're saying Peterbilt's not Volvo's so idk. We already have our own domestic surplus of shady predatory vulture capitalists especially in this industry. The last thing we needed to do was import more sleazy businesses.

 

We can provide information. That's what we can do. We can post about the lease traps and hope that people see our posts before signing the lease.

 

All fair points. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. That said there are also those who do seek out other information prior to making a decision. If you get hit up with what sounds like the ultimate dream job at some company you're not familiar with I'm sure you're probably going to come here as well as check other sources to see what others are saying about the company before committing. That's actually what most people do these days. Check reviews, ask in forums, etc. So there are people who will seek other information and if it's not out there because we're staying tight lipped assuming everyone already has their minds made up then the only source for information is some sleazy recruiter. If this post leads just one driver to even if not reconsider at least ask more questions then it was well worth the 5 minutes of my time.