Lease program

I'm 31 actually. I just don't like being told I can't do something. It just makes me want to do it to prove people wrong or prove to myself that I can't. I'm stubborn like that. What company do you recommend? I've looked at many many companies and all of them pay pretty much the same and the miles are pretty much the same which is why I haven't switched companies yet. I haven't found one that can offer me more then what I have. Yeah they all say "we have the best miles and best hometime". But you come to this forum and others and all you hear is "I have no miles I'm barely making money etc" so I'm at a loss here as to what's the next step.

 

Well of course id go choice so I could book my own loads. I wouldn't go from a company driver to a higher paid company driver. That's not what I want. I want to have some sort of control in what happens to me and the truck. I have say in how many miles I run. How long I stay out, how much money I can make. Right now the company has all that control. I just sit there and wait for the computer to beep with my next assignment. I have no say in where or when I go. I might sit 15 or 16 hours waiting for a load now. But nothing I can do except call or send messages saying hey run me.

 

I'm doing the choice program for Schneider.. I haven't been a company driver or mileage paid in quiet a while.. But I've been told that you have to run as an lease operator for a few months at Schneider or another company before SNI will let you on the Choice board.. Don't know if that is true or totally the case just what I've heard.. But I've heard that Crete is a good company driver company.. Also KB trucking says they guarentee 950 a week just don't know if they are hiring or hire at all where you live.. just some ideas.. Hope that helps..

 

I was told by the Schneider recruiter that I can start off on the Choice Program. I don't know if its because I have a high credit score (905) or cause I have ZERO debt, or maybe cause I've got 2+ years as a Company Driver.

 

About my suggestion of maximizing your income as a company driver; get away from the mega carriers. You're not supposed to stick with them that long unless you're making money off training or something.

 

Regardless of whether something is covered under warranty, you still have expenses to cover while your truck is in tg e shop. It isn't uncommon for trucks to be in the shop for 2+ weeks getting repaired. You don't get a free pass on the bills during that time.

I'd be willing to bet that the majority of lease failures can be attributed to the lessee (sp?) going into the thing underfunded. I'd hazard a guess and say you need a minimum of $5-10k saved up before even thinking of leasing.

 

I stayed with Werner 2+ years, to learn and get experience, so later I could upgrade to a better trucking job. The pay scale wasn't the best either, I'm currently making .24 CPM + .04 CPM Safety Bonus, and for the past 3-4 weeks, only getting between 1600-1800 miles per week. But I'm still here.

 

Yes I'm going to deposit in the Maintenance Account $50 grand for any expenses that could arise, I just don't want to be stuck. Tired of being stuck with Werner. I want to run everyday.

 

You are correct with the no free pass on the bills when my truck two years ago went in the shop for a new engine I was down 5 weeks from last run till next run out of the shop.. still had to make the payments.. the engine was covered under an insurance plan I had bought thank goodness but still no pay b/c I wasn't running and also the bills on the truck let along your personal bills. .
I agree alot of the failure goes back to lessee for underfunded or underprepared.. you need a game plan and stick to it.. Don't get into this and make a really good paycheck and go hog wild need to save for a rainy day.. how do you think these big companies got where they are.. not by splurging when they could scrape by and stick as much back as you can for when things aren't as green as they are.. this industry is like a roller coaster it will have it's ups and downs almost monthly being prepared will help you survive

 

I agree with having $10k or more to start with JUST for maintenance. I'd also have $5k to keep as backup to pay yourself when things go wrong. My buddy who is in a lease purchase is $200 or so in debt with the company since he hasn't ran many miles last week. Luckily he's only a few hundred instead of a few thousand in debt.