My lease adventure

Not to steal your thunder roadtech; thanks for saying it, b/c you're absolutely right!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE. - Ever hear the phrase?
Trucking isn't going to ever, ever return to the best of it's monopoly years. Too many forces working at it the wrong way. You need a team. A plan.
Motivation/Dedication/Dependability/Word are all must haves for the character it takes to be Driver.

I need people that act like roadtech. Drivers who really see not just themselves, but the people they influence/affect in their daily journeys. Drivers who get it, but aren't appreciated. Drivers who desire the job because it's their love of it that takes them to the next level. I want better pay for anyone who has 97%+ on time delivery/promise to their clients, despite breakdowns/traffic/weather. I want better equipment for drivers who have no time for failure(s). I want a driver to be the next success story, because I can. I can help. I have options for better results, suited to Drivers because at it's source, it's driver oriented.

The industry isn't going to last if we allow the penny pinching. Change is on the horizon, and we'd do better to ban together and be the change instead of waiting for it to find us.

 

That's tough, but not unusual in this industry.

Keeping trucks running down the road generating revenue consistently without major hiccups along the way is not easy for a one man dog and pony show.

Many ships have sunk traversing these seas.

I worked inside and witnessed first hand the owner bailing out lease operators on his fleet many times because they didn't have enough money to fix their trucks.

He was a nice guy, a nice guy who unfortunately, handed the rope to some of these guys to hang themselves with.

Good luck to you...

 

.... just tooling around with the /Q/

SERIOUSLY - Thank you sir. A million miles, thank you DRIVER. It takes a real soul to be able to look up and face themselves in the mirror. -- -- --

Yet, what amount of money is "a good amount"? A tow for $1,k +... how far; conditional expenses?

Something I've heard time in and time out, again, and, again, and, again....
When you think you have it figured out, trucking happens.
I really don't know if that helps, but it's funny/true.

The cold hard truth there, Driver. Anyone reading this for BETTERMENT of THEMSELVES is in one of two pathways. They have a team and/or home/network OR they're a lone wolf/Independent O/O. In either scenario, the finances will affect your demeanor. If you are balancing a home team and home, it becomes double the affect because you're drawn to both; often making sacrifices on your end because it's easier to control from a compartmentalization standing. The very backing (home/team) of your efforts has to provide support for this to work, and I've heard too many stories from the diner of how this often goes wrong. Also, A LOT of drivers mistake the team (company, broker, leasing agent, load board...) for having a interest in the driver and the truck. I'm not saying it doesn't happen... but, you, Driver, are ultimately the PILOT of your efforts. Check into things. Ask the tough questions. If your home / team is working it right, don't forget to acknowledge their efforts. It takes a village...

 

Hey Crazy,

A couple of randumb thoughts;

1. What I did when I was leased on there was to have Cola set up an escrow account and take some $$ from each settlement. I always had money to pay for unexpected repairs (and expected ones). Over the years I also drew from it for other expenses, like making a payment to my lawyer when we were litigating my accident. When I left I was about $5K ahead and it made a nice little retirement bonus.

2. I thought one of the big features of the lease deal was that the whole truck was going to be under warranty right up until the end of the lease. Maybe you should tell Ken to either give you a new truck or buy a longer warranty.

3. I believe my late friend RD had the same problem with his truck there. He talked to the mechanic about exactly how to make the repair, bought the spare parts and carried them with him from then on. His tow bill was huge, from BF Utah to the nearest dealer in eastern Nevada if that makes you feel better. FWIW any truck I drive has a set of spare belts and fuel filters in it along with my general breakdown kit.

 

I actually had a second escrow account for tires & various other things. IIRC my credit union couldn't manage a regular transfer to a savings account so I did it through Cola.

I used to ask Duane when things were going to pick up & complain that I wasn't getting any miles. Make sure you are all rested up before you do that, cuz you will be running afterwards. That was before elogs, when it was a different world.

The quality of dispatching/load planning there is one of the big benefits. Duane is a genius at what he does.I don't think I was over 8% deadhead for the 6. Years I was leased on.