My Truck, My Choice, Out of Denver, Colorado

I figure I will start a new thread instead of continuing to hijack everyone elses.

I'm going Wisconsin for orientation to start with the Choice program January 5th if everything works out. I have the Schneider approval and I have a truck lined up. I'm running back to Colorado to deliver at the Walmart Dist Ctr. in Loveland tomorrow. I'm sitting in Amarillo tonight because I ran out of the precious 70 hours. Grrr. Oh well. I'll drop the load and then park the truck I'm driving now in the IDC Denver Yard. I'm really looking forward to cleaning out this truck. <----- Sarcasm intended. I hate moving out of and into trucks!

Anyway, I'm going to drive from Denver to Pacific Junction, IA next week to close on the truck I'm buying. I'm getting a used truck through Lone Mountain Truck Leasing. I had a 2010 Peterbilt 387 lined up, b ut it didn't have the sliding 5th wheel that Schneider requires, so instead I'm paying about $8k less for 2011 International ProStar with an Cummins ISX 435hp motor and 467k miles. I'm getting it for about $58k. I put $9k down and my weekly payments will be about $355 for 42 months. No prepayment penalty, so I could pay the thing off sooner. I also have $10k saved for maintenance and other expenses. I figure with a used truck, especially an International, I better have some cash ready to fix it.

So next week I'll go close on the truck and I'll pick it up on Friday Jan 2nd and drive it up to Wisconsin for orientation. SNC needed the paper work showing I own the truck before I get to orientation, otherwise I would just close on the truck on the 2nd on the way to WI. Oh well, it's not like I'm not used to driving all day, but I will say that I can drive a truck all day and not feel tired at the end of it because the seats are so much better than car seats. Cheap gas and my Toyota Corolla will make the 1200 mile round trip bearable.

So after that little run around next week, I'll enjoy the 2 weeks off for the holidays, then off to IA then WI. Still trying to decide if I want to rent a car or fly to IA to pick up the truck in Jan. I still have some time to decide that.

Well, all that said, I will try to be as open and honest about my experiences with SNC's Choice Program. I have about 8 years driving experience behind me and I also Leased a few years back with CRE. That was a sucky experience. Seriously? 1500 miles a week and expect me to make my payments and have anything left over? Whatever! The only way I would do this L/O thing is picking my loads and having a little control over my cash flow. So when I heard about the Choice Program, I decided it was time to get another truck and give it a go.

BIG DISCLAIMER! I am NOT RECRUITING AND WILL NOT REFER ANYONE NO MATTER HOW USEFUL THIS THREAD IS! I watched a really good thread that was started by a driver with a container for a head get really ugly, weird, and dumb, all over some referral stuff. TTR doesn't allow recruiting and if I needed money referring drivers, I'm probably not doing something right!

I guess that's about it for now. Looking forward to closing on my truck next week then the holidays at home!

 

Well, I figure it's all about the same. Pay up front and get the new truck warranty and hope the truck isn't full of gremlins, or be ready to pay later and hope you have enough to cover all the what ifs. The thing about a new truck is that you get to ride in nice new truck style!

 

Well, I get a 6 month warranty with a $300 deductible, so if it's gonna break down, I hope it does it in the first 6 months. Also, if it is in the shop, my fixed expenses are only going to be about $589 total per week, so not nearly as high as with a new truck, but since we are both starting about the same time, it will be fun to track along with each other and compare notes.

 

IF you decided to buy your truck at the end of your lease term, your payments would be close to what I'm paying now and you could have it paid off in 30 months if you double paid your payment. You would own the truck in 5 years. Too many numbers to think about. You are getting a sweet truck with the KW, I will defiantly say I'm envious of that!

 

Let me know when that wonder is invented!