Our experience with Success Leasing

Neither the poster nor the person who told her knew whereof they spoke. Accountants cannot "be for Prime meaning they are looking out for Prime, not the driver..." The GAAP (generally accepted accounting practices) for accounting do not consider who is paying the accountant. They are based on established practices relating to pennies and dollars. Only.

Now, if a certified public accountant withholds information or falsely publishes something, well, that's a criminal act and takes it in a whole different direction.

Why is we all seem to take as fact things we are told by someone else or read on a public, unmoderated forum merely because we are told it or read it?

Makes a guy want to move to Montana and build a cabin off the grid.

 

Hmm... didn't they call that guy the Unibomber???

 

I just call him Dad. <sniff>

 

Okay, Prime lessees, now is the time to resurrect this forum and update the information. It started back in 2009 when pretty much everything in this country relating to the economy sucked and folks were losing shirts, trucks, houses, and everything else. Well, it's now the end of 2011 and things are better, so let's start the conversation again.

I will be starting with Prime in January if the trucker gods smile on me, and I am sure the topic of lease vs. company will come up. I have always thought a lease would be the way to go for me--I have good business savvy and prefer being in charge of my own expenditures. I am single, have nobody living at home, and have no burning need to be here every weekend or whatever. I drive slow and am the cheapest sum byotch you'll ever meet. I hate truckstop food, don't do crazy things, and am getting into this business after a 40+ year in aviation, including 27 with the federal government, so there will be a bit of money coming in each month.

I would like to hear from those of you L/O what you think of getting into a lease at this time in our history. Tell me what you think a first-year driver should know about leasing - yes, I do know how to read legal documents; I was married to a lawyer for almost 30 years and have spent the past 27 years dealing with federal regulations, many of which are very similar to the FMCSR.

I want to make money and enjoy the task at hand, so let's CONVERSATE!

 

Here my say on the topic. I bought my own 2003 T2000 KW and 1999 monan 53' trailer. With insurance and every thing it was over $2000 a month. I was making a little less than 72%. I ran LA Cali to Broklyn NY and back. I did this solo 90% of the time. It took me 10 day to do a round trip. Then take 3 or 4 days off. I never turned down a load. Billsgirl said Bill never got preplanned on a load. That is almost unbelievable. I have been trucking on and off for 25 + years and know a lot of prime drivers. I have also worked for more big company's than I want to admit to. If he isnt getting preplaned then he is more that likely the problem. If he turns down loads (even if you are allowed to as a L/O) then the FM will more than likely do this if there is not a reasonable reason.

Also the guy that wants to run 8 and 8 you wont be concidered a team as loads for team a based on 10 & 10 or 11 & 11. They are time sentive for the most part.

 

I forgot to say I was making after repairs $1000 a trip after taxes profit minamum. I had to give up the truck last year do to a illness. I am just wrapping up some loose ends and then it will be on to Prime (if approved).

 

Is it possible that Bill is not getting paid for delays and such?

 

Denalidad, if you are as "savvy" as you profess then why are you jumping into a pool of sharks? What's the failure rate of this rental program? 90 plus percent but being as you are as "savvy" as you profess you'll be one of the less than 10% that profess to succeed. That's not showing much business acumen.

Save your pennies and get a truck the old fashioned way. With minimal expenses you should be on your way in 2 years and you will OWN a truck instead of renting one that you will never OWN.

 

Eh... ya just have to chum the waters to keep the sharks busy chewin' on the flotsam!

My thoughts are that severe lack of "used" lease trucks points to a much higher success rate than your WAG would suggest.

 

Huh? So if I am one of the "less than 10% who profess to succeed" that is somehow "not showing much business acumen?" Ya got me there.

What amazes me is how someone who has never met me and knows not one thing about me that I haven't put in writing can profess to tell me that owning a truck is preferable than "renting one" ... for me. But I have been amazed before! Methinks there are those who are just against leasing and those who are for it. That is kind of what I am trying to decide, again for me. Not for anyone else. Me.