Owner (lease) operators vs company driving

I'm not trying to be a smarta** but I would tell myself not to do it, go into real estate and enjoy life more.

Read some of what I tell people to do when they are drivers - learn how the system works. Don't assume that you do know, you don't. If you get to go into the office and sit with someone, do it.

Learn how safety works, what the regulations mean and how to actually read them.

THEN learn how business works.

Once you get this down, then figure out where you want to go and start planning, asking and planning again.

 

A good thing to keep in mind. Just because one million lease purchase drivers before you have failed does not mean you will!

 

"Why do you want to be an owner operator?"

To be my own boss and go home when I want to.

"How much money do you expect to make each week as a lease driver?"

About $2000-2500/week.

And then they sit down with you and show you numbers and whatnot. "We will pay you $.95/mile+FSC. And we will set up an escrow account, attire maintenance account, you will be charged a fee every time you use the fuel card, every time you get an advance, a rental fee for the QC, and the owner's wife's store bought tit fund, nickel and dime nickel and dime. Good luck, dumb...I mean, good luck, driver!"

Why do some succeed where millions failed?

Did you read your operating contract? All 30 pages of lawyerspeak? Or did you just look at the cute college girl with perfect breasts and a warm smile that keeps saying "Sign here"? Did perky breast cause you to fail? Noooo. You were going to fail before you ever signed the contract. How so?

 

If you don't want to lose employee benefits then stay a employee !!!
If you don't want to be treated like a employee then buy a truck don't lease it from the company .
If you are afraid of failing then stay an employee .
If you want to be the man that makes all the choices and control your future then buy the truck don't lease it from the company.
If you want a heck of a thrill ride buy a truck if not then stay an employee.
There is nothing more thrilling than having the shop foreman hand you a 25,000.00 bill and say how will you be paying for this today !!!!

I would not change a thing about starting the way I did it has got me to where I am today.
Every day is a learning experience and every lesson comes at a cost .
The good days you learn more than you spend .
The bad days you spend more than you learn !!!

 

question: a friend started to lease with a company, who pays the following, please tell me what is right and wrong and what is best for him to do...

he had as expenses:

admin charges -GPS 50.00
ins - 150.50
maint fund - 50.00
admin charge - 1st weekly admin fee - 35.00
Log books - 2.00
Escrow - 50.00

total miles - 1251
@ 97 per mile
fuel card advances - 902.29
take home was - 597.40

 

It is very hard to pay off your truck with a lease purchase because trucking is so unstable. It is hard to guarantee a positive check week after weeks for 5 years. As soon as you have a bad week, catching up will be very hard. Although a new truck may have warranty, your downtime will hurt you the most. If you have a family to support, don't even bother. It is like double down on your 16 when the dealer already has a 6 showing in BlackJack.

I know guys who completed their lease with Swift, Schneider and even Prime. These guys all have one commin trait. They live in their truck and have no rent, mortgage, car payment or a family to take care. If you meet this profile, lease purchase may be right for you.

 

Kbron,

the numbers you posted doesn't add up. Where are the fuel cost, truck payment, tire reserve, plates, insurance and other deductions ? If a lease operator only have 1251 miles for the week, he/she would be in the hole of atleast $700-800 with base pay of $0.97 per mile. A company driver might make $597.50