swift and the lease purchase

first off, genius, $10k by the end of 2011. When i sign a lease in mid Oct. and get a "free tank of fuel" as part of the "deal" to sign a lease, and lets say i run 2500 mi a wee....thats only $1000/mo into a maint. account. and if i was high on something, and DID mean $10k by the end of 2010, that number was set a bit high. I think i said my down payment i could have paid up front, was going straight into my maint. account. STILL, thats only $5000-6000.

thank you for being so conserned about me. its obvious that you are, or you wouldn't have wasted your time writing everything down in the post you just made. i'll give you my address and you can send me a christmas card.

i know it makes some of you feel so much better about yourselfs to bash on someone else and try to drag them down. keep on trying, and keep on being pathetic.

 

You stick your neck into the chopping block. You are an easy target.

 

No flames here... I have enjoyed reading your posts over the last several months I have been reading and researching here on TTR. As you said, you tell it like you see it and nothing more. I understand your reasons for becoming a L/O and have been looking into the "other side" of L/O for the not-so-soon future. I will probably want at least 2-3 years in the business before seriously contemplating putting everything on the line and going L/O or O/O, but the info that you and others have shared here has served to clarify the up side to Leasing.

Don't let the f-tards bring you down to their level. Going into any business deal with as much information as you can is just good business. It seems that you did your homework and the Lease you signed is to your liking and that is all that matters. Let Dick be Dick because he is going to be anyway so no point letting the nonsense get to ya.

My mentor is a L/O who is being eaten alive by the lease contract. He knows less than nothing about anything relating to business and leased because he bought the hype and saw $$$$. As a result he "has to train" just to make it and is probably leaving Swift when the lease is up. It is unfortunate as he has been with Swift for 10+ years and is a good driver, just possesses no business acumen.

Keep on keepin' on knowing that the majority here are here to share and learn from others. As they say... "Those who can do, those who can't sit around all day being douches to those who can on internet forums".

 

then he isnt watching the money he spends. I mean he has GOT TO BE getting 4-5k in miles, and he cant make it work?? i'm averaging 2800+ and i'm doing just fine. But then again, if i can pocket $100-150 a day in profit/take home...i'm happy with that. You say he knows less than nothing about anything relating to business...i bet he didn't do his homework about what it would actually COST HIM to have a student on his truck. He probably figured, "hey, i run 2500 now solo, i'll run 5,000-6,000 with a student, and should make $2,000 take home a week.".....when actually even with a student, a mentor will only gross $1400-1800 before taxes and health insurance.

Money isnt everything in life.

 

And there in is the crux of the issue ... Being in business for yourself, means being in business for yourself. Success or failure is yours and yours alone.

The lease contract isn't eating him alive ... it's the lack of business knowledge that is eating him alive.

Dick is making it work, Injun is making it work, I make it work. I have friends here at Swift and at CRE who are making it work ... what they, we all have in common is some basic business acum and went into it with a plan.

 

Exactly my point. He saw the dollar signs but doesn't understand that when he "makes" $3000-$4000 per week that most of that money is already spent. He sees that as his money and all profit. I am not saying there is anything inherently evil about the L/O contract with any company. As long as you go into it knowing as much as you can about both sides of the deal and are prepared then it can be a profitable situation for both parties.

The problem is that too many people see $$$ and think that signing a L/O contract with any company is going to make them autonomous millionaires and when that doesn't happen they immediately point the finger at the EVIL company that MADE them sign the lease agreement.

Also, as Injun alluded to, there are several "hidden" costs associated with L/O, O/O that many don't consider. Health insurance is a major expense that isn't outlined anywhere in the contract and is often overlooked when considering overall expenses.

I think that computer-planning is going to take alot of the "human element" out of the equation. L/Os won't be made or broken strictly by their relationship or lack there-of with their DM and planners. As I have previously stated L/O is something I am researching as a possible plan of action for me several years down the road and I enjoy learning from those who go before me, both to learn from their successes and failures. Please keep the information coming... azzhats will be azzhats regardless of the topic and there are many of us out here in cyberspace who benefit from and appreciate the information y'all share with us here.

 

The sad part is that with these company L/O deals and contracts restricting any and almost all autonomy as to what freight the L/O would be allowed to haul...the relationship with the DM, along with the relationship the DM has with planners is the critical breaking point of any L/O!

Without the DM/planner getting the L/O the miles necessary to create the bottom line profit after all the expenses have been generated by the truck and the contract requirements...(all monies of expenses from truck payment, fuel, permits and insurances and maintenance come right off the top before the settlement gets to the driver take home)...in effect a "trickle down" system.

Where most L/O drivers get themselves into the bind, is the fact that they don't realize...or put off...that they are still liable for taxes. Most have seen that first few settlement checks a very lucrative amount...and get into a spending habit thinking the money will just keep coming...so they spend without saving or putting aside to a separate account the tax portion they will need to pay come April.

 

Slow season is just around the corner too!

 

I think it is already here! Not good...not good at all!!!

 

Fuel surcharge is # $.35 right now. checked the price of fuel?