Thinking about diving in to O/O

Trust the voices of experience that have spoken here, GD.

I've owned 6 trucks in my life, and never would've made it without the help of the wisest, harshest, and hardest working man I've ever known, my granddad who was a one truck O/O for over 30 years throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I don't care how much business experience you have, you ain't got nowhere near enough trucking experience to make a go of this just yet. Slow your roll hoss, and drive someone else's headache for a couple more years. By that time, you can have your credit/financial woes straightened out and buy a truck the right way if that's still what you wanna do. I'm telling ya, man, you are at the beginning of a recipe for disaster right now. Throw the recipe away and get outta the kitchen because you don't need this heat!

I know EXACTLY what those numbers look like now, and in any other game (read: business other than trucking) those numbers would seem like a sure bet. There's way too many variables in this game. I currently own a small tire shop and don't have near the headaches running it that them #### trucks caused me, and 4 of my trucks were paid for free and clear. No matter how attractive that lease purchase deal looks, it's set up to only benefit one person and that ain't you. It's the feller sittin' on the other side of the desk when you sign your name at the X.

Hell, move to hillbilly country in Kentucky and I'll lease ya my shop for $160/wk for 30 months and you can have the deed after a balloon payment of $3,000. You'll have the opportunity to gross nearly 10 times that with the right understanding of the tire business. What's that? You don't understand the tire business? Huh. Maybe you ought not get into it as a lease owner then. How 'bout ya go work for one of them big regional or national chains and learn for a couple years. I bet you'll find out after ya do that that leasing a shop ain't a good idea at all.

What makes ya think leasing a truck would be any different?

You're probably not gonna listen to me, and that's fine. After all, I ain't nothin' to you but some ol' boy peckin' away on a keyboard hundreds of miles away that you'll probably never meet in person. Regardless, I wish ya all the best and hope you can come back here in 10 years and say, "Capt, you don't know ####!! Look at me now." Hell, I'll buy you a brand spankin' new truck of your choice if you can do that.

 

Why don't you go back to burying the dead? That is one line of work that will never end or slow down! And finding customers is very easy, they just come to you every day.

 

gravdigr, I didn't read all of this thread, but lease-purchase is a recipe for failure. I did it and survived. I was clueless at the start, and learned on the fly. Got screwed over many times and cost myself a lot over the past five years. But, in the end, I own my own truck. And today just bought my own trailer. Already have my own authority and just waiting for a few more permits to come in before I start up next week.

Lease-purchase is hell. Pure and simple. If you think you can do it, great. But it will not be easy. Why? As mentioned, the lease does not benefit you as much as it benefits them. Sure, you get a truck in the end, but in the meantime they have slave labor.

Be prepared. If you're looking to own, get a loan, and buy a truck. You'll save a lot of money, and a lot of headaches.

Leasing-to-own can be done. I did it. But I do not recommend it to anyone.

 

Does anyone know any other companies besides the pumpkin that lets you choose your on loads?

 

Landstar will, but you gotta have a truck.

If you were gonna do a lease purchase, the pumpkin is probably one of the best out there for that. If I absolutely had to do a L/P, that's where I'd go.

 

I work there now but they want me to hav 12mos otr..i did 8mos with may trucking,3mos with boyd bros and now im on the costco dedicated.they want me to do 4mos otr as a company driver.really dnt want to because they have a no inverter policy..just cant do it

 

Heaven forbid ya can't have an inverter!!

Is there a medical reason for your "just can't do it" standpoint?

 

You might as well not even attempt. If you can't hack it without the luxury of an inverter for four months you'll never be able to deal with far worse sacrifices and choices coming your way.