We desperately need a separate lease operator forum

Now that's funny!

 

I think it would be worthwhile to separate the Lease/Purchase owners from the Owner/Operators. It would give those interested in doing a lease purchase through a company easier access to information. I would also separate owner/operators who lease their trucks to a company from those who have their own authority and find their own freight.

 

Well, after reading the last 4 pages, I suppose I should throw my two cents in. For the last two years, I've been working as a recovery driver for one of those mega companies. Most people who abandon their trucks also tend to leave all the messages on their qualcom. So I often get to read all the sordid details.

First thing; I agree that my company is a "fleece/lease" bottom feeder company. They keep me as busy as I want to be. For that reason, I would never lease with them, or any of these companies that lease/train/team. Calling those who do "independent contractors" is about as honest as saying "McDonalds cuisine". There is no independence for share croppers. But then again, a lot of people who lease with them, are there because nobody else would give them a chance; let alone a truck. Some of them should never have been given either.
Secondly, for the company I'm with, by the time the lease expires, they've put three quarter of a million miles on that truck and had students/teammates tear the living crap out of it. That's not the kind of equipment I would want to own. Additionally, when that lease expires, they still don't own anything. These companies know exactly how much a truck will generate and write the lease terms so the driver either never goes home again, or remains broke most of the time. They will lease a truck to a solo driver, but that driver is guaranteed to be dirt poor AND can't afford any home time for the duration of his lease.

That said, I think there's a world of difference between
1 - those who have come up with the down payment and are working their way towards full ownership,
2 - those who lease from a dealership/leasing company and contract with another company (operating under someone else's authority), and
3 - those who simply lease/rent/train/team with one of these mega companies.

In my own situation, there's no way in he77 I'll be able to come up with a down payment - let alone the thousands of dollars I need to operate a truck on my own authority. And I sure don't want to let some student/teammate tear up the truck I intend to buy. But I don't want to remain a company driver forever either. The reason I cam here was because I'm looking for a change.
So, are there more options than the three I cited?

 

Our issues as O/O are very different, than L/P's. .

We don't ask about maintenance accounts, tire costs or how this stuff effects our bottom line. If we do, it's for differing reasons. Too many newbie questions from L/P's turns off O/O's. We're O/Op's through a horrible period. How many L/P's have left?

L/P's are temporary. O/O's with background, are running a business. We use it as equity for loans, pay off and it's still equity. Our truck is worth twice as much as our house. We're gonna extend the loan on our trailer, so we can replace our roof, on our crappy house.

DH was completely independent 3 years ago. He leased on because we got married and he wanted "steady" money. He actually did better as an independent. I can't imagine what it's like to lease a truck. I think my dad did it in 1970.

As owners, we have a different mindset.

 

Or filled, even.

 

most of these companies don't own the trucks. i myself am purchasing a truck through a lease program directly from volvo not my carrier im leased to. i pay for eveyrthing fuel permits reefer fuel sat, truck, tax fuel tax wc everything. i pick my own freight drive how i choose not all lease are fleece programs. most of you drivers never done one, go on word of mouth etc. most of the lease work its the drivers that get in them that aren't good business men or woman or dont want to work cause they want to be home all the time or pick the wrong freight to make money. most of you so called o/o dont qwn your truck nor have your own company authority. so its a little disrespectful to dump on lease drivers like that. most you still make truck payments, signed a contract with a company to haul there freight just like i do.

 

I want to apologize If I repeat anything that someone has already stated in advance....

I think we first need to define what a lease operator is or at least get on the same page.
A lease operator can be someone that has succumbed to the pressures to lease a company truck for twice the value of the trucks worth and haul for .90 a mile and has little to no control over his day to day operation... Or a lease operator could be someone that flat out owns his truck, but again leases to a company for .90 and again has little to no control to his day to day operation.... that happens when your leased to a company that pays your loaded and empty miles, you for the most part don't have much say when or where you go.

Then you have guys like myself that are lease operators, but only in the sense that we operate under someone elses operating authority. Our operation is not much different then what I would describe as a independent. I am subject to everything a independent faces on a day to day basis, including the day to day operation down to freight rates and whether I work or not... I deal with brokers and agents on a daily basis just like a independent, unlike those that are contracted for mileage and are told what to do and where to go. (I'd like to see them take 6 mos off a yr and not lose there lease). Even my contract lists me as a independent contractor... I just can't haul for other carries or brokers outside the company I'm leased to. So am I a lease operator or a O/O that is leased to a company ?

 

You guys have given some excellent post.... Kudos

BTW, I'm staying out of it other than starting the thread.
I just thought the time had come to draw a distinct line.

 

Here's an idea, if someone wants specific information regarding a lease purchase thru a particular company why not ask those questions in Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop. Is that not what that sub forum is for?

 

Yup! That's exactly what I do.