what companies have a good lease program

Depending on how well you understand buisness, Landstar seems to be a good place. I know there are many others. You just need to research what you want. Join OOIDA, it is not just for O/O's and they have good sources and can provide you with a lot of good information. Good luck

 

You are in GA... there should be enough local jobs hauling lumber, pulp wood, etc. that you could find work for an older truck and make some money....

I don't think you have enough experience in this business... one year certainly isn't enough. strating out in a bad economy... record high diesel prices... not enough down payment... no operating capital...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this ain't the time for a rookie to try it... unless you can pay cash for the truck, have at least 410K in your pocket for start-up expenses and find a good carrier who can keep you busy... hauling van freight won't be the answer.

 

I agree with Krooser times are tough and i think they are going to be that way for a while. If and when you go for it,i think Bennett is pretty big in your area. Good Luck!

 

I don't have near the experience of the rest of you, but I am doing the lease/purchase through my company and I am making money. I looked long and hard at all my options before making the move so I knew the risks. If lease purchase is the only option you have then I would recommend Roehl. My issues are not with the truck lease, but with the historically low miles at Roehl.

The key is to recognize you are a small business owner and it is a long term commitment. Like any business things can go wrong, whether it's an accident and the company takes the truck back, failing a physical, the economy going south or any number of disasters that can happen. That is the risk that comes with owning a small business. It is not for the newby or faint of heart, but the rewards can be far greater than remaining a company driver. I don't know that I could ever go back to being a company driver.

 

I have been doing some investigating the lease purchase of some companies myself.

Transam will lease you a truck and they pay an industry low of .84 cent per mile loaded and empty.

Most other companies I've looked at pay at least .90 cent per mile loaded and empty. Heartland Express pays LOs .95 cent per mile loaded and empty and .99 cent per mile for Northeast runs.

They all pay fuel a surcharge based on DOE national average (currently .4475). They all pay base plates and permits. They all mostly pay for unloading and tolls etc.

What I don't understand is how LOs are making any more money than a company driver.

Take Transam for instance.

3000 miles x 1.2875 (.84 + Fuel SC) = $3862.5

Fuel Cost averaging 5.5 miles per gallon = 3000 / 5.5 = 545.45 gallons x $4.12 (current national average per gallon) = $2,247.27

$600.00 per week truck payment + $2,247.27 Fuel Bill = $2,847.27

We'll stop right here and EXCLUDE the cost of insurance and other deductions the company is going to take.

So far we have 3862.5 - 2847.27 = $1,015.23

NOW, lets do the simple math a company driver makes for the same trip.

3000 miles x .30 cent per mile = $900.00

I don't see how a LO with Transam can make MORE money than a company driver.

Because we didn't decuct the cost of insurance, the FEDERAL road use tax, and then of course the good ole "income" tax, what the heck is a LO left with for a 3000 mile run?

Maybe I'm missing something, but I sure don't see the advantage of being a Lease Operator, at least with Transam.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, what if you lease and then simply tell them "I don't runs to the Northeast", after all, as a LO with no forced dispatch, you can flat out refuse to go there.

There are numerous reasons OOs and LOs have for avoiding the Northeast as well as numerous reasons companies, such as Heartland Express, pay more for loads going there.

And one more thing. The "Lease Option" with Transam is NOT a Lease PURCHASE - NONE of your lease payments goes to actually purchasing the truck. In other words, at the end of the lease, assuming you make it to the end of the lease, you still have to BUY the truck if you want it.

Excuse me, but this has to be the WORST lease offered by a trucking company.

Compare this to John Christner Trucking lease PURCHASE. You complete the lease and the truck is yours for $1.00. ONE DOLLAR.