What happens to leasers when fuel prices go back up?

Lots of people who work for those tax shacks aren't going to be knowledgeable about per diem from a truck driver perspective.

 

#3 If you do decide to lease, don't announce it on this forum.

 

OOIDA can answer that. www.OOIDA.com

 

If you're in SCHOOL and even THINKING about signing on as a lessee, RUN AWAY. FAST. These companies that offer leases to noobs are NOT doing it to give you an opportunity. They are doing it to basically pay you nothing while getting loads for almost free.

I don't need to know the company or the setup.

A new truck runs $150k. As a company driver with a GOOD company and GOOD miles you'll be doing very well to make $60k per year GROSS.

If you owned your own truck outright, had no major maintenance issues and ran your butt off, you'd be doing well to make $70k as a noob. -And I'm being generous.

You sign on as a lessee and you'll find what everyone else finds out: That there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Someone is making a profit from these leases, and I PROMISE you, it's not drivers fresh out of school. You'll be lucky to net $400 a week. That's not enough to eat and pay storage, car insurance and eat and have more than $100 at the end of the month.

If you were an experienced guy and really knew the business, I might tell you different, but you said you're still in school. DO NOT sign up as a lessee. Work out your training costs as a company driver and find a real job.

You can do very well as a company driver and save some money. When you have some resources and some experience, you may decide to go out on your own. -Doing it with the company who is training you from scratch with a contract that they own your butt for 6 months is just WAY beyond stupid.

 

It's too bad I can't thank your post 10 times! As they say, it's buying a job (that doesn't pay!)

 

One of the sad things about leasing thinking you're going to make money is...you do not have money saved for unexpected repairs on the road and it comes out of your pay for God knows how long. Especially if the company your leased onto fronts you the money to keep you going only because your under their load.
If you start out with nothing saved...good luck!!
Take some time to do the math and figure things out. Look at all your expenses and figure out if it is really worth the commitment as apposed to being a company driver and saving your money to buy your own truck.
There is plenty of drivers out here that have advise. And loads of information on the internet.
Just some food for thought.

 

I started leasing when the prices for fuel were insane, still did fine. FSC goes up and down with prices, sure I make more with cheaper fuel but not all that less with the fuel more expensive. I avg out around 1.40 to 1.65 a mile for all miles depending on the load and that aint bad for running just the west 90% of the time. Stay safe.

 

I hate to see you new drivers getting sucked into those leases. Seriously Getting rid of your house? So you can live in your truck to squeak by in a slow governed company controlled truck that you pay for? There are plenty of Company's that pay well. Chinatown has posted some numbers on Henderson that would be better than what you will make in that fleece.

You haven't even gone to school yet and your ready to give up the house? Most of us truck to keep the house. Take some time and rethink your entire approach , you will thank us all later.

 

I average 900-1000 a week as a company driver, and I'm just a 8 month old rookie.
Start with company driver first, but find a good one.

 

If you make more with cheap fuel you aren't running a good business. With fuel rates up around $5 per gallon, if you get 7.2 mpg and the fuel surcharge is based on 6.5mpg you are getting a raise compared to what you make at today's rate.