Who to lease onto?

It would be best to get all of your experimenting out of the way on someone else's dime. As a company driver, work for a variety of companies, pulling as many different trailers as you can. Vans. Reefers. Flatbeds. Tanks. Whatever else you think you MIGHT like to do. Learn how to do it when you'll be paid for your time, rather than having to figure it out on your own when you have a truck payment due. Be careful that you do not get a reputation as a job hopper, though. Spend at LEAST a year running each type of trailer you are interested in because it will take that long to get the full idea of what's going on in that sector.

While you are at it, keep track of what you are driving, too. What I'm talking about here is to learn as much as you can about each truck...how it is spec'd (engine, transmission, rear end gears, axle weight ratings, tire size, wheelbase, etc.), how it performs (fuel mileage, can it pull a hill, turning radius, etc.), and most importantly whether you enjoy driving it or if you dread getting behind the wheel every day. Keep track of EVERYTHING related to the trucks you drive as though it was your truck....maintenance intervals and costs, repairs and their costs, fuel and its cost. This information will be VERY useful when it comes time to buy a truck...you will know what YOU want to drive...how YOUR truck should be spec'd in order to work for YOU.

When you figure out what sort of equipment you would like to run, start looking for a good company...one that has both company drivers and O/O's. Find a company that treats you well, where you make decent money, you enjoy running the lanes they operate....a good fit for you. Spend a year driving for that company, learning as much as you can about the way they operate. If you have a choice, select the pay option that most closely mirrors the way they pay their O/O's. If O/O's are paid on percentage, then you should work for percentage as a company driver. If O/O's are paid mileage, then you should work for mileage. This way, it will be easy to calculate what you WOULD have made had you been running your own truck.....fuel, maintenance, repairs, plates, permits, insurance, etc. Do not include the fuel surcharge into your calculations....use it as an extra cushion to cover unexpected expenses (there will be many). This will give you an idea as to how much truck you can afford. Talk to as many O/O's leased to the company as you can. Find out everything you can from them...the more you know going in, the less surprises will pop up.

This year working as a company driver has other advantages, too...such as if dispatches are given based upon seniority, you have at least a year in before you have a truck payment to make so you won't be the low man on the totem pole.

So now that you know how much truck you can afford, and a pretty good idea as to the specs you want the truck to have, it's time to talk to the company and let them know what your intentions are. Ask them what they expect out of the trucks they lease....age, condition, weight, etc. and keep those guidelines in mind when you start shopping for a truck.

Now that you have all of the information you'll need, and work for the truck when you do find one, it's time to start shopping. Salesmen will try to talk you out of your specs and into whatever they happen to have on their lot. Don't let them. Know what you want and don't settle.

Bottom line, do not rush into anything. Take your time, do your research, and be deliberate in your actions. The more you know BEFORE you sign on the dotted line, the better off you will be.

And just in case you didn't already know, if your name ain't on the title, it ain't your truck and it most likely never will be. If you cannot pay cash or get a bank loan for a truck, you are better off remaining a company driver rather than being suckered into a lease/purchase program with a 95% failure rate.

One last note, and this pertains to your age. Insurance is going to be the limiting factor until you are a few years older and have a few more years experience....another reason to take your time figuring out exactly what you want instead of rushing in full speed with your eyes closed hoping for the best.

 

We do not have reefers here at Mercer. Flats, Steps, double drops, RGN's, & Van's is all we have.

 

This is from Mercer's recruiting website....

Since your not looking at doing it right away, don't rule them out.

http://www.mercertown.com/site/business-opportunities/mercers-minimum-requirements.html

 

You said you hate furniture, what does Allied do, MOVE furniture.

The BREAK for you will be going from Outrageously Expensive insurance to just Really Expensive insurance and that break doesn't come till your 25. Why do you think most good companies won't hire under 25 year old drivers.

 

Since you have time on your side and doing all the planning, why are you not figuring out how to be an independent O/O. The more and more I talked to guys that are leased onto someone the only way they are making more money now is the increased FSC. Unless they are with a reputable carrier and getting % of revenue.