Depends on who you talk to and which company you're leasing from.
It is NEVER EVER a good idea to lease a truck from the same company who is controlling your freight. Some are good about it, others(prime) are not.
I've talked with many a satisfied "O/O" in my company who are on their lease purchase program, and many of them are making good money at it. However, there are also just as many who are NOT doing as well due to their inability to run a business.
Good or not...I would NEVER lease from my company, just because there is a conflict of interest there. It's in YOUR interest to get lots o' miles and make money, it's in THEIR interest to let you have just enough miles to NOT succeed, and they get their truck back. Beyond that, if something changes within your company that you do not like, you can't take your truck and go elsewhere.
But, there is one advantage. If you decide to get rid of the truck and become a company driver(or even quit) many times it's much easier to get out of a lease than if you purchase one. With my company, you just lose your 1,000 down payment, and they'll take it back with open arms.
I'm not familiar with 3rd party leases, and I am not nearly as skeptical of them, due to the fact that you can take "your" truck and go elsewhere if you want.
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