With your own authority, you are treated as a carrier (or business), and all they want is authoriy and insurance documents, except for some that want references, such as BEAR Transportation that wants 2 years in business. There are probably others like that.
In my short tenure, I have been surprised at how easy it is to do business with the large brokers even though you are new, but you have to remember, they are contracting business to business and you are signing contracts, which protects the brokers, and puts the liability on you.
If you are leased on, you are basically an employee with no benefits and all the risk. They can stipulate whatever requirements they want.
As long as you operate under someone else's authority, you are just that, UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY. It works for some and not for others.
Having said that, I can see why some carriers want new trucks, and I believe it is because they want to run you a bazillion miles a year (at low rates, while they keep the spread), and they want dependability. New trucks can provide that, till they depreciated with excess miles, and then they have to get rid of the truck and start all over again.
I still think it is better to run less, for more, but what do I know, I learned everything I could from you guys, and I'm still stupid.
I have been hearing of more companies that offer a lease with only 10% commission, and very minimal requirements, which is somewhat appealing to me, but I think the "dispatch" option, that GMAN has been speaking about is the best of both worlds.
jonboy