[classicxl]

why lease a truck right now when you can look at any freightliner dealer or truckpaper and buy a good used truck for below $20,000

[Silent Runner]

I'm really surprised no one has asked for driver experience, lanes of operation, how many years on this l/p.

At $475/wk for 3 years that's right at $74 grand for an '05 Freightshaker.

Another thing rarely pointed out is this "escrow" crap these companies make you do. Keep your money in your pocket, not their's. It's your business and you need to know how to run it without that kind of "help".

[LOAD IT]

You are going to do this no matter what we say......So good luck. I hope you earn the title and I hope the truck isnt ragged out by the time its paid for. A former driver of mine quit in 2004 and LP'd with the brothers out of Clanton AL. He paid it off about 6 months ago and now its blowing white smoke and has someother problems, has 1 million plus miles and he is broke. This guy has about 19 years experience and should have known better, but he does have a truck that he owns, maybe he can get 2 million out of it (I doubt it).

Advice: Find a way to get your own truck and work as a "free agent" as someone put it.

[Malaki86]

Originally Posted by classicxl

why lease a truck right now when you can look at any freightliner dealer or truckpaper and buy a good used truck for below $20,000

I was looking around on TruckPaper last night and found an '04 Volvo 780 with (i think) ~500k miles on it for $39,000. The best part was that it came with a brand new ThermoKing APU. But, the truck is 800+ miles away from me.

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/d...0E4EB4A476BD96

[marylandkw]

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

Take a week to think about the LP. If it is a great plan then it will still be a great plan next week. Remember that when you sign on the dotted line you are not accepting a job. In fact most will probably tell you that you are enslaving yourself to this carrier for the length of the lease. Not trying to rain on your parade but most will tell you that it may be better to BUY a truck. Then you can roam the trucking industry as a free agent. Talk to your accountant and lawyer before signing anything! My money says they would tell you to RUN AWAY as fast as you can. RUN AWAY and don't look back.

7 posts in 7 months and we get this.

I wish more people on this board were more like you! (myself included) Keep up the good posts.

There is a reason they call it a "Fleece" Purchase. The company does not care about you, only the bottom line. Don't be fooled, please.

[asdfghjkl]

A Dave Ramsey reference for sure, Maryland KW. Fleece purchase! Easy financing with no money down is a trap not step up. Hopefully it will work out for him. In 1996 I nearly fell for a LP with J@R Schugel with the new truck smell filling my head rather than sound financial and business decision making. Experience, however is the best teacher in the world. If his deal is with ATS then he may make it just on the fact that they haul so much specialized (high revenue) freight. Hopefully he will seek professional advice as well as from those who have 'been there done that'

[mike3fan]

Originally Posted by Malaki86

But, the truck is 800+ miles away from me.

most dealers will fly you out free if you buy it,makes it hard to checkout the truck but you could find a local mechanic to give it a once over and take some pics for ya. Sounds like a good deal.

edit: I didn't realize it was in MI.,I would go check it out for you if you wanted.

[Malaki86]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm still a few months from making a purchase.

[solo379]

Originally Posted by Fillupsherman

Not the right time for that, huh?

It's never, the right time for that. Ever!

[Sonny Pruitt]

you need to have in your hand examples of recent settlements and is this what you can expect to make
if they refuse...........no deal
permission to call a few of their L/P's
Is you 1.05 guarantee with or without surcharge
(surcharge was .27 this week)
what if you don't like the job?
How are you dispatched?
first empty or is their a seniority system
how many ways can you make money with the truck shut off?
so far stop and tarp
just how much is tarp pay?
what about detention?
(if they say 3 hr free...............)
what will it cost you in fixed costs to take a week off

you have to realize that companies run L/P to the max
all you will do is drive ,drive,drive
and most drivers consider a success
paying off their truck
as opposed to paying for a house,cars,college

just when you think you are going home they will throw you a bone in a completely different direction

did you check your company on
Ripoff Report: By Consumers, For Consumers

if you decide to L/P
don't tell too many people