Yes, I do. I think drivers are tired of having to live by other people's decisions, and being told "no" in an industry that promises "freedom", but lack the means to start a trucking company independently, and that's where lease deals become attractive.
I don't think Obamacare has anything to do with it at all. PRIME has had lease deals for as long as I can remember, long before Obama. Probably as far back as when he was being schooled be radicals and terrorists.
Truthfully, I think lease programs are attractive to two types of people:
1- Experienced drivers who are tired to living by other peoples uncaring decisions and policies
2- Inexperienced drivers who are promised pie in the sky returns, and a huge pot of gold at the end of it all, with the reality being otherwise far too often.
Yes, by and large lease programs are not the best way to become an independent owner operator.
But this is not the 1970's @
Fageol . Start up costs are high. Failure rates are high. Competition is high.
I was telling the wife just tonight that if I were to get outside financing on say, a $55,000 truck, I'd need at least 20% down
with good credit, money set back for a breakdown or two in the first few months (because a used truck that's been sitting IS going to have an issue or two), money to buy fuel on (provided the company you're leased to has no fuel card), money to run the house until the settlements come in, momey to eat on while on the road etc. etc.
I estimate (in a slightly inebriated state) that on that 55k truck, a guy would need maybe 20,000 startup capital at least. Of course, more is better.
That's where lease programs become attractive. Especially the Sammons program. You walk in for nothing, call your own shots, and starve for a while, and if you're smart, you can make it.
Hows that different from example A really? Especially given the chances of failure in these lease programs? It's well over 60%.
I bet it's the same or worse doing it "the right way".
From one angle, these programs are totally criminal, and a scam. From another perspective, they're an opportunity towards a goal for which even the starting point has become unreachable for most.
Don't get me wrong. I HATED life in the ATS program. BUT...I did pay my bills the whole time at home (while losing LOTS of weight on the road and spending far too much time gone) and walked away with a "successful"
lease completion, and I left clean, with money in the bank.
These programs are not the ideal way to start a trucking business, but they are an avenue for the little people, if they're played right.
