Fleese Operator....And I Like It!

[krelithous]

i ran the numbers if my trk was finaced my payments per week would be 200.00 cheaper than any lease agreement iv'e ever seen. not counting anything else. then i seen lease payments that would scare the crap out of you!! i never thought that they were all bad but the decent ones are like a needle in a hay stack to find. go talk to a cr england driver and see how happy they are the have so many fee's in there lease agreement they will never own the truck

 

[j911brick]

Brick,You are wrong.I never called this acct. an escrow acct. I do have a escrow acct. with ACT for my insurance deductible and yes they do pay interest on that acct.

OK, so let me see if i have this right:

Your giving your money, without obligation, to a third party, which is not a bank, to hold for you in an account which bears no interest and is not federally insured? ...and you don't trust banks. I'm sure Bernie Madoff would love to talk to you.

 

[Amarillo]

I'd assume that the overwhelming majority of "successful lease operators" wouldn't have the time to get online and explain cuz they're either driving or sleeping. Comparing home time to being deployed overseas is ridiculous. If you can't make the number work while being home 2 days a week, something's wrong.

Rubber Duck,I have to agree to disagree,Using a soldier is a little extreme,but still a fact and true.This thread is about OTR company's that offer lease purchase programs.I consider a OTR driver a driver who drives the lower 48.Lease purchase programs are typically only offered by OTR company's.To be able to be home 2 days a week,you would be typically considered a regional driver.Maybe a dedicated run that went out 1200 reloaded and came straight back.OTR company's dont offer hometime every 5 days as it would be logistically impossible.So you're not comparing apples to apples with your statement.

 

[Amarillo]

OK, so let me see if i have this right:

Your giving your money, without obligation, to a third party, which is not a bank, to hold for you in an account which bears no interest and is not federally insured? ...and you don't trust banks. I'm sure Bernie Madoff would love to talk to you.

Brick,I really don't know how to spell it out for you any clearer,There are legal accts. called trust accts.You have let a second party hold funds for you,that you "Trust".Its legal and holds up in any court.As I stated before I also have collateral to back it up,a 100,000 dollar truck....... and you want to be a lawyer.

 

[Duck]

Rubber Duck,I have to agree to disagree,Using a soldier is a little extreme,but still a fact and true.This thread is about OTR company's that offer lease purchase programs.I consider a OTR driver a driver who drives the lower 48.Lease purchase programs are typically only offered by OTR company's.To be able to be home 2 days a week,you would be typically considered a regional driver.Maybe a dedicated run that went out 1200 reloaded and came straight back.OTR company's dont offer hometime every 5 days as it would be logistically impossible.So you're not comparing apples to apples with you statement.

I don't understand why some drivers stay out for months at a time though.

My company gets us home every week and technically is 48 state OTR but has a regional hiring area. They primarily operate on the outbound/back-haul method, running between Iowa and the east coast. You can call it regional if you want. The definition is rather obscure and up for loose interpretations.

Every once in a while they'll send me on a mystery run, and what I mean by "mystery run" is because I have no idea why they like to book loads that stray from their niche lanes every once in a while. I had one that sent me from home to western Iowa, then instead of east they sent me to Texas. From there, instead of getting me back up into the usual lanes, they offered me a load with 2 stops in the Reno area and the last one up by Seattle. I took it. I had to take a 34 when I got empty in Seattle, but then I got a load back to Iowa and then a load back home (Illinois). I was only out for about 2 weeks. And even though I was covering distances that nobody other than maybe an airline pilot would consider "regional", I was only out for 2 weeks.

Yes, it's logistically impossible to be 48 state OTR and get home every week, but only if you're drifting around aimlessly like I was. And even then, 2 weeks is plenty of time to get to any corner of the lower 48 and back home again. Staying out longer than 2 weeks at a time is not necessary unless you actually WANT to be out longer than that. It shouldn't be a requirement of running "OTR".

 

[terrylamar]

There are some drivers that stay out for months at a time and I have even talked to a few that hadn't been "home" in over a year. If I didn't have my dogs, I would be out longer than I am or than I was. I would go up to Alaska and run up there for a while.

 

[Amarillo]

@Amarillo

You've mentioned that not many people discuss their success as lease operators. There are only a couple of successful l/o's that have shared their stories on this site. I'm not interested in leasing a truck at all, but I love reading about everyone's success stories.

You all should be bragging about your success. If I signed a fair and legit lease agreement and was successful, then I would be bragging about it.......to those who are willing to listen that is.

Keep up the good work.

Thank You, Mr. Q

 

[Mike]

First chance I have had to read this thread. Going to go back over it tomorrow and look over the numbers a little better. At first glance, the income doesn't look too impressive, but I have to factor in that some of that expense money is going toward the purchase of a truck.

 

[Amarillo]

I don't understand why some drivers stay out for months at a time though.

My company gets us home every week and technically is 48 state OTR but has a regional hiring area. They primarily operate on the outbound/back-haul method, running between Iowa and the east coast. You can call it regional if you want. The definition is rather obscure and up for loose interpretations.

Every once in a while they'll send me on a mystery run, and what I mean by "mystery run" is because I have no idea why they like to book loads that stray from their niche lanes every once in a while. I had one that sent me from home to western Iowa, then instead of east they sent me to Texas. From there, instead of getting me back up into the usual lanes, they offered me a load with 2 stops in the Reno area and the last one up by Seattle. I took it. I had to take a 34 when I got empty in Seattle, but then I got a load back to Iowa and then a load back home (Illinois). I was only out for about 2 weeks. And even though I was covering distances that nobody other than maybe an airline pilot would consider "regional", I was only out for 2 weeks.

Yes, it's logistically impossible to be 48 state OTR and get home every week, but only if you're drifting around aimlessly like I was. And even then, 2 weeks is plenty of time to get to any corner of the lower 48 and back home again. Staying out longer than 2 weeks at a time is not necessary unless you actually WANT to be out longer than that. It shouldn't be a requirement of running "OTR".

I think I would consider your normal runs from the east coast to Iowa an OTR position.Being home every 2 weeks is not important to me.I typically stay out 2 1/2 to 3 months then go home and take 10 to 12 days off.I just can't seem to get anything done in the 2 days that I would be home.My parents are older and I like to spend as much time as I can with them.I try and do alot of stocking up stuff for them,food water,and things that are hard for them to carry.Also do alot of small repairs and just general things they need help with.Then I like to get over to New Mexico where my house is for 4 or 5 days and do some fishing and relaxing(cocktail drinking).I don't know but I seem to get alot more fun and enjoyment doing it this way,but thats just me.

 

[Amarillo]

Week 11

Empty Miles 440
Loaded Miles 2135

Total Miles 2575

Total Revenue 1233.29

The total revenue is after all expenses including .07/mile going into my maint. acct.

Been really working on fuel mileage the last 2 weeks and its helping my profit alot.If I'm only getting 2200-2500 miles per week,I must make the best of those.I'm actually getting kinda used to being passed by everybody including Prime LOL.

 

[Mr. Q]

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of your fixed and variable expenses.....in other words, the costs per mile for each expense to include your total profits for the week, and how much money went towards the truck, taxes (federal, state, etc.).

Just for one week though.

 

[Amarillo]

i ran the numbers if my trk was finaced my payments per week would be 200.00 cheaper than any lease agreement iv'e ever seen. not counting anything else. then i seen lease payments that would scare the crap out of you!! i never thought that they were all bad but the decent ones are like a needle in a hay stack to find. go talk to a cr england driver and see how happy they are the have so many fee's in there lease agreement they will never own the truck

That part about CR England made me laugh,Because thats where I started.The first sentence in my o/p was that I started at the bottom.Well I wasn't kidding.Engand had a school in TX where you could go for 2 weeks and get your CDL.Thats what I wanted,FAST.It was a shocker though for this old farmboy.I think there were about 50 or so that started,the first thing they did was a drug test and the next day we were 20 less people,WOW.I saw some crazy stuff at that school but made it out alive.Actually got a 100 on my driving CDL driving test from a TX DPS trooper.

Then you go with a trainer for 8k miles I think.Got lucky and got a gal that was cool and we were running team by the 3rd day.Then you had to go with a lease operator to try and convince you to lease a truck for like 2 or 3 weeks.This guy was allright till the 4th day out we were in Dayton OH and He's standing outside the truck begging his exwife to come back(I'd already heard the whole story)We had just gotten paid that day and he had made 1700-1800 dollars(me probably 250)He gets back in the truck and tells me he's quitting and we're going to the airport.Now mind you we're under a load also.I say "you got to be kidding me.....right?He say's no you're a good driver just deliver the load and take my truck back to Salt Lake.Again I say your kidding me.He says no.We went to the airport in the truck,he takes what he can carry,and I never see or hear from him again.

England calls me and ask if everythings OK,I say sure just get me a load and keep me moving.I stayed in his truck for 3 weeks till they got me back to Salt Lake.I did get a free CB,maps and other things he couldn't carry that were useful.I got real lucky again when I got to Salt Lake.Of course I told them no thanks on the lease plan,being that my lease trainer actually flew away.They ask me If I would go to Reno NV to help out on a dedicated wal-mart acct.,If I would they would give me a brand new company truck

I think they offered me that job because I had short hair,nice clothes and smelled OK.Being that I would be dealing daily with walmart managers.I went to Reno.The job was very good,we hauled walmart trailers into CA dropped them or unloaded(always within 1 hour) and would deadhead empty back to Reno.I loved that job,paid good to .41/per mile.The bad thing was Donner Pass,drove it daily sometimes twice a day.Well it was great till the snow hit.Wal-mart loads go out period,I got real sick real quick of putting chains on and seeing a couple of my friends get fired for minor accidents,like sliding into a guardrail,nothing serious,to be expected driving in those kind of conditions.I told them bye-bye.I never had so much fun though.Got to know some casino people so always got free meals,drinks and rooms whenever you would ask.I left there with the same amount of money I showed up with.The Mustang Ranch and the casino's relieved me of all my earning's.But it was worth every penny.That was the end of my England exp.

 

[Mr. Q]

Mustang Ranch? Screw that. The bar at the Alamo (Petro) would have been a better choice....less money spent at least.

 

[krelithous]

That part about CR England made me laugh,Because thats where I started.The first sentence in my o/p was that I started at the bottom.Well I wasn't kidding.Engand had a school in TX where you could go for 2 weeks and get your CDL.Thats what I wanted,FAST.It was a shocker though for this old farmboy.I think there were about 50 or so that started,the first thing they did was a drug test and the next day we were 20 less people,WOW.I saw some crazy stuff at that school but made it out alive.Actually got a 100 on my driving CDL driving test from a TX DPS trooper.

Then you go with a trainer for 8k miles I think.Got lucky and got a gal that was cool and we were running team by the 3rd day.Then you had to go with a lease operator to try and convince you to lease a truck for like 2 or 3 weeks.This guy was allright till the 4th day out we were in Dayton OH and He's standing outside the truck begging his exwife to come back(I'd already heard the whole story)We had just gotten paid that day and he had made 1700-1800 dollars(me probably 250)He gets back in the truck and tells me he's quitting and we're going to the airport.Now mind you we're under a load also.I say "you got to be kidding me.....right?He say's no you're a good driver just deliver the load and take my truck back to Salt Lake.Again I say your kidding me.He says no.We went to the airport in the truck,he takes what he can carry,and I never see or hear from him again.

England calls me and ask if everythings OK,I say sure just get me a load and keep me moving.I stayed in his truck for 3 weeks till they got me back to Salt Lake.I did get a free CB,maps and other things he couldn't carry that were useful.I got real lucky again when I got to Salt Lake.Of course I told them no thanks on the lease plan,being that my lease trainer actually flew away.They ask me If I would go to Reno NV to help out on a dedicated wal-mart acct.,If I would they would give me a brand new company truck

I think they offered me that job because I had short hair,nice clothes and smelled OK.Being that I would be dealing daily with walmart managers.I went to Reno.The job was very good,we hauled walmart trailers into CA dropped them or unloaded(always within 1 hour) and would deadhead empty back to Reno.I loved that job,paid good to .41/per mile.The bad thing was Donner Pass,drove it daily sometimes twice a day.Well it was great till the snow hit.Wal-mart loads go out period,I got real sick real quick of putting chains on and seeing a couple of my friends get fired for minor accidents,like sliding into a guardrail,nothing serious,to be expected driving in those kind of conditions.I told them bye-bye.I never had so much fun though.Got to know some casino people so always got free meals,drinks and rooms whenever you would ask.I left there with the same amount of money I showed up with.The Mustang Ranch and the casino's relieved me of all my earning's.But it was worth every penny.That was the end of my England exp.

speaking of england they called me yesturday trying to drill there wonderfull lease purchase at me LMAO. i told em i bought my own truck and my payments came out cheaper than leasing and there numbers didn't add up in my head then i told her id'e rather run my own toys in case the miles slow down or if the company gets shady i can move on she laughed lol. i bet she had a **** eating grin on her face lol. i have a friend thats doing there wonderfull lease purchase program i can say a few things about it he's never been so miserable in his life and he's never smoked so much in his life eathier!! and as soon as he took the truck off the lot it broke down and thaey nailed him for a maintance charge and 3 trailers with weathered tires he had 2 blowouts and they couldn't figure out where to send him to get the tires fixed lol. they never kept the truck up on maintance and they bill him for crap he has no idea what it is eathier. and there good at deleting msg off the qc to from what i hear. and yes it's true about them jerking you around cause they do it. i wouldn't consider cr england a sentance i would consider that life in prison lol. congrats on the 100 on your test. phase one is where you go out and drive and phase two is where they cram the lease purchaes in your head. i heard of some funny **** about england but thats just to much dropping him off the airport and he runs like hell LOL i'm sure he was in the hole to them i dunno. yes england will fire you over the littest thing even a scratch there known for that gotta keep the seats cold for that goverment money!! thats good that they hired you as a company driver. i know they like to say theres no company trucks availible to get people to lease there trucks also. or they'll send you on a run and make you sit all weekend till the darn place opens on monday screw that. wonders if they will ever chance my money says they won't.

 

[krelithous]

[video=youtube;TD-oDlbUbNo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD-oDlbUbNo[/video]

 

[krelithous]

[video=youtube;MGs3hcZF66s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs3hcZF66s[/video]

 

[krelithous]

and what are the chances that you'll see your money from your lease that they owe you. or if you need to have the truck serviced oil changes are not covered by the warranty!! this is where some companies get shady to and some companies just keep the L/O money and never refund it at all not saying your co would do that it's just a buyer beware. no 2 is there a balloon payment after all that you paid on it? why make someone else rich while your busting your ass off? work smart not hard

 

[Duck]

I don't remember who posted those two videos before, .. but it should be mentioned that the only thing relevant to the topic in them is the audio, it's the sound from the guy's speakers in the cab, the XM or Sirius radio station he was listening to. So turn your speakers on.

 

[krelithous]

First chance I have had to read this thread. Going to go back over it tomorrow and look over the numbers a little better. At first glance, the income doesn't look too impressive, but I have to factor in that some of that expense money is going toward the purchase of a truck.

you come out better off buying your own toys. then if things get bad with the carrier then you can take your toys and run and why make someone else rich??

 

[krelithous]

I don't remember who posted those two videos before, .. but it should be mentioned that the only thing relevant to the topic in them is the audio, it's the sound from the guy's speakers in the cab, the XM or Sirius radio station he was listening to. So turn your speakers on.

was me there duck i remember you forgot to turn on your speakers