Terry
Gear Grinding Jerk
I lucked into ATS. I wanted specialized training, I really want a company job, there weren't any at the time. I went with a lease. I made it work. If I can make it work, anyone can. I talked to plenty of drivers at ATS that were failing. Many, because of the reasons I listed above. You are right, you can talk until you are blue in the face to some drivers and they are still going to fail.
My question to you is, why would I go to a company where I didn't think I could make it work? ATS is hiring, why not go there?
Because some people get caught up limiting themselves. I'm not going to do flatbed because it is too much work! Well screw that! You go where the money is. When you build up your reputation, your bank account, your equipment and experience then you can be picky. Until then, you work your butt off.
I don't think I am a rare exception of a successful lease, there are many out there. The reason you don't hear about them is because they are out working and not on the internet blaming everyone else for their failure!
When I first started driving truck in 1997, my trainer said that if I didn't want to work, I was in the wrong business. The reason Dry Van doesn't pay anything is because all the fat, lazy fuchs are driving van.
Any moron with the intelligence level of a retarded monkey can drag a dry van behind them.
If you want to make money, you drive reefer. If you REALLY want to make money, you learn to throw a tarp.

If you are a people person, then you bedbug.
All the money is in areas where it is very specialized and oddly enough require you to work and possibly get sweaty and dirty.