"Own your truck in three years, no credit check." It sounds like the American dream. For many drivers it ends with no truck, no savings and a debt.
How it usually works
The carrier leases you a truck. You pay a weekly lease payment plus fuel, insurance, maintenance and other costs. The carrier also decides your loads. If miles are slow or the truck breaks down, the payments do not stop.
Why so many drivers lose
- The carrier controls both sides: your costs and your revenue.
- Repairs land on you, often on an older truck.
- Walk-away clauses can mean you lose everything you paid in.
- Weekly payments do not care about slow weeks.
Questions that reveal the truth
- What do drivers in this program actually net per week after all costs? Ask for real settlement examples.
- How many drivers who started the program in the last three years still have their truck?
- What happens if I walk away? Do I owe anything?
- Who pays for major repairs, and is there a maintenance escrow?
- Can I haul for other companies, or only for you?
Our position
We only show lease and owner-operator jobs with the numbers labeled as gross, before truck expenses. For most drivers, a good company job with steady pay beats a bad lease. If you want to become an owner-operator, build savings first and talk to an accountant. Never sign the same day.
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