If You're a Truck Driver, Do NOT Do This!

[@MasterWitchDoctor]

I own my trucks outright and none of them are newer than 2003. I find trucks from the 80s and 90s and rebuild them from the ground up. I bought a '76 Transtar conventional and put a 400 Cummins in it with a Roadranger 13 speed I use for hauling steel out of Birmingham Alabama. I got the truck for $2500, I had the engine and transmission sitting in my shop. It took me 2 months to rebuild it and $30,000 later its paying for itself over and over. I had 4 different drivers ask me to be put in the drivers seat which I thought was pretty cool. Moral of the story here is dont buy new trucks, dont haul for a mega carrier, and find yourself a trustworthy broker and hire a dispatcher to stay in contact with to get the loads that make money.

[@williammetcalf7239]

My grandpa said over and over, "there is a sucker born every minute and two to take him. Don't be a sucker." Man do I hear him with this leasing crime.

[@3182john]

Where’s the crime? No one forced anyone to lease.

[@hughjass1044]

Very early one, when I was still driving small fuel trucks locally, one of the companies decided to turn their whole fleet into lease operators. They made a big push for drivers and sucked a lot of guys in. One of their (quite senior) former company drivers passed on the offer and came to work for the company I was with. I asked him why he passed on the offer and what he told me all those years ago has stuck with me to this very day. He said that if any operation or part thereof was profitable, the companies would be doing it themselves. They wouldn't be giving it away. They're businesses, not benevolent societies. That one statement has stayed with me and kept me away from a helluva lot of scams over the years by always making me ask - "If there was money in what they're trying to get me to do, why aren't they doing it themselves?"

[@BobSmith-ui4qu]

It is sad that he passed so soon after posting this, he will be missed.

[@brandonthomas7651]

Absolutely agree never fork the bill for a company

[@SoCal780]

This video is a PRIME EXAMPLE as to why this channel is called Smart Trucking, because that’s exactly what it stands for, being SMART. I absolutely love and respect this man and we formed a great friendship based on that, mutual respect. Dave always told it exactly like it was and sugar coated absolutely nothing. He was definitely a mentor to us all, even us old schoolers who have been around a while. I used to love to joke with Dave about how his very first truck was a covered wagon pulled by a team of horses! 😂 “Ha! Ha! Very funny SoCal! I’m not THAT OLD!” he’d always say. 😅 I am so heartbroken about hearing of his passing. RIP Dave, I’ll see ya on the backhaul.

[@johngitzen]

Thank you for this video, i hope it will save many families from the hardship of financial ruin, and possible divorce.

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

I do know of one guy that actually completed a lease. He used to have a KZbin channel. His name was Indiana Jack. He leased a truck through Knight before they merged with Swift. When it was all said and done, he said it was the hardest thing he had ever done in his life.

[@motorhomeman1949]

I used to love watching Indiana Jack! I really appreciated that he never talked about the company until later on. The videos were mostly just about the trucking and what he found on the road.

[@spencerbeales8965]

RIP DAVE

[@travisstoneking4049]

The worst part is once you finally get your lease purchase payment down your truck is to old to run for the company.

[@sardonic_smile_8752]

The salesmanship with this scam preys on naive men who do not understand business or how to evaluate a business opportunity. Monumental thanks for posting this; exposing this scam. This is why I subscribe to Smart Trucking.

[@frdhenderson56]

He's 100% correct. I've done 2 leases and wont do it again!

[@lfsracer79]

So you didn't learn the lesson after the first one?

[@MikeGalloway-j5n]

GONNA MISS YOU DAVE!!! RIP😢

[@ronnieterry4916]

Typically the carriers will change the at least $1,500.00 per week just for truck payment. Then add to that tire payment maintenance expenses then add fuel cost and license and registration. Least or lease purchase is definitely a scam. You could make more as a wal mart door greeter.

[@joebarnaskas]

your right.....to bad some drivers don t beleive you.....

[@SoCal780]

They’ll wish they had.

[@poireauer6517]

Thanks , Dave ! It s as if people didn t want to listen and were all too happy to be tricked ! We walk on our heads , these days !

[@russvoight1167]

How this is legal is mind boggling

[@3182john]

It’s their choice to lease, though.

[@vernerulmet2290]

I heard a former lease operator from the closed Celedon that said his lease payments and insurance payments was based on mileage so at that point if you didn’t drive much you at least didn’t owe more than you were being paid in most cases

[@Macruidh]

@@vernerulmet2290 western Flyer express does that

[@paulchristie2118]

And if a lease/op, gets far along the carrier has no interest in allowing them to finish when it's so much easier for the carrier to starve into default and repossession of the equipment

[@MasterWitchDoctor]

This is when they show you a nice new shiney truck thats $200.00 a week more expensive like a friend of mine had done to him by Prime out of Springfield Missouri. He was hauling juice out of Florida and everyone knows that loads coming out of Florida DO NOT pay well. My yard has 3 types of loads, containers, flatbed, and heavy haul. The heavy haul is mostly military contracts in and out of Ft Campbell Ky, Arnold AFB in Winchester Tn, and some of the smaller bases in this region. Those are money making loads, the containers are drop loads that the driver only has to unhook then bobtail to the next one. Relying on their dispatchers to get you the next load is not a good way to make a living because they are going to cut someone elses throat to get the load and the driver takes it on the chin. Its dog eat dog and the mega carriers became mega at someone elses expense.

[@lewthrasher5865]

I turned down a lease to own gig about 40 years ago and I don't think they are any better now

[@DeannaJacksonDJsDelectables]

You couldn't pay me to sign up for a lease operator contract!!! I've been driving for 5 years now and it's a hell no for me!!!

[@purple1cole]

This man is spittin straight facts. R.I.H bro

[@pogveteranar9415]

I get it, you do make some valid points. It doesn’t change the fact that I have personally met several drivers who made a very good living leasing a truck, most of them at Prime too. There is risk to anything, but that entrepreneur spirit and drive is part of what’s made America such a great place. We don’t need or want the government holding our hands.

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

Have you talked to those PRIME drivers lately?

[@TruckerMike089]

Don't deal with Prime. Worst outfit to deal with almost hands down

[@motorhomeman1949]

Man I lasted about 4 months at Prime before realizing what a scam it is. My trainer and a couple friends that I made at the Salt Lake terminal have all been in debt to them for years. And every damn week my dispatcher was calling and trying to convince me to lease a truck. There's gotta be something wrong if they're so pushy about it.

[@motorhomeman1949]

See the thing is, these companies actually will let a few people succeed in their leases so that they look good to the newcomers. They rope new people in and they get screwed over.

[@scottmoyer3854]

I can't believe lease-purchase programs still exist. They are modern slavery. Ty for posting

[@lewthrasher5865]

A friend of mine who did do it told me I should do it. 2 months in he was up 5 grand and then 6-8 months in he was down about 10-12 Grand.

[@joeyh5767]

I figured the only reason companies leased trucks was because they were benefiting from it.

[@Steven-rp8zo]

This goes with car payments as well. If you want to own you should either save and pay cash or get a low interest rate fixed bank loan to buy it. "If you are paying a lease, you are getting fleeced." And if you do this sort of business you better have a good CPA or know how to do taxes because you need to write off every single legal tax-writeoff you are legally able to.

[@timothyshaneschaefer8289]

Some of the leased company trucks from lower tier companies looks like they need to be in the junk yard. Some of these driver I believe don't have experience or they can't pass standards to be a company driver

[@cody3482]

The company I work for was sued and drivers were in fact employees, not contractors. DO THEY CARE...NOPE. IGNORE The Court Decision.

[@josephbeach6046]

I have been driving over 6 years now always been a company driver. All lease purchase drivers I have talked to say that I make more than them

[@dogli17]

I do understand what you said the problem is that companies make it hard to get jobs to new drivers

[@kevinkwiatkowski7197]

All you drivers that are thinking of becoming a lease driver listen to this man, he's trying to save you from financial ruin, let.the companies keep they're headaches and be a company driver

[@Blacktopcowboy]

I think drivers do it more to get home time when they want and choose where to run. Most carriers that do leasing offer primarily OTR, so I think some of those drivers assume they’ll get home weekly cus they’ll run how they want vs 2-3 weeks out. But yea over all these lease op stuff makes no sense. I’ve done it, and I know it’s bs. You can’t even have a bad 3 days at some companies. That’s enough to have you bring home 0 dollars. I think some leasing companies are def worse than others, and I think many people involved on the leasing side have no idea how scammy it is. They just have a job and assume some drivers aren’t running hard enough. They don’t realize it’s set up to fail. My problem with company driving is out of like 7 companies in 5 years, only 2 have treated me well. The rest all ran me til I broke mentally or got hurt physically. They messed with my home time and my money on purpose. Didn’t honor dr appointments or even HOS regulations. It burned me out of this industry and made leasing look better since you’re “told” you have more control

[@JeffHaney-bd6zj]

Leasing has been a scam since day one. They sell you on you will be your own boss,, what BS

[@BrandonLeech]

Brand new truck, maybe, depending on the business model and company reputation. Some used pos a bunch of company monkeys have had their hands on no way. If you were financially able to buy your own truck it could be a slick way to get out of the truck if it turns out to be a lemon. Once it’s in your name the bank wants their money every month and you have complete liability for it.

[@worksmartpaul]

Tell it like it is!

[@MikeLorentzson-vl8or]

Rip Dave. We are all going to miss you.!

[@user-zr6pl6nb6z]

That would be like asking me to go to an office job and then have me pay rent on the space and for all the utilities and office expenses.

[@chadcameron4080]

@@user-zr6pl6nb6z Great analogy!

[@rasjahson6261]

I agree about 100%.

[@michaelnichols3759]

You are so right and that's why I paid for my truck so I can say what I hull and where I will go

[@TruckerMike089]

I refuse to operate a governed truck. I refuse to operate with an automatic braking system, I refuse to put up with inward facing cameras, and a company telling me when I can make it home. I run as a owner operator because I don't want to be treated less than a driver. Don't accept crap companies

[@jacktice7287]

Good friend of mine learned the hard way he lost everything. Leasing is worse than loan sharking

[@WanderingWolf365]

Thank you. Sound advice. - WW

[@Bulvan123]

I have no connection to trucking but enjoy learning whats going on. This is indeed a sad issue. I work with people from troubled backgrounds & more than a few say they want to get their CDL. They're often not the smartest & have poor critical thinking skills. They're the perfect candidates to get pulled into a lease deal. For a lot its not so much about the money as much as feeling they're making progress in their lives that they can show themselves & others. Ive mentioned being careful in the trucking industry to them but it doesn't really sink in. They will unfortunately be the next generation of Lease Operators finding themselves in financial trouble.

[@johnm6642]

Leasing an expensive truck for low paying freight anyone who does that is really not thinking and should not try to be their own business

[@stevenstack796]

I just did it for an easy lawsuit to buy a truck lol. And I've won twice. $80,000 settlements LMAO

[@stevenstack796]

I now own my own truck off of predator companies

[@Kev_773]

It’s mostly foreigners now who are lease operators.

[@younglove3362]

You say that as if idiots don't outnumber the common sense folk.

[@unperuanoenlascarreterasde9964]

Ive been saying that for years , but idiots still leasing. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 No law , no regulations will cure stpdty !!!!

[@robc2821]

Gee they say at Prime there making great money

[@jasondangelo4life]

I’m stuck in one now. I can’t afford to stay and I can’t afford to get out. Never again!

[@davidkean1487]

Some steel hauling companies did this in the early 80's when the steel mills were closing. If you wanted to keep your driving job they wanted you to buy your truck from the company. The guys that did went broke!

[@phillipgarrow2297]

Never ever ever sign on to a lease you're paying them for the truck you drive that they own a lot of carriers when things get tight they will use there own drivers and you pay the lease and sit home making payments and not bringing in any money . I've seen advertisements of companies pushing lease programs how much it cost freightliners and international aren't top shelf but you're paying top shelf prices to lease them when you're lease is up you can buy the lease out and you're going to have a worn out truck with no trade in value

[@dirtnapz996]

Rest in peace, sir..

[@jefferybobafett3234]

That's why I got out of it. I didn't lease, just a company truck driver. Repairs awful.

[@maxpuppy96]

You have know Idea how many guys I tried to talk people out of that. If it was lucrative companies would not offer it. When they get you on the tire program and take the money out of your weekly settlement there is not enough to eat.

[@robertltannerjr9017]

I started in 85 with a company that was known as the dollar truck, after 90 days they wanted me to come in and a truck, but I seen what a scam it was, and said no thank you.

[@mkowboy13]

Thx appreciate the advice here

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

I will never understand a driver, leasing a truck from the company they work for? There are so many drivers that swear by leasing?

[@sunnygabriel7147]

This is gospel...Alot don't see it

[@Macruidh]

For some it’s the only way to attempt to get into owning a truck. I know the majority of people fail but your average driver doesn’t have 50k sitting in the bank to spend on a truck purchase not to mention the maintenance needed. I know some will say that if they can’t save that money then they shouldn’t get a truck. I can see the sense in that but the allure to owning a truck is strong and people will take whatever avenue they think they can get to make it happen

[@blairvigil1633]

O can't Believe Dip Sticks buying a Eld Epa Automatic Truck then Leaseing a Epa Eld Automatic Truck from a Company that Controls there income WOW.....DIP Sticks.......

[@TolaTrucking]

We miss you already RIP friend

[@TheTallMan50]

Do you know how difficult it is to get on with Walmart? They're not just handing out jobs.

[@mrcrowleyoz]

The worst is that a lot of these lease operators or small fleet owners reserve to tax fraud to avoid paying taxes since they realize they don’t more than a company driver

[@islandmanliming]

The never never plan

[@chrisksanznak9632]

Get Dave the # for Pete up in DC….

[@Justa9120]

You keep telling drivers this over and over. Don't lease a truck from company's. R.I.P. DAVE ❤

[@donovanvolk8583]

I was stupid in enough to think about it once ( a lease) when they said I could not do my own maintenance or even take the truck it was all bull shit and I had to have a first year driver so call train me I thought screw that and it did matter if I bought a truck elsewhere.

[@biggtrucker8563]

I run as a company driver for a mega carrier on a dedicated account that is a cash cow. They will not run lease drivers on this account.

[@Christian-o5c7b]

Some of us don’t have a choice not all of us are rich and can afford to buy our truck out right some of us have terrible credit with no money and being accompany Driver sucks

[@TruckerMike089]

Exactly, hence why I found a small outfit and checked in with their drivers. The majority of the guys where I'm at have paid off trucks. I won't tolerate what companies dictate to you

[@motorhomeman1949]

Find yourself a good company to drive for and you'll be a hell of a lot better off than a lease operator.

[@mcoutis]

If it's a decent company being a company driver does not suck

[@johnran6015]

GP Transco sounds good but it's ALL team driving, can't do it!

[@xTheBloodyDeadx]

I don’t understand the part why a carrier will give them cheap or no freight. They should be getting higher, bigger loads because the carrier will profit more than company drivers

[@yalerich7417]

Would rather flip burgers 🍔 at mc-dees than drive a truck!

[@taylorh3930]

R.I.P

[@kyleburns5772]

The best move I ever made in my career is not own the truck. It breaks down, they tow it away and bring me another one. No longer am I paying for repairs while not making money for 1 or 2 weeks.

[@Fvlse_God]

Our society is degrading morally, this can be seen in almost any industry. Even things like video games. Freedom prospers in moral values, tyranny thrives in moral decay. The pendulum swings. We never learn from history.

[@Fvlse_God]

And as a 26yo that’s ^ depressing af. My generation is full of lazy idiots.

[@busting601]

Top Canadian companies to work for?

[@FriedShrimpPoBoy]

Lease purchase is a scam. But more than that I never understood why a guy wants to be an owner operator but leases a truck that looks exactly like a company truck.

[@wyatt12358]

Almost worse than 1800's slavery

[@jtanner8060]

Exactly! Then when the market comes back they’re going to prioritize the company drivers because that’s their biggest overhead. They actually benefit if the lease operator fails. You’re better off staying a company driver. Question for you Dave: For the small trucking companies that got their own authority and went completely solo, what are your thoughts on “Dispatcher” services?

[@TruckerMike089]

No they don't. They will prefer owner operators and for almost anything. No matter how that driver operates that company is guaranteed their cut.

[@TruckerMike089]

Also forget dispatcher services. They are a scam just like brokers. Look up your own freight and have a computer handy to run numbers for your factoring company if your unsure of a broker

[@BradBaka-z5t]

Also do not drive near on and across the centerline and for gods sake stop obstructing freedom

[@Christian-o5c7b]

I would rather never drive a truck again then be a company driver

[@neverobey1477]

I'm a company driver and make $500 bucks less than owner operators.

[@colinwilkins13]

Truck driving in general is dead my friend I’ve been driving since 1993 and it’s the same bs it’s a job now that pays better than flipping burgers

[@colinwilkins13]

Parking ElD bs and emissions all crap 💩 unless you have a big bank roll go company or maybe 🤔 get into welding and go home everyday

[@KQ4JHQ]

It's a scam. Alot of time it's set up so you don't even own the truck

[@Infinitysworld24]

Game

[@rev.randall2292]

Ok , for the last many moons its been driver shortage - driver shortage. At the end of fill in the blank or by , same thing , there just flat be enough drivers to keep up , sound familiar ? NOW , theres no freight to move and operating cost sucks again ? What gives ? Whatever it is or starts yacking about it , knows it only takes soc. media 2 days for news spreading like wild fires to be quite literaly everywhere.

[@Wilson632]

The professor has spoken class dismissed take notes and learn how to count your money because somebody else will🚬

[@dwainsmilne]

It's so hard to believe there is so many stupid people that can't see this horrible deal being so bad,it's so easy to see it??????DONT LEASE TRUCKS?????