Western Express Lease Purchase....thoughts???

Just wondering if anybody has heard anything about the W/E lease purchase good or bad. I'm going to orientation Sunday for flatbed ding. Any input would be appreciated.

After speaking with them, the deal they offer is for a 2011 freightliner with 156 monthly payments..

Darren, welcome to the forum!

Hey man I am a company driver at Western Express, and I stay really busy, I make good money, and I don't have a care in this world when it comes to maintenance, nor major repairs on my truck. I had a 2011 Freightliner with that Detroit Diesel engine that dropped a valve last year - are you prepared to pay 32,000.00 to replace the engine, because that's what it cost - I saw the paper work on it. If you can swallow that kind of medicine you are an ideal candidate for the leasing program.

Darren, I'm wondering if you realize that a 2011 truck is going to have close to 400,000 miles on it already, and if you are running it hard enough so that you can break even on that lease, in three years from now that truck will have close to one million miles on it! Yep, and then according to the lease terms you mentioned above you will still have ten years worth of payments left on it?

Does that really sound appealing to you? You know when you say 156 monthly payments real fast it sounds like gravy, but when you use your head and say what it really is THIRTEEN YEARS, it sounds, well, it sounds like you're getting sucker punched to me.

Just my opinion, but hey what do I know, I'm just a truck driver.

Just wondering if anybody has heard anything about the W/E lease purchase good or bad. I'm going to orientation Sunday for flatbed ding. Any input would be appreciated.

1) How long have you been driving? 2) Have you ever ran a business before?

Dave

20+ years and yes I've been an o/o and /or a lease purchase operator for half of those.

Avoid it. Get some experience before making such big discussions.

Any smart business owner would know not to get into a business that he knows nothing about. Learn the industry as a company driver.

^^^????

Avoid it. Get some experience before making such big discussions.

Any smart business owner would know not to get into a business that he knows nothing about. Learn the industry as a company driver.

20+ years and yes I've been an o/o and /or a lease purchase operator for half of those.

Daniel you missed this part !

Avoid it. Get some experience before making such big discussions.

Any smart business owner would know not to get into a business that he knows nothing about. Learn the industry as a company driver.

20+ years and yes I've been an o/o and /or a lease purchase operator for half of those.

Daniel you missed this part !

Still, I would do a little research on the company first and maybe drive for two or three months and find out how they operate.

Dave

Jon, I'm a flat-bed driver at Western Express, and as far as I know they don't have a lease/purchase program anymore. Maybe I'm missing something, I can't seem to keep up with everything that goes on around here. I do really well, and they keep my wheels turning. With your experience are they insisting that you go out with a trainer for a short period, or are they willing to put you in a truck and let you roll?

Avoid it. Get some experience before making such big discussions.

Any smart business owner would know not to get into a business that he knows nothing about. Learn the industry as a company driver.

20+ years and yes I've been an o/o and /or a lease purchase operator for half of those.

Daniel you missed this part !

Indeed I did, my apologies. Was probably in a hurry.

But how long ago was this? I haven't met a 20 year veteran who didn't already know that leasing a truck with any of these major carriers is a disaster waiting to happen. Are you from the "good ole days of trucking"?

Just wondering if anybody has heard anything about the W/E lease purchase good or bad. I'm going to orientation Sunday for flatbed ding. Any input would be appreciated.

Greetings Jon,

I have been looking into the lease purchase program with western express. My situation is much different from your however as I will be graduating CDL school next month. I understand that most people suggest working for a company for a few months to a year to gain some insight and experience but I still am thinking about taking the plunge. I figure if its not the right fit after 3-6 months I can always switch at that point. I was wondering if you started with them. If so, what is your opinion thus far? Are you getting miles? How is the money? After speaking with them, the deal they offer is for a 2011 freightliner with 156 monthly payments.. There is no penalty for walking away at anytime. Thanks in advance for any input!!

Darren