Profile For Whatagal

I am about to enter into my first lease purchase agreement under a carrier. It's one if those 'zero down/walk-away' leases. I know these are stacked heavily in the carriers favor but this is right for me right now. I have many years of driving experience but none as an O/O. I view this as not only 'on-the-job training' with a significant safety net, but also a way to 'get my feet wet' & find out if being an O/O is something I want to do or if I'm going to need to choose a different path.

That being said, I really have no intention, at this time, of doing it long enough to pay off the lease, although if my net is good enough,... I'm not ruling anything out.

My bank told me that they want me to have leased for 2 years. At my age, I am determined to move a little faster than what any disinterested party, to whom I am just a number, set the timeline of my life. So I am here to ask for other possible venues. I have thought of credit unions, but I have never dealt with any of them. I also thought of maybe getting a loan for minorities through the Small Business Administration.

I'll probably be choosing a brand new Kenworth so age and mileage should not be a problem. I think that with the zero down I will be 'equity challenged'.

Opinions & ideas, please.