Profile For Texas Tim

I had a NET income from driving of more than $75,000 in 2021 just as a company driver. I also netted an income in excess of $250,000 through real estate, military retirement, and two other businesses I have interests in, stocks, and gambling. My trucking expenses were food, clothing, and entertainment. Nothing extra that I wouldn't have already needed or wanted to consume, partake of, or utilize on the road or not driving.

People who argue that lease is the way to make more money make me laugh uncontrollably.

Please factually post ALL your numbers on here and show all us dummies how you're killing it, okay? I want to see everything that came in and everything that went out or is pending. Maintenance, fuel, settlements, taxes, insurance, workers compensation, accounting, down time, salary, equipment rentals, etc.....ALL OF IT. Prove to us how much we don't get it. Sell me on leasing as opposed to being a company driver. You can't.

You guys always do one of three things:

1. Post incomplete or inaccurate numbers.

2. Make ignorant arguments with nothing factual to prove the rants.

3. Go silent and disappear.

*HINT* Nobody has come on here yet in 15 years to prove our theory wrong, so be the first. Show me how it is worthwhile to struggle to make maybe 10 cents more per mile. Prove Me Wrong! Until you do, I'm done wasting my time typing.

Look at the statement. I’ve netted $67000 already this year in 8 months. That’s a projected $101,000 for the year. How is that not better than $72,000? That’s $30,000 better. That’s almost a dollar more per mile than a Wilson company driver. Is there a company that can guarantee $1.40 a mile to a driver with less than a years experience? I’ll turn my two weeks and go there if there is.

Texas Tim,

You shouldn't be so thinned skin. Pack Rat is full of knowledge and very helpful in all his replies. You have taken it all wrong so if you have to go just go and don't be so bad mouthed.

Really?? Because I’ve asked for advice on another forum and a couple drivers, PackRat included pretty much called me a failure for even considering lease and he continued that criticism here. In order for me to get a CDL my best recourse was to sign on with a company that trains and commit to them for a year. Wilson is one of the best ones. The only two options now that I’m in a truck are company and lease and at 46 cents a mile, company is way less than I can make and be able to provide for my family. I know lease isn’t an ideal situation and I know why but it is the best option I have right now.I came back to TT for advice on how to make the best out of a less than ideal situation and was basically called an idiot. I know you are only seeing part of what bothered me about PackRats comments since they were not in this thread but I am not going to let him continue to trash talk my decision. TT was a big help in helping me get my CDL but now that I am on my own it has been the opposite. I’m sure PackRat has a ton of knowledge but he like a lot of experienced drivers he seems jaded and bitter for some reason. To take that out on me don’t fly with me. I ain’t some punk kid.

As I bring this to a close in order to save time and my brain cells, we teach Best Practices here on Trucking Truth. Leasing ain't one. We're ecstatic you're happy.

The reason you never get responses from lease ops is because people like you give toxic criticism instead of advice. I'm done with this site. S rew TT and screw you.

I'm upset? Yawns.

That's all you have to say?? Pretty arrogant to criticize how I run my business, get the numbers laid out in front of you that you said I wouldn't provide and all you have to say is some snarky comment?? Why would I listen to any ****ty advice you have to give??

See reason #2 above.

That's you.

2. Make ignorant arguments with nothing factual to prove the rants.

Scroll up. I gave you a monthly statement

I'm upset? Yawns.

That's all you have to say?? Pretty arrogant to criticize how I run my business, get the numbers laid out in front of you that you said I wouldn't provide and all you have to say is some snarky comment?? Why would I listen to any ****ty advice you have to give??

I had a NET income from driving of more than $75,000 in 2021 just as a company driver. I also netted an income in excess of $250,000 through real estate, military retirement, and two other businesses I have interests in, stocks, and gambling. My trucking expenses were food, clothing, and entertainment. Nothing extra that I wouldn't have already needed or wanted to consume, partake of, or utilize on the road or not driving.

People who argue that lease is the way to make more money make me laugh uncontrollably.

Please factually post ALL your numbers on here and show all us dummies how you're killing it, okay? I want to see everything that came in and everything that went out or is pending. Maintenance, fuel, settlements, taxes, insurance, workers compensation, accounting, down time, salary, equipment rentals, etc.....ALL OF IT. Prove to us how much we don't get it. Sell me on leasing as opposed to being a company driver. You can't.

You guys always do one of three things:

1. Post incomplete or inaccurate numbers.

2. Make ignorant arguments with nothing factual to prove the rants.

3. Go silent and disappear.

*HINT* Nobody has come on here yet in 15 years to prove our theory wrong, so be the first. Show me how it is worthwhile to struggle to make maybe 10 cents more per mile. Prove Me Wrong! Until you do, I'm done wasting my time typing.

Besides I never said I was trying to be some damn poster child for lease ops I just don't know why several of you treat me like an idiot for making a decision that works for me and my family

Let's start with the previous month. It will take me a little while to get my other statements but I have this on hand. It has some year to date numbers. I know several company drivers and they make around $900-1000 a week. You can see from the statement I'm averaging twice that.

I had a NET income from driving of more than $75,000 in 2021 just as a company driver. I also netted an income in excess of $250,000 through real estate, military retirement, and two other businesses I have interests in, stocks, and gambling. My trucking expenses were food, clothing, and entertainment. Nothing extra that I wouldn't have already needed or wanted to consume, partake of, or utilize on the road or not driving.

People who argue that lease is the way to make more money make me laugh uncontrollably.

Please factually post ALL your numbers on here and show all us dummies how you're killing it, okay? I want to see everything that came in and everything that went out or is pending. Maintenance, fuel, settlements, taxes, insurance, workers compensation, accounting, down time, salary, equipment rentals, etc.....ALL OF IT. Prove to us how much we don't get it. Sell me on leasing as opposed to being a company driver. You can't.

You guys always do one of three things:

1. Post incomplete or inaccurate numbers.

2. Make ignorant arguments with nothing factual to prove the rants.

3. Go silent and disappear.

*HINT* Nobody has come on here yet in 15 years to prove our theory wrong, so be the first. Show me how it is worthwhile to struggle to make maybe 10 cents more per mile. Prove Me Wrong! Until you do, I'm done wasting my time typing.

You just admitted you have all kinds of other income to supplement not making much as a company driver so what does that prove?? I have 6 people including myself I am providing for and this is the only way I've been able to do it. I don't have to prove anything to you nor do I care to. This works for me and I could care less how much that upsets you! The fact that you're getting upset about it is childish anyway. I could give you all the numbers you want, hell I'll post every single one of my statements. I could care less!

You went lease? Why? Get out of that if possible ASAP. You're going to have better odds playing the lottery each week.

TONS of articles on this site about why to never, ever lease.

I don’t work for free. No point in being away from home for months at a time if I can’t pay my bills. I have been able to do that as a lease op. Pretty well actually

That's nice. I'm sure Wilson appreciates you guys making their truck payments, hauling their freight goods, picking up most of the maintenance costs, reducing their tax burden, and offsetting a lot of the depreciation on their (it does read "Wilson" on the title) trucks. Makes me want to be a company owner or a 3 Card Monte dealer right now.

I assume you own your own truck, which I'm sure is awesome and because of that you make good money, but do you honestly think most of us have the credit or capital to do that?? Do you expect us all to be company drivers? That pays less than minimum wage so no thank you.

You went lease? Why? Get out of that if possible ASAP. You're going to have better odds playing the lottery each week.

TONS of articles on this site about why to never, ever lease.

I don’t work for free. No point in being away from home for months at a time if I can’t pay my bills. I have been able to do that as a lease op. Pretty well actually

Tim, what amenities does your truck have?

Pretty standard stuff. Comes with a fridge and a closet, sleeper controls for temperature. I bought a microwave and an electric skillet and cook to save money. Truck stops are outrageously expensive.

I'll add a few more pictures of some of the places I've seen. I've been to nearly all of the lower 48 and have mostly seen traffic and white lines but occasionally I see some of our beautiful country.

Quick update: been running as hard as possible. Wilson has been good to me. I really like my Fleet Manager. He's a solid guy that keeps me rolling. Lease op has been good. Averaging between $1700 to $2000 a week. The summer months have been down a little but still making money. Will have a year under my belt in a couple months so we'll see if any opportunities open up then. Not getting home very often, about once every 4 to 6 weeks. Have a new grandbaby tho! I got a puppy for the truck too. His name is Toby. I'll post some pictures of them.

Mountain Matt is leaving Wilson for another company driving tanker. Good luck Matt!

So since everyone here is so critical of the deep end of the pool I've jumped into, what are you suggesting I do? Go back to being a company driver and making less than I can afford to make? I've been very clear that $900-$1000/week is barely enough to pay my bills. If that's the case trucking is not worth the sacrifice. Because I only see 3 options here... company (not enough money), lease (too much risk), or owner op (don't have the credit). So instead of telling me I made a mistake how about telling me either how to succeed or to get out while I can!

I know none of you know me but I'm not stupid. I'm not some naive 25 year old that thinks $4100 a week is sustainable or that it didn't start during the previous week. It was a perfect storm. The week before I was just starting out and made a couple mistakes and only had one load on payroll. The next load started before payroll ended and spilled into the next week and really helped the next week out. Do I care? Nope! More money! As long as I start the week paying my expenses then the other loads are towards my profits. I'm running this like an owner op so I need suggestions on how to be the best one I can.

What is your maintenance cost per mile?

What is your fixed cost to operate the truck?

What is your percentage of loaded miles and deadhead miles?

How much are you setting aside for maintenance?

How much are you setting aside for quarterly taxes?

What is the fuel surcharge average since you started?

How much are you paying yourself per mile?

Are you performing any scheduled and unscheduled maintenance?

Do you have an accountant that is proficient with truckers needs?

These are all really good questions! Can you help me answer them??

And this is usually the response we get back from anyone that goes into the lease plan. I'd love to read all your numbers for all the costs and expenses compared to settlements. Some day a lease operator will post these, but after my six years on TT, it hasn't happened.

Good luck.

I think these are in the right order... this is my statement from last week.

I’ve always been curious as to what Prime gives lease ops in regards to fuel surcharge because I can almost guarantee they’re skimming.

I don't know if they are or not but they definitely have some connections with discounts and all that. Last week I ran 4315 miles and after discounts only paid $1100 for fuel. I think the only reason I even paid that much is because of where I bought fuel a couple of times. I wasn't always where I could fuel at the places Prime suggested.

We all go through a steep learning curve in trucking. You just decided you wanted yours to be even more challenging. I hope you can pull it off. If you've got a good dispatcher, who is only dispatching lease operators, they should be able to help you some. They will understand the things you need.

I understand what everybody is saying and I get that I have to pay dues and that I won't make a ton of money since I'm just starting out. I'm not arguing that. I knew I would be at the bottom of the ladder. I knew that coming in to this industry. I'm not naive or young enough to think I would make a LOT of money off the bat but I do have a minimum amount I need in order to survive and pay my bills. My calculations were a little higher than 1000 a week or so which would be close to what I was making before I lost my last job. If I can't make that it will be a lot harder to survive and not worth the sacrifice I'm making to call this a career. So far as a lease op I think I'll be able to do that. All, and I mean ALL the other drivers I know at my company are lease ops. All the trainers, all the more senior drivers I know, all of them. They didn't push me to lease but talked it up enough to convince me it would be a lot better. Did I want to take that risk so early? Of course not! But if the money is drastically different I believe it will be worth it. So far it has been better. I won't always have a week like this past one but it is encouraging.

I came here on advice on how to be successful at something that I've already committed to, not to be scared and criticized for making the decision.

Hi Tim,

My only advice to you is to be honest with yourself. Don't be saying you made 5k when you know you have fuel, truck payments, maintenance, ins etc. to pay for. Don't forget to make your estimated quarterly taxes also or you will know the real difference between leasing and company.

I guess you were right. I didn't make $5000. I made $4100 and yes, that is take home.

You can certainly do that. You can even do it as a lease operator, but if you think that just changing your category from an employee to a contractor works like a magic wand to turn on the great income, you are really missing something.

The difference between company and lease is I went from 46cpm to 70% of every load. I'm already making more money. The weird thing about that is that they're giving me more miles as a lease op than they were a company driver... they gave me a bunch of rinky dink loads that had me sitting at a customer for 6-8 hours every time and I wasn't making enough to live off of.