Profile For Derek L.

I’d like to be my own boss and have a business and trucking will not go anywhere in the near future and like the trucking industry. I’m 1 year away from getting my bachelors in civil engineering but still a trucking business would be nice on the side until there’s no point of staying an engineer.

That’s very true. So would becoming an owner op and forming LLC/USDOT/MC and save up money then eventually hiring drivers to drive the trucks be the smart move? And establishing only a few trucks under my business?

Thanks for the feedback. My plan was to supply some trucks and hire drivers or have owner operators under my authority. I don’t have plans on driving myself in my company I was hoping to dispatch and also run the company with a partner as well. Seeing all the feedback at first I did assume all the startup charges and anticipated monthly expenses of $10k-$15 and I know to make profit it depends how much the drivers can make me. I’ll look at the approach of buying a used 3-4 year truck and a driver as well as waiting for cost of everything to go down. I’m just assessing all options on how to run my company without driving myself.

I asked my own boss what he would do if he started all over. Right now he has some trucks from the company he’s operated by but now he’s getting a lot of Cascadia Ryders under lease. From doing general research Ryder charges $1,500-$2500 per month per truck lease and a maintence monthly fee which covers “bumper to bumper” and includes tires and brakes. I feel like it just makes sense to me to lease a newer truck and keep updating them rather than buying an old truck and worrying about maintence.

I asked my own boss if he was to start over he would start with leasing trucks from Ryder and then eventually owning his own. Right now he has some of the trucks from the company he’s operated by but now he’s getting more Cascadias from Ryder. From doing some general research leasing from Ryder would cost $1,500-$2,500 a month and a lease plan that includes maintence fees per month that cover “bumper to bumper” including tires and brakes. Plus obviously insurance. It just makes sense for me to lease so I have more security and option to own at the end.

This forum is primarily geared towards helping prospective drivers be prepared as they begin their careers and help them through the challenges of their first year. An overwhelming majority of us are company drivers and feel leasing and O/O is not worth it but we do have a few that do so. Your more likely to get the information you seek through OOIDA.

Out of curiosity what are you being quoted for payments of truck and trailer, and what does Ryders maintenance program cost and cover? What is it that makes you want to go lease?

Hello! My name is Derek. I’m 23 and have had my CDL for about 5 years now and last 2 years have had my A class. been working for this small trucking company doing local runs for 7 months now and am planning on starting my own company soon within the next couple years. Just looking for some advice on how to start the right way. My plan was to get my own authority so get all the permits I need, setup a business bank account, get insurance. For equipment I am planning to lease a sleeper tractor from Ryder right away along with the maintenance deal as well. Also leasing/finance a trailer so that I eventually only lease the trucks and own the trailers. I’m just looking to see if anyone has any experience leasing from Ryder, what to expect, and if it’s possible to lease from a different company like Ryder under my own authority without leasing onto them as owner operator. Is this a good idea and should I lease one truck from the start and try to hire owner operators? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!