Comments By Rick Dees

Ray sounds like you already answered your own question..you have a permit in your state and you keep a low profile..use common sense..you will be fine.

You guys baffle me.

James says that lease drivers barely make enough to cover their truck payments... yet he's interested...?

Rick owned a business for 5 years and sounds like it wasn't as good as he had hoped. So he sold it and "barely made it out alive". Yet the subject of owning another more risky business and less rewardful business is on his mind?

(Facepalm)

Uhh the business I owned was a franchise..nothing to do with trucking..It was an experience and I learned a lot..there were certainly tax incentives. After looking at all of these comments yall are talking me out of it. I am caught between just putting in another year or so and moving on to a higher paying company job. My big issue is going home when I want. Hey at least this issue of leasing is being discussed here..it's going on so much now.

The only thing that makes me consider it is "The walk away lease" . I owned a buisiness for 5 years so sort of know the risks..luckily we sold it and made it out alive. I have talked with a few lease drivers who are pleased...but who knows, people say anything.

I really don't understand why leasing is not discussed here..thinking of it myself down the line. If it's a walk away lease what do you have to lose? Look into KLLM or maybe Riverside Transport..I haven't done it but have talked to some who have and are doing ok.

Be vewy vewy careful. I just left there. Go slow use you GPS as an aid but watch with your EYES..watch for and read the SIGNS..for low clearances etc. My GPS tried to send me under a low bridge so don't count on it. Roads through town are narrow and be aware of piled up SNOWBANKS..they were everywhere. Go slow and watch and you will be fine. Also park8bg is minimal..get in and out if you can. I had to pay for parking downtown.

I could maybe see an autopilot type feature in future years on straightaway highways like Int 80. Can you imagine driverless trucks on 80 in Wyoming in the winter with ice and 60mph winds??Going over Donners pass, Cabbage patch in Oregon, driving in downtown New Jersey??? This isn't happening in our lifetime..maybe way way off in the future.

I don't completely agree with this story but it makes some interesting points

How Trucking Went From One of the Best Jobs in America to One of the Worst

It was pounded into our heads at school to get out and make sure the locking jaws are locked behind the king pin when hooking up to the trailer. Being in a hurry is our biggest enemy and it's worth a few extra minutes to get out and check.

There are so many distractions when transitioning. Glad it turned out well for you.

My dog picks where we park which is the best grassy area usually in the back. I try to walk with him as much as I can after sitting all day..the laziness and sloppiness of some..not all..truckers is truly astounding to me. Many areas at truck stops should be deemed a hazmat zone.

Not at all..it's the days where you get short runs, dealing with shippers and receivers, scaling the load etc. that get frustrating sometimes. The long runs that last a few days are great..you will enjoy the ride just as much if not more, especially out west with less traffic hassles.