Leasing As A Student Fresh Out Of School A Good Idea?

Jack now has a plan:

alright thanks for all the great advice everybody, I think I will just hold off and work for a year and keep track of everything maybe like a journal or something and right down how much I'd be paid if I were leasing and write down the fuel cost. The breakdowns, etc and really kinda get a feel for it to see if I'm gonna like it but again can't thank everybody for all the great comments.

That is an excellent idea! Journal everything that happens financially for your year. You will not see many $ numbers for maintenance since the company either does that in their shop or pays Flying-J direct. But build a sample year, recording your miles, your fuel, whatever repairs including flats and common on-road issues. You can ask at shops the price for replacing a spare or fixing a flat or a road call.

If you can, make a spreadsheet. Then find out the pay rate for O/O. Work out all out. You're not done yet! This will be a rough net revenue (not profit) number.

Do the digging for tax rates, self employment tax, medical insurance, equipment depreciation, and price out all the Tylenol you can eat. This would be a rough idea of your net profit.

Or just take a look at the whole mess and stay company driver and not worry about it.