Company Man Trying To Break Into The OO World - OO Vets Please Help!

I've been driving for going on ten years and spent the last three driving open deck/ flatbed. I have a squeaky clean driving record and I've been seriously looking into buying my own rig and leasing on with my current company. I've hit roadblock after roadblock. I've had dealers and drivers alike tell me that unless I've banked somewhere near $50,000 for a down payment and backup cash and a stellar credit rating, it's not possible.

Is there a path for me to become an OO? I've been told that the startups are the hardest, but if I could establish some business credit, doors would open. I have mediocre credit and not much cash to back me up. $50 large seems impossible to me. Is there another path?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Why would you discount what dealers and drivers tell you? My former boss that I fired in Aug, was a lease operator to the company I'm driving for now (as a company driver). He didn't have that money saved up and motor problems on an older truck he was buying took him out to the point of owing all 3 of his drivers back wages. My amount is $1871.56. :-P

You have been given good advice. The startup costs are difficult to startup any business. Depending what kind of truck your trying to purchase, what kind of down payment you need. My guess is your looking at new trucks. There are good used trucks out there, just need to put the time into finding them. Since your doing flatbed work, I would look at TMC truck sales. Trucks are well maintained and setup and spec’ed for that type of work.

Leasing onto your company is a great idea. I do it and do well. Running on their insurance is always cheaper than you can get it on your own. They take care of the majority of the front office work for you too.

Do not get sucked into the compant leasing game to get a truck. Those programs are strongly geared toward the company making money, not the driver.