Looking At This Full Time With Wife And Cat As Passenger Only Is Lease Ownership No Credit Check Worth It?

just wondering if I got into the field wanting to take my wife and pet cat as passenger only my wife would never drive is it worth those lease ownership no credit check deals? My wife loves the idea of giving up the apartment and doing this full time on the road, or any other ways to enter this field where I can do it full time not having to have a home base and where my wife and pet can be with me all the time as not driver ? thank you Ron Phoenix Arizona

Hello Ron, and welcome to the forum!

That's a great question, and I hope we can save you some very real heartache before you get too far into this. Truck leasing is not as grand and glorious as all the advertisements make it out to be.

I've been a business man all my life, I retired and got into this as a second career - I'm only telling you this because I want you to understand that I know a little about what it takes to make money. When I was in business I didn't like it when I got new or more competition in my area, it just made it tougher on us to succeed.

Why do you think all these trucking companies would want you to be an independent contractor, who is basically in competition with them, out there hauling their freight? Just in case you aren't sure of the answer, I'm going to tell you. They have realized where all the hidden and unexpected costs to this business are, they are tied to the ownership of the trucks. If they didn't have the maintenance, repair, and ever fluctuating fuel costs to deal with they could do a lot better in this business. The entire driving force behind the idea of leasing trucks to the drivers is a cost saving method so that the trucking companies in this commodity based business can try and stay within the 3 - 5 percent profit margin that is standard to the industry.

I'm out here on the road a lot and I speak to drivers all the time who are going broke because they fell for the leasing schemes put out there by the trucking companies. In a word Ron, DON'T DO IT!

If you want to give this a try, be a company driver. Find yourself a company that will allow you to take your wife and cat and you will do just fine if you can handle the demands of the job. I make a great living and love what I'm doing, but I would never consider the leasing option, it's just way too risky.

I would encourage you to read Brett's Book, it's free, an easy read, and packed with valuable information about what you're getting into as a professional driver. Then look around in the Trucker's Career Guide. These resources should get you lots of valuable information, and then jump back in here with your questions and we'll be glad to help in any way we can.

any other ways to enter this field where I can do it full time not having to have a home base and where my wife and pet can be with me all the time as not driver ?

Everything Old School said is right on. Stay away from buying or leasing a truck.

You can live on the road in the truck with your wife and pet as a company driver. You just have to find a company that will allow pets. There are some, but not a whole lot. Almost any company will let you bring your wife with you but some of them will require you to get at least a few months of experience first.

Also, you're going to have to go through a period of training on the road with your first company. You'll be running team with an experienced driver while he shows you the ropes. This training period will last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the company. During this time you will not be able to bring your wife or pet with you.

So you'll have to do some travelling for a little while without your wife and pet, but it shouldn't be more than a few months. Once you're cleared to drive solo and you've gotten the required experienced to bring your wife with you (if it's required at all) you'll be all set.

Not trying to be a recruiter for my company but check out Central Refrigerated. They allow passengers as soon as you go solo, the cost is 150$ taken out in the following paycheck. They also allow pets but the cost is 500$ taken out in small payments deducted from your paycheck. Their schooling is only a few weeks and their on the road training is 4-6 weeks which is just about the shortest you'll find.

So check then out I think they fit your needs. But be warned, their schooling is extremely fast paced and very difficult. If you do not come prepared, you will either fail or be stressed out to no end the entire duration. Just please, don't fall for their lease program. They push the lease program and make it sound like you'll become a millionaire if you lease with them. My friend leases with them and doesn't even make enough money to comfortably feed himself. You won't survive supporting you and your wife and the pet if you lease - I assure you.

So look into them, but there's also a million other companies out there. Look into each one and find one that really fits your needs.