Looking For Wilson Transportation Lease Purchase OTR Operators To Talk To

Hello I got my class-A permit this week and am going through the learning process of learning how to get into the trucking trade in the context of "wanting to be an OTR trucker for a few years" to build up a bunch of savings and then get out of the trade and use my savings to accomplish some personal goals.

I'm not married, have no kids, barely have any debt and barely have any bills to worry about. So I'm looking to be the kind of OTR trucker who is "at home" as little as possible, hopefully to the point of spending what little time I have off using my truck as a place to sleep so I don't even have to rent an apartment somewhere, while keeping my personal items in storage somewhere, until I finish building up the savings that I want to build up to accomplish some personal goals.

Paying my own way, or going into student loan debt to go through trucking school is not an option. Not planning on becoming an owner/operator because I don't plan to be a trucker more than a few years. So I'll either end up being a company driver, or a lease purchase operator.

This has been my experience dealing with many trucking recruiters so far: -They promise 75k-100k/year if I drive with them -They then tell me I'm going to get paid .50/mile and average 2,000-2,200 miles a week, which does NOT add up to 75k-100k/year -When I confront them about how the math doesn't add up to their "75k-100k/year" sales pitch, they then tell me that in order to achieve that kind of income, I got to work for them for a year and then become a trainer, or other nonsense that basically gives me a BS sleazy car salesmen vibe and makes me not want to trust them.

However, I had a completely different experience with a Wilson Transportation recruiter With Wilson Logistics: -I read the standard 75k-100k/year sales pitch on their website, then talk to a recruiter, the recruiter says the same thing and then tells me the .50/mile, 2,000-2,500 mile/week thing but can get more miles if I really want it. -When I tell them the math of that pay doesn't add up to 75k-100k/year, instead of giving me a BS answer that I would need to be a trainer, the recruiter told me that if I want to make 75k-100k/year that need to be a lease purchase operator. He then went on to explain that as a lease purchase operator, I would be getting paid in percentages of loads instead of cents per mile, and THAT'S the how and why I would be making 75k-100k/year. -The recruiter at Wilson Transportation also went on to tell me that I can immediately go on to becoming a lease purchase operator after the training is complete.

There are two things that are preventing me from moving forward with Wilson Logistics right now: 1. Even though I have a class-A permit, my DOT is only a 6month (as opposed to the 2yr) because I got to do two sleep studies, get a CPAP , use it for 30 days, and then do another DOT physical and ONLY then will I get my 2yr DOT certificate. Because I've been diagnosed with sleep apnea from my first sleep study, I have to wait until October 9th to do my second sleep study due to sleep labs being so backed up with appointments....and it's only AFTER I do that sleep study, can I begin to start waiting on getting my CPAP to start using it. Because of all of that, Wilson Logistics will not go forward with me until I at the very least have a CPAP and am already using it. So because of that, I'm just researching the trucking trade while I'm waiting for October 9th and then get my CPAP machine.

2. Because of my shady experiences with recruiters (not Wilson Logistics recruiters), I feel the need to verify that I can actually make 75k-100k/year as a lease purchase operator before I contact my Wilson Logistics recruiter and move forward with Wilson Logistics in regards to training, signing a contract, etc.

So that is why I'm making this post on this forum. I'm searching for Wilson Logistics OTR lease purchase operators to talk to, to find out from folks actually doing the very specific job that I want to do for Wilson Logistics, to confirm and/or debunk this "75k-100k a year claim" so that I don't proverbially shoot myself in the foot due to not doing my homework on a new career before getting into it.

So if any of you are lease purchase operators (specifically OTR lease operators) for Wilson Logistics, please comment below and tell me about your experience and what you're actually making as an OTR lease purchase operator for Wilson Logistics.

Thanks, Paul

Ok, as with ANY lease, there are so many different variables as to what you can realistically take home. Do not forget to factor in taxes, health insurance, and retirement savings.

Your tax situation can also have serious impact on your actual take home.

You also state you don't want to own a truck, because you aren't planning on being out here that long, HOWEVER that is what a Lease-Purchase is. The end result is you OWN the truck, title, headaches, and all.

NaeNae,

Do you know if Wilson offers a company driver position? I heard kearsey mention that Prime is hiring only LP's. Since Wilson is affiliated with Prime they might be doing the same thing with new hires.

We all know the pitfalls of a new driver starting as a LP. Just want to know if there is an alternative for Paul (op).

First of all recruiter’s are nothing more than sales people. The sell the seat they are putting your butt in.

75-100k going lease purchase or even straight term lease is total crap money, even in this economy. You will end up netting much less than a company driver at that rate. You should be able to hit 175-200k gross. Otherwise something is really wrong.

Also to be legal you need your own business identity. The days of sole properitor are long gone, unless your doing things on the sketchy side.

Think about this scenario. Wilson leases you a truck. They mostly pull Prime’s freight on Prime’s trailers. The offer you a percentage pay. Can you see where I am going yet?

Prime has the contract and trailer pool. I don’t know but for discussion they pay Wilson 80% of the linehaul. Now Wilson offers you 70% to pull that load.

Your making 70% of the 80% that Wilson got. 20% to Prime for the gross, now Wilson takes their 30% of the 80% they were paid. You end up making 50% of what that load was really worth.

Now let that sink in for a minute.

You lease a truck and they charge you weekly for the truck, insurance, eld, etc. The fixed costs. You have those every week of the year wether that truck makes any money or not. You are paying their truck note and for the equipment.

Does any of that make any sense from a business standpoint??

People leasing trucks from these companies often describe themselves as an O/O. What part of that scenario is you own anything??

These big companies found a marketing gimmick to lure people in that want to be an O/O but lack the resources to do it. They are also under the microscope of congress presently and leasing like most of them do is in danger of going away.

Just my take, do some through research and look at hard numbers.

NaeNae,

Do you know if Wilson offers a company driver position? I heard kearsey mention that Prime is hiring only LP's. Since Wilson is affiliated with Prime they might be doing the same thing with new hires.

We all know the pitfalls of a new driver starting as a LP. Just want to know if there is an alternative for Paul (op).

Yes I can also be a company driver but the pay is .50/mile.

Worst case scenario if I drive 2200 miles/week that is 52,800.00/yr

Best case scenario 3,000 miles/week that is 72,000.00/yr

I’ll go that way if there is no better choice but would like to verify the 75k-100k pay being a lease operator is true or not via finding folks who do that for Wilson Logistics….even then through them I can figure out a rough idea of take home pay. Learning that will help me decide between being a company driver or lease operator.

Hope that makes sense.

First of all recruiter’s are nothing more than sales people. The sell the seat they are putting your butt in.

75-100k going lease purchase or even straight term lease is total crap money, even in this economy. You will end up netting much less than a company driver at that rate. You should be able to hit 175-200k gross. Otherwise something is really wrong.

Also to be legal you need your own business identity. The days of sole properitor are long gone, unless your doing things on the sketchy side.

Think about this scenario. Wilson leases you a truck. They mostly pull Prime’s freight on Prime’s trailers. The offer you a percentage pay. Can you see where I am going yet?

Prime has the contract and trailer pool. I don’t know but for discussion they pay Wilson 80% of the linehaul. Now Wilson offers you 70% to pull that load.

Your making 70% of the 80% that Wilson got. 20% to Prime for the gross, now Wilson takes their 30% of the 80% they were paid. You end up making 50% of what that load was really worth.

Now let that sink in for a minute.

You lease a truck and they charge you weekly for the truck, insurance, eld, etc. The fixed costs. You have those every week of the year wether that truck makes any money or not. You are paying their truck note and for the equipment.

Does any of that make any sense from a business standpoint??

People leasing trucks from these companies often describe themselves as an O/O. What part of that scenario is you own anything??

These big companies found a marketing gimmick to lure people in that want to be an O/O but lack the resources to do it. They are also under the microscope of congress presently and leasing like most of them do is in danger of going away.

Just my take, do some through research and look at hard numbers.

Holy cow that’s a huge eye opener. That makes a lot of sense. Reading that makes me want to be a company driver instead haha.

Ok, when I did the math of the pay I would get if I go the company driver route, that’s .50/mile across the board.

Worst case scenario I only get 2,200 miles/week that’s 52,800/year gross and who know how much after taxes.

Best case scenario and I get 3,000 miles/week that is 72k/year gross and who knows what is left over after taxes.

I’m basically calculating by multiplying a week’s pay by 4, then multiplying that by 12.

Does that sound about right?

Can't speak for Wilson Logistics, or for lease operations either.

But what I can contribute is a helpful tip I came up with to cut through the propaganda and advertisements companies use for promised earnings. This method is free to use, easily accessible, and can give you a better idea of what you'll actually be earning with a given company than anything they promise. What's more, as an added bonus, it'll also give you a pretty good idea for the safety and maintenance record of the company, which is important because the higher the safety standards and well-maintained the equipment is the more time you'll be spending on the road making miles, and the less time you'll be shutdown due to breakdowns and/or failed DOT inspections.

What is this tip? The FMCSA database.

Just Google the company you're interested in and fmcsa. In this case "fmcsa Wilson Logistics" brings up this link: https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=1009435

This brings up a snapshot of the company along with some vital information to help you with your search.

For example, want to know how much money you're likely to actually be making? Take the total reported miles the company made for the year (44,974,385) and divide it by the number of reported drivers (556), which gives an average of 80,889 miles per driver per year. Now multiply that by what the promised wages are (.50 mile in this case), and you have a ballpark figure for what you'll actually be earning as a company driver ($40,444.59 year). Now this information isn't going to be perfectly accurate (reported information was from 2022, and most companies pay more than just miles, i.e. detention pay, etc.), but it'll give you something to work with.

Wilson Logistics looks like they have a really good inspection record with the DOT, which means they take good care of their equipment, therefore they're less likely to be pulled in for an inspection and less likely to be found out of service.

When I first began my career about 30 months ago I used this method to look into about a dozen companies. I then kept all the information I deemed important in a spreadsheet - number of accidents per driver, fatalities, inspections, average miles per driver, etc. Using that information I made an informed decision to go with Roehl because they were consistently in the top for each category I was looking for.

How has it held up? I'd say pretty good. According to the most recent fmcsa data, the average driver with Roehl makes 107,888 miles, and currently I earn .59 mile (actual is closer to .661 with bonuses and other things), which, using my method above, would give an estimate of 107888 x .661 = $71,314. Last year I grossed $75k, which is pretty much in line with my estimates.

It sounds right if you never take any time off.

I don't have specific experience with Wilson, but I went through Primes CDL training program and then was a Lease Operator with Prime for 3 years. Since Wilson hauls freight for Prime, I'll assume experiences may be similar. I had a very positive experience with Prime and did bring home a net income in the ballpark of 85k. 100k+ net may have likely been possible as a constant driver trainer in a good market. That being said I would not be comfortable recommending any new driver to get themselves into a lease or a lease purchase. The risks are to great and you are to inexperienced to fully grasp what you are getting into. The companies will sell you on the benefits of being a L/O, because it is more beneficial to them. As a L/O you assume the costs of fuel, maintenance, taxes, medical benefits, and the financial risks associated with driver errors.

It is more risky and more expensive to the company to bring you on as a employee, than it is to pay you a percentage of load and allow you to assume all the risk as a private contractor.

Also I have seen accounts from other motivated Prime drivers on this forum that earned a similar income as company drivers.

I have heard that the current freight market is in a rough place, so those income numbers may be more difficult to hit. The freight market may also be why companies are nudging you towards a lease, as it reduces their costs and risks.

I'm a bit out of the loop, as I left Prime about 3.5 years ago. But I would highly recommend a company driver position based on my experience.

I am now a company driver for a local company hauling fuel, earning more than I ever did as a L/O with Prime.

I don't have specific experience with Wilson, but I went through Primes CDL training program and then was a Lease Operator with Prime for 3 years. Since Wilson hauls freight for Prime, I'll assume experiences may be similar. I had a very positive experience with Prime and did bring home a net income in the ballpark of 85k. 100k+ net may have likely been possible as a constant driver trainer in a good market. That being said I would not be comfortable recommending any new driver to get themselves into a lease or a lease purchase. The risks are to great and you are to inexperienced to fully grasp what you are getting into. The companies will sell you on the benefits of being a L/O, because it is more beneficial to them. As a L/O you assume the costs of fuel, maintenance, taxes, medical benefits, and the financial risks associated with driver errors.

It is more risky and more expensive to the company to bring you on as a employee, than it is to pay you a percentage of load and allow you to assume all the risk as a private contractor.

Also I have seen accounts from other motivated Prime drivers on this forum that earned a similar income as company drivers.

I have heard that the current freight market is in a rough place, so those income numbers may be more difficult to hit. The freight market may also be why companies are nudging you towards a lease, as it reduces their costs and risks.

I'm a bit out of the loop, as I left Prime about 3.5 years ago. But I would highly recommend a company driver position based on my experience.

I am now a company driver for a local company hauling fuel, earning more than I ever did as a L/O with Prime.

cool thanks! this thread has been extremely helpful!

Yeah I'll stay away from L/O and try to get into company driving for my 1st year.