Owner Operator Carrier Truck Lease Agreements

Owner Operator Carrier Truck Lease Agreements

 

Many professional drivers are aware of the tactics that have been used by some Motor Carriers in order to lure drivers into Owner Operator and/or Truck Lease Purchase programs. For example, some Motor Carriers may grossly exaggerate the expected salary and number of miles available to owner operators through their websites, advertising, and other recruiting efforts while simultaneously downplaying or completely omitting the significant costs associated with running your own truck.   Many of these programs have resulted in financial catastrophe for owner operators who have signed these agreements, only to find themselves significantly worse off than if they’d remained a company driver.

 
Drivers of all experience levels may fall victim to these practices, but those most vulnerable are the new CDL graduates.  Fresh out of school, several thousand dollars in debt, and beholden to Carriers for the training they’ve received, the promise of more miles, more money, a new truck and being your own boss is often too much for many to resist.

 
As a means to stop these tactics, it is our objective to collect as much information as possible regarding which Carriers employ these practices, who they target, what promises they make and how these owner-operator agreements are presented.

 By filling this information out you will be helping others and yourselves.

For your privacy, you may participate in this survey anonymously. HOWEVER, if you have been subjected to any of these practices and/or signed an owner operator or truck lease agreement and would like to offer your name and contact info, there will be space provided for you to do so.  You may also indicate your desire to speak with a representative regarding your experiences.
 
Note: Truth About Trucking, LLC has been fighting many of the unscrupulous tactics of the trucking industry for 10 years, including many Carrier Truck Lease Agreements.

 For 8 years now, the only company we endorse for those looking to purchase/lease their own truck is Lone Mountain Truck Leasing.  
Simply put, they are honest. No gimmicks or strings.

Thank you for taking this survey and helping us to continue our fight to "Raise the Standards of the Trucking Industry"

Allen Smith- President- Truth About Trucking LLC
Contact us:  info@truthabouttrucking.com
AskTheTrucker.com
TruckingSocialMedia.com

* 1. There are questions which may or may not pertain to you. Try to answer as many questions as you can depending on your own personal situation.
What was your position when you first communicated with carrier about a Truck Lease Purchase (Veteran driver, CDL Student, New driver in training)

* 2. Have you ever been approached to become an owner operator through a Carrier’s owner operator and/or truck lease purchase program?

* 3. What carrier or carriers did you drive for when you were approached?

* 4. Did you agree to the Program and sign the agreement?

* 5. Were you allowed to take the contract home or to an attorney before signing it?

* 6. Did you feel pressured to sign the agreement?  Use the scale from 0-100

0 No Pressure Moderate Pressure 100 Very Pressured
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

* 7. How did the carrier advertise the Lease Program or otherwise tell you any info, such as how much owner operators can expect to make each year or how many miles owner operators can expect to drive each week? Check all that apply

* 8. Do you still have any of these written materials?

* 9. What information was told to you about the Lease Purchase?  Check All that Apply

* 10. Were you told that you would make more money or have more miles per week than you actually did?

* 11. How much money did you expect to make per week?

* 12. How much did you actually make per week?

* 13. How many miles did you expect to drive per week?

* 14. How many miles did you actually drive per week?

* 15. Were you advised about expenses you would be responsible for if you became an owner operator?

* 16. What expenses were you advised of? Check all that apply.

* 17. Did you receive an estimate of the expenses you would be responsible for?

* 18. How much (expense) did you expect to be responsible for per week?

* 19. How much (expense) were you actually responsible for per week?

* 20. Did you attend a company sponsored CDL school and company training program?

* 21. If you attended a company sponsored CDL school, was it Free? If not, how much did they charge you?

* 22. If you were charged for your company sponsored CDL School, how did they charge you? Check all that apply.

* 23. If you went to a company sponsored CDL School and training program, did you sign a contract to work for them for a set amount of months and/or at a set amount $ rate?

* 24. If you answered Yes to Q23, How long was your contract?

* 25. If you answered Yes to Q23, How much did they pay you? (CPM, per hour,or weekly)

* 26. IF you went to a company sponsored CDL School and training program, did you sign a contract that penalized you if you ended the contract early?

* 27. IF you went to a company sponsored CDL School and training program, did you sign a contract that penalized you if you were terminated?

* 28. If you answered Yes, How were you penalized

* 29. If Yes, and if you ended the contract early or were terminated, has the Carrier attempted to collect money. If yes, how much?

* 30. IF you went to a company sponsored CDL School and training program, did you sign a contract that prohibited you from working with other companies either before you completed training or after?

* 31. If yes, have you been prevented from working with other companies?

* 32. If yes, which carrier did you sign the contract with?

* 33. If Yes, how long were you prohibited from working with other companies?

* 34. Did you attend a different CDL School (with a company other than the one you worked/trained with after CDL school completion)?

* 35. How much were you paid while you were in Carrier training (after graduating CDL School)
If you were not paid during training, just enter NOT PAID

* 36. In what state did you go to CDL School?

* 37. In What state did you get hired on with a Training Company?

* 38. Did the carrier give you the option to be an owner operator or a company driver?

* 39. Were you ever forced to wait for a company truck in order to be a company driver?

* 40. After completing your training and while you were waiting for a truck, were you ever told that there were no company driver positions available?

* 41. Did the Carrier ever try to persuade you to become an owner operator?

* 42. If yes, when did the Carrier try to persuade you to become an owner operator? Check all that apply.

* 43. Did the carrier ever try to persuade you to be an owner operator instead of a company driver?

* 44. If Yes, How did the carrier try to persuade you to be an owner operator instead of a company driver? Check all that apply

 

* 45. How did the carrier communicate their persuasion?

* 46.  Did you lease a truck from the carrier or a company related to the carrier?

* 47. Were you allowed to make a copy of the agreement or take it home to study it?

* 48. Do you have the agreement?

* 49. Do you believe you were a target of a Fraudulent Lease Agreement?

* 50. This information is optional. If you wish to be contacted by a representative of AskTheTrucker.com or TruckingSocialMedia.com to discuss your personal situation, please fill in your contact info. 
Thank you, Allen Smith.

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