Independent Owner Operator verses Leased Owner Operator is a bit of a controversial topic because you get strong opinions on both sides of the argument. I think that is because being an independent Owner Operator is the right thing for some people, while leasing on to another company can be the right thing for someone else. In this Episode of Haulin Assets the Podcast, I want to talk about the pros and cons of both, along with the things you need to keep in mind and watch out for to help you make the decision for yourself.

What To Expect From Episode 153

Let’s define each.

Independent Owner Operator, just like the name implies, you are truly independent. You have your own DOT number, you own or lease the truck you drive, in most cases, you have your own Operating Authority (MC Number) with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

Leased Owner Operators, own or lease a truck and operate under the authority of another motor carrier.

Where things get confusing is the term leased is also used when leasing vehicles, think of that kind of lease as a long-term rental of the vehicle. That type of vehicle lease/rental is different the leasing on as an owner operator, they are two very different types of leases, but often happen at the same time between the same companies and can cause some very serious problems. We talk about that and why you have to be super careful in that type of situation. I'll put it this way, we don't recommend leasing or buying a truck directly from the motor carrier you are going to lease on to. Craig and I talk about why that is.

There are pros and cons of both and we talk about each.

Independent Owner Operator

Pros

Truly Independent
Higher financial upside
You get to decide the type of loads you haul
Lots of tax benefits
Investment control
Strong sense of ownership
Cons

You have to find your own loads
All responsibility falls on you
Bookkeeping
Sales
Maintenance
Admin tasks
MCHQ and Trackin Assets can help you navigate a lot of these
Higher stress
Takes more money to start
Your insurance will likely be higher for the first year or two
Isolation
Unknown, unknowns
Leased Owner Operator

Pros

Many administrative tasks are handled for you
You don’t have to find loads
You will get some cost savings operating as part of a larger fleet
Less financial risk
Should have access to steady work
Training and safety programs
Great way to gain experience and use it as a stepping stone to becoming an independent OO
Cons

You sharing the profit with another carrier
You’re working for someone else and have to follow their rules and do what they say, you lose control
Some companies will take advantage of you
You may be the low man on the totem pole
Some contracts can be very restrictive
Ownership transfer issues
Other considerations

Independent Owner Operator

Fraud
You'll need a bigger reserve of money
Leased Owner Operator

Talk to several owner operators who do work for the any company you are thinking about leasing on to
Make sure you read through the entire lease agreement. Consider having an attorney review it. I know it costs money to do so, but it could save you money in the long run and prevent a lot of heartache.
At Haulin Assets we don’t come down hard on either side of Independent O/O vs Leased O/O. We generally advise against lease to own. It’s not the subject of this episode so we won’t go into depth but things just seem to be more likely to go wrong with lease to own. The agreement is riskier, the lessees are generally not starting on a firm footing, and the lessors can have incentives for you to fail.Buy or lease your own truck, from somewhere other than the company you are leasing on too
Do your own truck registration/IRP plan (Another way they trap you)
This will take a bit more money, but is a much safer way to do it, less likely to be taken advantage of

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What Is Haulin Assets?

Haulin Assets is a one-man trucking company started by Chris Vernon, the owner of Motor Carrier HQ. Chris has years of experience helping others start their own trucking company.

Now he’s going from behind the desk to behind the wheel to put his money where his mouth is. Follow the highs and lows of starting a trucking company through our podcast Haulin Assets.