If you are a commercial vehicle driver (CMV) in the transportation industry, you’ve probably often wondered about the differences between owning a semi-truck and leasing a rig. Whether to own or lease is a personal question, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer for every truck driver. The answer often depends on a driver’s financial situation, career goals, and many other variables.
In this blog post, we will guide you through the pros and cons associated with leasing a rig, as well as the pros and cons of owning and operating your semi-truck.
The Benefits of Leasing Your Truck
What is leasing?
Leasing is essentially renting an asset—in this case, a truck. You can rent the truck in exchange for monthly payments over the fixed term of the lease, usually one year or multiple years. Although leases have some terms similar to a loan, leasing is generally more favorable to the person renting the truck: shorter and more flexible term length, smaller or no down payment, and less financial uncertainty.
Leasing a truck means a lower upfront cost.
Purchasing a rig can be expensive. With a lease, you have the opportunity to drive away sooner with little to no money down, rather than having to save money for a big down payment and waiting an eternity to qualify for a loan. A lease is also beneficial if you have less than perfect credit.
Leasing a truck involves a shorter commitment.
If you are new to the commercial transportation industry, a lease may be a better option. Selling a rig may prove challenging if you decide to change career paths down the road. Likewise, if you are in the later-stages of your career, you may find that the numbers don’t “pencil out” once you determine how long you might continue working.
Leasing a truck is less risky than owning one.
From a financial standpoint, leasing offers less risk because it allows you to manage your finances better. Although both require monthly payments, leasing is less restrictive. Loans typically require a downpayment and some sort of collateral the bank can seize in case of default. Leasing, on the other hand, does not require as big of a financial commitment in the first place and often comes with shorter leasing terms.
Leasing a truck involves less maintenance.
Often, leasing a truck allows you the option of getting a newer model rig, than if you were to purchase one outright. A later model truck can mean fewer and less frequent maintenance costs.
Leasing a truck allows for easy upgrades.
Leases allow you the option to upgrade your rig sooner than you would be able to if they owned the truck.
The Drawbacks of Leasing Your Truck
Technically, it’s not your rig.
It’s cool to own your vehicle and modify it. Since a leased rig technically isn’t yours, you won’t be able to customize it like you could if it were your own.
You might end up paying more with a lease.
Although purchasing a truck requires a significant upfront cost, if you do not buy the truck when the lease expires, it could end up costing you more than it would have if you had purchased one in the beginning.
Lease agreements can be tricky, especially if you lease from your employer.
When you consider leasing a semi-truck, make sure that you carefully read, examine and understand the lease agreement before you sign it. If you lease your semi-truck from an employer, it can affect your paycheck and even your health benefits. Some lease agreements can also require that you pay for certain repairs and expenses out of pocket.
The Benefits of Being the Owner and Operator of Your Truck
Owning and operating your truck gives you independence and flexibility.
When you own and operate your rig, you can decide what to haul, who to work with, and how often to work. It allows you the flexibility to work on your terms and run your business the way you want.
Owning and operating your truck can be very profitable.
Owner-operators typically make more money than truck drivers who work for a company. By owning the truck, setting up the shipment contract, and delivering the goods, owner-operators control every part of the responsibility and, therefore, command more money. Although owning and operating your rig can be profitable, it is essential to factor in the upfront costs of purchasing your rig.
The Drawbacks of Being the Owner and Operator of Your Truck
Owning and operating your truck can be time-consuming and stressful.
Owner-operators typically work more than company truck drivers. Between rig maintenance, setting up contracts, and hauling the freight, owner-operators don’t have a lot of opportunity for downtime. That can also be incredibly stressful for the rig owner.
Owning and operating your truck comes with a lot of responsibility.
Being in charge of your own business may sound great at first, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. As an owner-operator, you’ll need to stay on top of every aspect of the business and pay close attention to government regulations.
Leasing vs. Owning is a Personal Decision
There is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether or not you should lease your rig or buy one outright. It depends on each CMV driver’s unique situation, needs, and long-term goals. Most importantly, CMV drivers must give careful thought before making their final decision.
