Worst Lease Purchase Trucking Companies Exposed

Lease purchase trucking companies are supposed to help truckers own their own rigs, but some of them are more interested in making a quick buck than in supporting their drivers.

Companies like Roadrunner Transportation Systems have been accused of predatory leasing practices, where they charge exorbitant fees and interest rates to drivers who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Some lease purchase companies have been known to hide fees and charges in the fine print, making it nearly impossible for drivers to understand the true cost of their lease.

Truckers who have fallen victim to these companies often end up in a cycle of debt, unable to afford the payments and struggling to make a living on the road.

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I've seen firsthand how some lease purchase trucking companies can leave drivers high and dry. Companies to avoid include Roadrunner Transportation, which was fined $1.4 million for violating hours of service regulations.

Drivers at CRST International reported being forced to drive for extended periods without adequate rest, leading to fatigue and decreased safety on the roads.

Swift Transportation was also cited for violating hours of service regulations, and drivers reported being subjected to unfair treatment and mistreatment.

Driver complaints about J.B. Hunt Transport Services centered around issues with payment and equipment maintenance, leaving drivers without reliable trucks to haul their loads.

TMC Transportation was criticized for its high lease purchase fees and predatory lending practices, which can trap drivers in debt.

Drivers at Celadon Group reported being subjected to unfair termination and denied access to promised benefits, leaving them without a safety net.

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Lease purchase programs are a favorite among carriers, and it's easy to see why: drivers pay all the expenses, take all the risk, and give carriers full control.

Carriers love to keep drivers in a state of uncertainty, where they're always just one slow week away from failure.

Drivers who sign lease-purchase contracts often end up in a "bait-and-switch" scheme, where they're handed lengthy contracts with ambiguous or misleading terms that are impossible to decipher.

The average driver won't read an 80-page contract, and when they sign it, they're setting themselves up for failure.

Companies take advantage of drivers, exploiting their lack of knowledge and experience to make a profit.

Abusive lease-purchase cases have a negative impact on the market, forcing other companies to undercompensate their workers or driving workers away from the industry altogether.

Some carriers even manipulate hours of service by making "illegal arrangements" with ELD providers who build in backdoors to alter logs in real time.

This can lead to multi-million-dollar lawsuits that drag on for years, leaving drivers with financial ruin and emotional distress.

For another approach, see: Lease to Own Semi Trucks