Spotlight News

“More control and less stress” probably aren’t the first two things that come to mind when someone mentions becoming a first-time owner-operator. However, for DeShawn Henry and Russell Jones, these were the catalysts that have pushed them from day one.

Their story, like so many within the ES community, is one of perseverance and they are proof that you don’t have to have decades of driving experience to be successful as an owner-operator or fleet owner. With the right mindset and a great support system, anyone can flourish.

Some are born into the trucking industry, and others find their place behind the wheel after decades in other industries. For DeShawn it was the medical field, and for Russell, it was managing large teams at Fortune 500 companies.

While these might not be the typical starting points for owner-operators, the knowledge and experience they gained in their respective fields have been invaluable as they launched their business in trucking. As COVID-19 ramped up, both saw the need for a career change that would allow them to maintain control while also reducing stress. The road was calling and they were ready to run.

After spending a couple of years as company drivers, they were introduced to the ES Path To Ownership™ program by a trusted friend. DeShawn describes it as the feeling of “family” when they walked through the door. They knew that having a support system in place as they got started was essential, and for them the choice to join the ES community “just felt right.”

18 months later, they are well on their way to growing their fleet as a shining example of how anything is possible when you have the right tools and a great attitude.

In our most recent Spotlight On Success, DeShawn and Rusell share their story and experience and show that the path to success can take many different roads.

If you’re interested in learning more about DeShawn & Russell’s story, they will be on-site at the Expedite Expo July 21st-22nd with the ES Team at Booth 418 as well as sharing their story at the Trucking 101 workshop at the Expo. Register today for the Expedite Expo and the IN-SITE Dinner at the Expo hosted by ES to discover new career opportunities, make valuable connections, and hear from some of the brightest minds in the industry as well as people like DeShawn & Russell who are part of the ES Community.

We are proud to have DeShawn and Russell as part of the ES Community and are delighted to continue supporting them in their Success in Trucking.

If you’re inspired by DeShawn and Russell’s story and want to grow your trucking business, contact the ES team or call (877) 349-9303, option 4 and let us help support your company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – May 11, 2023 – Each year the expedited trucking industry comes together over two days at the Expedite Expo to connect, share insights, and learn. Once again, the Expediter Services team will be the event’s presenting sponsor. Our roots are in the expedited sector of the trucking industry, and we are honored to help the men and women that drive the nation forward connect and grow. This year’s Expedite Expo will run July 21-22 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum located in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Expo as it is better known, is a FREE event – open to the public – that highlights the expedited freight community. The Expediter Services team will be front and center at Booth 418, and we encourage all event attendees to stop by, connect, and get first-hand knowledge on all of the advantages that Expediter Services offers the expedite community at large – including ES Truck Sales and ES Equipment Finance.

On Friday evening, join the Expediter Services team at the annual IN-SITE Dinner. FREE tickets for the dinner are available, however seating is limited. Details and registration information are linked below.

2023 IN-SITE Dinner – Hosted by Expediter Services
Friday July 21, 2023 @ 5:30PM
Register Here → https://essuccessintrucking.com/insite-at-the-expo/

“We’ve been the presenting sponsor for several years and we’re so proud to be back this year. The ability to connect with such a wide variety of owner-operators, fleet owners, motor carriers and vendors that ALL operate within the expedited freight industry is like nothing else you see in trucking,” said Jeff Tacker, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Commercial Officer for ES. “For the Expediter Services team, these two days allow us to connect with our community members, get valuable feedback, and provide educational opportunities for the expedited community at large. It is something that we look forward to every year.”

For contractors, this expedite-focused event is a tremendous opportunity to meet up with old friends, make some new ones, connect with motor carriers, and get the information that you need to be successful in trucking. Each day, multiple 30-minute workshops are held with industry veterans and experts from industry leading companies making this one of the best events for owner-operators and fleet owners.

Other highlights of the event include:

Educational Sessions

8:30 am to 12:00 noon both Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22

Morning sessions during Expedite Expo are divided into 30-minute workshops to help drivers, owner-operators, and fleet owners find success in the expedite industry. Led by industry experts and veterans, these workshops offer valuable insights and information each year.

The Future of the Trucking Industry
Saturday, July 16, 1:00 PM – The Future of Trucking
Moderator: Brandon Baxter Speakers: John Elliot, Load 1; Dave Schaller, NACFE 

The trucking industry is rapidly growing, changing, and evolving. Whether you are a fleet owner, owner-operator, or navigating the road ahead starts with understanding the challenges that everyone will face so that you may plan accordingly and have the best chance of success.

Registration is Free! Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with industry professionals.
To register visit expediteexpo.com

About ES:
Expediter Services is a full service one-stop expediting support company offering independent contract driver programs and owner-operator programs to the industry through our partner motor carriers. When you are with ES you NEVER STAND ALONE and are supported and presented with opportunities from our wholly owned subsidiaries: ES Equipment Finance, ES Truck Sales, and ES Management Services. We accomplish this by offering opportunity and support programs that help contractors obtain SUCCESS IN TRUCKING!

Before you jump into a lease purchase agreement, explore all your options. Along the way, ask the hard questions because at the end of the day, it is your business, and a decision of this magnitude deserves due diligence.

The fact is that there are a number of different programs in the marketplace to choose from, some of which could be the right fit for you and your business. Sadly, there are also programs that do not place the operator’s interest above their own and navigating the potential traps has become more difficult in recent years.

As you evaluate different programs keep in mind these potential red flags.

4 Red Flags of Traditional Lease Purchase Programs

Older Equipment

On the surface there are several benefits to purchasing older equipment. Lower overall cost, lower insurance premiums, and a shorter term are frequently the biggest selling points. However, older equipment may have more frequent repairs and higher maintenance costs associated with ownership. New, late-model and fully refurbished equipment is backed by a warranty and is much less likely to spend time in the shop. If your truck is constantly broken, it can turn your business upside down quickly.

Additionally, many traditional lease purchase programs were built as a way for motor carriers to offload older fleet equipment. Instead of selling equipment back to the dealership, they make a better profit margin by putting it in their lease purchase fleet.

Hidden Costs

$0 down programs aren’t difficult to find in the lease purchase world. The idea behind most is to reduce traditional barriers like a steep down payment and the need for a high credit rating. Keep in mind that all lease purchase companies are in the business of making money. Many traditional lease purchase providers recoup the money that would be paid as a down payment through over-inflated truck values and additional fees.

It is important to remember that $0 down is only applicable on the front end of the lease. The backend could look very different with excessive balloon payments and few – if any – options to finance the remainder owed.

As you do your research, don’t be afraid to walk away from a program that refuses to pull back the curtain and give you all the financial details that you need to make an informed decision.

Lack of Support

There is no ‘I’ in owner-operator or fleet owner. Having a support network in place when you’re new to owning a truck or something doesn’t go as expected is a must, but the industry is littered with LP programs that offer little to no external support for their community.

If you are unsure of the questions to ask, simply reach out to the operators that are part of each LP provider’s community. If a program will not provide references within their own fleet of operators, that should be considered a major warning flag. 

Undefined Path to Success

How do you know you will be successful in a lease purchase program? For many operators, entering a lease purchase program is a leap of faith. They assume they will get enough miles to pay their weekly truck note. While hope can sometimes move mountains, it might not keep your business running for long or put food on the table, much less pay for braces, college, or your daughter’s wedding.

Take the time to find a lease purchase provider that works with you to ensure that you can succeed in their program. Few things are worse than agreeing to a high truck payment only to find out that you cannot generate enough miles to stay above water. Having a well-defined roadmap will help you prepare for the transition from driver to owner-operator, or owner-operator to fleet owner.

Success in Trucking With ES

ES matches owner-operators in the ES Community with the motor carrier partner that best fits the goals for your business. At ES, our goal is to provide a well-defined roadmap that is transparent, backed by a great support network, with the best equipment available to help you find your Success in Trucking.

To learn more about the ES Lease Purchase Program, connect with our recruiting team now or call us at (877) 349-9303, option 4.

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On the surface, many programs appear to have the owner-operator’s best interest in mind, only to place hurdle after hurdle along the Path to Success. At ES, we value the individual and know that with the right network and support in place anyone can succeed in this industry.

About The ES Program

You don’t have to search far and wide to find owner-operators that have some experience (good or bad) with a lease purchase program. Over the last decade or so, lease purchase programs have opened the door to truck ownership for thousands of drivers that otherwise would not have qualified for traditional truck financing.

At the same time, programs have used and abused those same owner-operators with high total cost of ownership, patchwork support systems, and lease structures that almost guarantee failure.

Regardless of your experience, you may be asking yourself – “What makes ES different?”

Transparency

Just about every lease purchase provider will tout transparency as a core differentiating factor. The truth, however, is that very few providers actually pull back the curtain and show pieces like cost of funds, aka interest fees, original vehicle purchase price, and clear off ramps.

These are critical pieces of information that have a lasting impact on the success of your business as well as your equity position and overall wealth accumulation. Our belief is that there shouldn’t be smoke and mirrors when signing a lease purchase agreement. You should have all relevant information at your fingertips so that you can make the best decision for you, your family, and your business.

Value

No money down options aren’t uncommon in the lease purchase world, but most are filled with one pitfall after another that are regularly glossed over because they only benefit the lease purchase provider. Don’t get us wrong, no money down is an immediate attention grabber, but ask yourself these questions:

Any lease purchase provider that is worth their salt will help you look at the entire picture, not just the piece that gets your attention. While we also offer a no money down option, you won’t find balloon payments within our Lease Purchase Ownership program.

Most owners in the ES program simply opt to keep paying the same amount as their typical lease payment until the vehicle is paid off. This helps you keep your cost of funds much lower than the industry average and removes the burden of coming up with a lump sum.

Success

We know that our success is solely dependent on the success of the men and women that operate within our program. This is why we don’t just hand you the keys and hope that you succeed. Every driver that comes through our doors is evaluated on Attitude, Aptitude, Work Ethic, and Work History. 

Our unique approach means that some people do not qualify from time to time, but if you put in the work and use the resources available through ES, you will be well on your way to success.

Support

Trucks break down, family emergencies pop up, life happens, and we understand that each of those impacts your business. As you are researching lease purchase programs, look closely at the support networks that each provider has in place. Far too many offer little – if any – support to owner-operators. We have simply chosen a different path.

We believe that with the right support system in place, anyone willing to put in the work can succeed in trucking. We invest in our services, discounts, tools, backend support team, strategic partnerships, and much more so we can build a community of support that brings together all the resources you need to help your business achieve long-term profitable and sustainable success.

Participants in the ES Lease Purchase Program also benefit from the powerful partnerships ES has with large carriers that have the ability to generate strong, consistent revenues.

Find Your Success in Trucking With ES

For any owner-operator currently exploring lease purchase options, we highly encourage you to do your homework. Find a provider that puts structures in place to help LIFT you up, and don’t compromise when your business and livelihood are on the line. 

To learn more about ES, call our team at (877) 349-9303, option 4 or connect with our team online. With ES by your side, you will NEVER STAND ALONE.

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Commitment and consistency, two hallmarks of marriage, are also keys to becoming both a team driver and an owner-operator. Commitment and consistency are also two of the first words that came to mind when we were talking with Jennifer and Marcus Collier about how they met, teamed up, eventually married, and finally found their way into the ES community through Forward Air.

The Collier’s commitment to each other is a perfect reflection of their ability to work together day in and day out, helping one another through the good days and the bad. The similarities between teaming and being married are not lost on Jennifer, who believes that “team driving is marriage.”

After spending time driving for an owner operator, the Colliers decided to rejoin Forward Air in March 2022, and make the jump into ownership with Expediter Services. Their goal was simple – to find stability and consistency for their blended family of nine.

For the Colliers, the Path To Ownership was an easy decision. They knew that if they had the right support system, a dedicated route, and a carrier that had their back, they could make it work, no matter the challenges on the road ahead.

As you will hear in our most recent Spotlight On Success, the Colliers regard their decision to join the ES family as “the best decision we have ever made…besides marriage.” 

We are proud to have Jennifer and Marcus Collier as part of the ES Community and are delighted to continue supporting them in their Success in Trucking.

If you’re inspired by the Collier’s story and want to grow your trucking business, contact the ES team or call (877) 349-9303, option 4 and let us help support your company with expertise in financial services and technology, relationship lending, and general business support.