If your goal is to start a trucking company, you’ll need a fleet of trucks. But how much will that cost you?

On average, new semi-trucks can cost between $150,000 and $200,000. Prices can climb even higher for trucks with all the bells and whistles.

It’s important to note that this cost is just for the truck itself. The trailer will come at an additional cost, ranging from $15,000 on the very low end to $77,000 or more.

You’ll need at least two trucks if you want to call yourself a “fleet.” For just two semi-trucks without trailers, you’re looking at an investment of $300,000 to $400,000. The costs only increase from here. The more trucks you need, the higher the cost.

The high initial cost of purchasing a fleet is one of the biggest hurdles business owners will face when starting a trucking company or expanding their fleet. The good news is that today, you have more options if you want to start your own fleet. Leasing is a great alternative to purchasing trucks.

Leasing a truck fleet or renting trucks gives you access to the vehicles you need without the high upfront costs. While leasing or renting may not be the right fit for everyone, this option does have many advantages.

No Upfront Costs

One of the biggest advantages of leasing a truck fleet is that you don’t have to worry about high upfront costs. In fact, most leasing companies don’t even require a down payment.

If you’re seeking financing for a semi-truck, you’ll likely need to put down 20-30% as a down payment. So, if a truck costs $80,000 and the bank wants 30% down, that’s $24,000 you’ll need to spend on your new truck. Of course, you also need to factor in the monthly payments for the truck.

Purchasing trucks often means finding ways to secure financing and taking on a mountain of debt before you even put your trucks to use.

Eliminating the high cost of purchasing new trucks means that you can start building or growing your business right away.

Affordable Maintenance

Owning a fleet of trucks also means having to pay for the cost of maintaining them. Truck owners spend, on average, $15,000 or more on maintenance alone for a single vehicle. If you have multiple trucks, those costs can quickly add up.

Leasing often comes with lower maintenance costs. When you choose your long-term lease program, you have the option of including a maintenance plan. Our maintenance plan will help ensure that your leased trucks spend more time on the road than in the shop.

Flexibility to Meet Your Needs

Once you purchase a truck, you own it – for better or worse. If you have a fleet of 10 trucks and only need 6 or 7 this month, you still must cover the expenses of owning and maintaining the other 3-4 trucks.

When you lease a fleet, you enjoy more flexibility. If you need to downsize or upgrade your fleet, you can do so with relative ease. Having that greater flexibility means that you can scale as needed and without having to make a significant investment.

When you own your fleet, you have to take on the added, significant expense of purchasing new vehicles. If you need to downsize, you’re stuck either paying for vehicles that aren’t making your business any money or the hassle of having to sell them.

Access to Advanced Vehicles and Technology

Upgrading a fleet is a costly venture for owners, but it’s often a necessity when technology changes and advances as rapidly as it does today.

But when you own your fleet, it can be quite an expense to upgrade. In addition, the high cost of purchasing newer trucks may mean that you upgrade more slowly and wind up with an aging fleet with high maintenance costs and lower safety standards.

When you lease your trucks, you get access to advanced vehicles and technology. Our long-term lease program can run anywhere from a few months to a few years. When you’re ready to renew, you can choose newer vehicles with more advanced technology (if they are available).

Owning a fleet of trucks does come with advantages, but many business owners find that it’s more economical and practical to simply lease or rent their fleets instead.

Along with eliminating the high upfront costs of ownership, leasing means that you have more flexibility, more affordable maintenance, and access to more advanced vehicles.

One of the Best Lease Programs in the Business

At Suppose U Drive, we offer a long-term lease program with the option of adding a maintenance plan, so you can start or expand your business with peace of mind. Our team will work with you to find a plan that works best for your budget and goals.

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