← Driver guides

Company driver, lease purchase or owner-operator?

What changes in pay, risk and freedom with each option.

Company driver (W-2)

The carrier owns the truck, pays fuel, maintenance and insurance, and pays you a wage (per mile, hourly or by activity). Taxes are withheld, and you usually get benefits. Lowest risk, and the best place to start.

Lease purchase

You lease a truck from the carrier or a partner company, usually with weekly payments taken from your settlement, and you run as a contractor (1099). If you complete the lease, you may own the truck. Ask about the weekly payment, maintenance escrow, what happens if you leave early, and how many miles you can count on. Many drivers lose money on bad leases; read every line.

Owner-operator (your own truck)

You own the truck and contract with a carrier. You earn a percentage of the load or a rate per mile, plus fuel surcharge, and you pay all truck costs. Gross pay looks big ($200,000+ a year is common in ads), but the number that matters is net, after fuel, maintenance, insurance, plates, ELD and truck payments.

A simple test

If you cannot explain your cost per mile, stay a company driver for now. If you know your numbers and want control over loads and schedule, owner-operator work can pay off.

On our pages, owner-operator pay is labeled as gross before truck expenses unless the carrier says otherwise. See owner-operator jobs.