The Hidden Trap of Monthly Truck Leasing Many truck owners are offered “easy money” through monthly leasing contracts. A company promises to hire your truck, run it daily, and pay you a fixed amount every month. It sounds safe — until reality hits. Fuel, repairs, tires, drivers, abuse, and long-distance wear can destroy your truck faster than the contract pays you back. That’s why experienced operators say: Never price blindly. Always price per kilometer, not per month. Why Monthly Leasing Often Fails A truck on lease is usually: Driven in shifts Loaded heavily Used 24/7 Maintained only when it breaks After 18–24 months, many leased trucks are fully worn out — and the owner is left with scrap value. The Correct Pricing Formula Before accepting any lease, calculate: 1. Fuel Cost Fuel is your biggest expense. Estimate average fuel per trip × distance × trips per month. 2. Maintenance & Wear Oil, filters, brakes, suspension, clutch, gearbox, tires, downtime. 3. Driver Cost If you provide the driver, include salary, overtime, and replacement risk. 4. Depreciation Every kilometer reduces your truck’s value. 5. Insurance & Licensing Spread yearly costs into monthly figures. 6. Profit Margin Your truck must earn more than it costs to run. If your monthly price does not cover all six, you are paying to work. Better Than Monthly: Charge Per Kilometer Experienced fleet owners charge: Cost per km + margin This protects you from: Overuse Long-distance abuse Hidden losses It also forces transparency in operations. When Monthly Leasing Makes Sense Only if: Distance is capped Load is controlled Service schedule is enforced You track fuel and kilometers You include wear & tear charges Without controls, monthly leasing is financial suicide.