For drivers weighing their own truck
Updated September 27, 2026
An owner-operator is a truck driver who owns or leases the truck they drive and runs it as a business. There are three main ways in:
- Lease on: sign your truck onto a carrier and haul under its authority.
- Lease-purchase: start in a carrier’s program if you do not own a truck yet.
- Your own authority: get your own MC and DOT numbers and find your own freight.
Accelerated runs a program for each path, so we see all three up close. This guide explains how each one works, what a lease with a carrier must say under federal rules, and what to ask before you sign anything.
Owner-Operator vs Company Driver
A company driver drives a truck the company owns. An owner-operator runs a small business, and the truck is the main tool in it. That changes a few big things:
- You carry the truck’s costs. Depending on your lease, payments, repairs, tires, and some insurance come out of your side.
- You handle your own taxes. Nobody withholds for you, so you plan for quarterly estimated taxes with an accountant.
- You sign a contract, not a job offer. At Accelerated, we contract with drivers. We do not hire them as employees.
What you get in return is more control over your equipment and your business. How that works out in dollars depends on the carrier, the freight, and how you run.
The Three Paths at a Glance
Path 1
Lease On
You own the truck. You haul under a carrier’s authority, and the carrier finds the freight. Best if you have a truck and want steady loads.
At Accelerated: our contract driver program
Path 2
Lease-Purchase
No truck yet. You drive a carrier’s truck and pay toward owning it. Best if you have the experience but not the equipment.
At Accelerated: no money down upfront
Path 3
Own Authority
Your truck, your name. You hold your own MC and DOT numbers and find your own freight. Best if you want to run a full trucking company.
At Accelerated: our sub-hauler program
Path 1
Lease On With a Carrier
When you lease on, your truck runs under the carrier’s operating authority, and the carrier handles its customers. Federal rules in 49 CFR 376.12 set out what that lease must say. It must be in writing and signed by you and the carrier. It must also:
- Give the carrier control of the truck for the lease term. The carrier has exclusive possession, control, and use of the equipment, and takes full responsibility for running it.
- State when it starts and ends.
- Spell out your pay. It can be a percentage of gross revenue, a rate per mile, or another agreed method. If your pay is a percentage of the gross, the carrier must give you a copy of the rated freight bill, or the same information, at settlement.
- List every charge-back. Any cost the carrier pays first and then takes out of your pay must be listed, with how it is figured.
- Say who pays for what. Fuel, fuel taxes, empty miles, permits, tolls, and base plates and licenses all have to be assigned.
- Not force you to buy from the carrier. The lease must say you are not required to buy or rent products, equipment, or services from the carrier to get the lease.
- Explain the insurance. It must state the carrier’s duty to carry public liability coverage, and who covers anything else.
At Accelerated, owner-operators and lease-purchase drivers contract with us directly, and all of our contract drivers keep 82% of the truck’s gross. See car hauler jobs at Accelerated.
Path 2
Lease-Purchase if You Do Not Own a Truck Yet
A lease-purchase lets you drive a carrier’s truck while you pay toward owning it. Our program starts with no money down upfront, and more than 100 of our drivers have paid off their truck leases.
To start one with us, you need:
- An active LLC or S-corp (DBAs are not accepted)
- An EIN for that company
- A business bank account in the company’s name
A recruiter goes over the payment and the term for the exact truck before you sign. Read the details on our lease-purchase program page.
Path 3
Run Your Own Authority
With your own authority, you are the carrier. That means you:
- Register with FMCSA for a USDOT number and operating authority
- Have your insurer file proof of insurance, and file a BOC-3
- Register for UCR every year
- Set up IFTA fuel tax and IRP plates
Our guide on how to get your own trucking authority walks through each step, and IFTA and IRP for owner-operators covers fuel tax and plates.
Once you have been in business for at least 6 months, you can sub-haul for Accelerated on your own authority. It is a separate program from our contract drivers. Sub-haulers pick up the freight we post, and Accelerated is one potential source of freight for them.
You can also switch paths. FMCSA’s new registration system, Motus, lets a carrier voluntarily suspend its authority to lease onto another carrier for a while. You can reinstate it within one year.
Have 3 years of CDL-A and a year of 9-car experience? Contract with Accelerated.
What You Need Before You Start
- Experience. Carriers set their own bar. Accelerated asks contract drivers, lease-purchase included, for 3 years of CDL-A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9-car experience. We do not waive it.
- The basics to apply. A valid Class A CDL, a current DOT medical certificate, and an MVR that meets insurance requirements.
- A business. Form an LLC or S-corp, get an EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account.
- An accountant. Line one up before your first settlement, not at tax time. Ask about estimated taxes and per diem for truck drivers.
- A cash cushion. Trucks break down and freight has slow weeks. Plan for both before you take on a payment.
New to car hauling? Our equipment guide shows the rigs you would run.
Questions to Ask Any Carrier Before You Sign
Ask these of any carrier, us included. Get the answers in writing.
- How is my pay figured, and will I see the freight bill? Federal rules require the lease to state your pay, and a copy of the rated freight bill if you are paid on a percentage.
- What comes out of my settlement? Ask for the full list of charge-backs and how each is figured.
- Who pays for fuel, fuel tax, tolls, permits, and plates? The lease has to say.
- What happens if I want out early? Know the exit terms before you start.
- Who pays for which repairs? This matters most on a lease-purchase truck.
- How many drivers have finished the lease-purchase program? Ours is more than 100.
Pick Your Path With Accelerated
Lease on or start a lease-purchase as a contract driver, and keep 82% of the truck’s gross, plus a $5,000 sign-on bonus. Running your own authority? Sub-haul through our separate program.
The contract driver application takes a few minutes from your phone. Sub-haulers onboard through one carrier packet.
Owner-Operator FAQs
What is a leased owner-operator?
A driver who owns a truck and leases it onto a carrier. The truck runs under the carrier’s authority for the lease term, and the carrier finds the freight. Federal rules require a written lease that states your pay and who pays which costs.
Is it better to lease on or get your own authority?
It depends on what you want to run. Leasing on lets you focus on driving while the carrier handles customers and authority. Your own authority means more control, but you handle insurance, filings, and finding freight yourself.
Can I become an owner-operator without a truck?
Yes, through a lease-purchase program. Accelerated’s starts with no money down upfront, and more than 100 of our drivers have paid off their truck leases. You need an LLC or S-corp with an EIN and a business bank account.
How much experience do I need to be an owner-operator?
Each carrier sets its own requirement. To contract with Accelerated, including lease-purchase, you need 3 years of CDL-A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9-car experience. Sub-haulers on their own authority need at least 6 months in business.
Do owner-operators pay their own taxes?
Yes. As a business owner, no one withholds taxes for you, so plan for estimated taxes with an accountant. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
Sources
Last checked September 27, 2026. Program details can change, so confirm them with a recruiter. Federal rules are summarized in plain language here. This is not legal or tax advice.