You own the truck. Now you have to decide whose authority you'll run under and how much of your gross you'll actually keep. That single decision shapes your take-home more than almost anything else you do this year.

Leasing onto a carrier means you run under their DOT/MC authority instead of your own. That's a different path from getting your own authority, which exists but comes with its own compliance load, insurance, and back-office work. If you'd rather focus on driving and let a carrier handle the paperwork, a lease-on carrier is the move. Here's how to size one up.

Start with the split — and read the fine print

The headline number is the revenue split, but the real number is what's left after fees. Common industry splits run about 70–75% to the driver, and many carriers layer on charges that quietly shrink that.

Ask specifically:

  • Is the split on gross linehaul or some reduced figure?
  • Are there quick-pay or factoring fees? (Many carriers charge about 3–5%.)
  • What's deducted weekly, and is it capped?

For comparison, ARI runs a true 82% split of gross linehaul, with the 18% covering dispatch, compliance, and billing — no quick-pay fees stacked on top.

Follow the money: pay speed and escrow

Cash flow is what keeps a truck running. Fuel and repairs don't wait for a two-week pay cycle.

Two questions matter most:

  • How fast do you get paid? Some carriers hold pay for days or weeks. ARI does same-day pay when you deliver before noon EST and turn in paperwork — otherwise next business day, with no quick-pay fee.
  • How much escrow do they hold? Some carriers sit on $2,500–$5,000 of your money. ARI holds zero.

Escrow and slow pay are money out of your pocket before you've hauled a mile. Treat them as real costs.

Ask how you'll actually get dispatched

This is where lease-on companies split into two very different worlds.

Some "virtual carrier" apps are essentially self-dispatch — you find and negotiate your own loads off a board. That can work if you love the hustle, but you're on your own for rate negotiation and lane strategy.

Others give you a real dispatcher. At ARI you get a dedicated dispatcher who handles a maximum of seven trucks, knows your lanes, and negotiates rates for you. Because ARI moves real volume with established shipper and broker relationships, running under its authority opens access to better-paying freight than most single trucks can land alone.

Make sure you keep control

Good support shouldn't mean losing your say. Look for:

  • No forced dispatch — you pick your loads, routes, and home time.
  • The ability to bring your own freight — if you find a customer, your dispatcher runs their credit and books it under the carrier's authority.
  • All the trailer types you run, so you're not boxed into one segment.

Add up the operating costs they pass through

The best split in the world doesn't help if the per-week costs are brutal. Get every recurring number in writing: plates, ELD, insurance, and any program fees.

With ARI, apportioned IRP plates for all 48 states run about $70/week with IFTA handled on the plate program, ELD is around $30/week, and insurance is a flat ~$300/week. Fuel discounts up to $0.45/gallon and a 40% fuel advance at pickup keep working capital in your pocket.

The bottom line

The right carrier pays you fairly and fast, holds none of your money, gives you real dispatch without forcing loads, and is upfront about every weekly cost. Compare a few honestly against that checklist.

If ARI checks the boxes you care about, see the full picture on our owner-operator opportunities page, or when you're ready to run under ARI's authority, start your lease-on here. Questions first? Call (888) 600-9098.