This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett explains why Oakley Trucking began buying and renting trucks to its owner operators as a solution to long downtime caused by modern emissions-related breakdowns. He walks through the evolution from pairing drivers to using MHC Leasing and ultimately building Oakley’s own small fleet of rental Kenworths, primarily for owner operators whose trucks are down or no longer worth repairing. Jeremy shares feedback from drivers like Rico and Brandon, who highlight reduced maintenance headaches, better cash flow, and tax advantages, while clarifying that renters are still treated as 1099s and are responsible for certain costs like flats or damage. He also touches on current fuel discounts, the importance of sending complete safety paperwork, and previews upcoming episodes like having your own authority versus leasing to a company, and more.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Fuel Discounts and Safety Paperwork (0:33)
- How Emissions Problems Led to Long Truck Downtime (4:16)
- Oakley Buys Its Own Kenworth Rental Trucks (8:19)
- Why Some Drivers Choose Long-Term Rental over Buying a Truck (11:59)
- Limited Fleet, Who Qualifies, and Trailer Types Available (15:27)
- Rental Responsibilities, No Pets or Smoking, and What Oakley Covers (16:40)
- Final Thoughts and Preview of Upcoming Episodes (20:27)
Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com.