Lease-On vs Authority: Which Saves More Money in 2025?

The ultimate financial breakdown for owner-operators—because your business deserves the best path to profit.

🚛 The Big Question: Should You Lease or Get Your Own Authority?

As an owner-operator, your biggest financial decision is whether to:
✅ Lease-on to an existing carrier (like Fleet North Trucks)
✅ Get your own authority and run independently

Both paths have pros and cons—but in 2025, rising insurance costs, broker scams, and hidden fees make this choice more critical than ever.

Let’s break down which option puts more money in your pocket this year.

💰 The 2025 Cost Comparison: Lease-On vs. Authority

Expense	Lease-On	Own Authority
Insurance	Carrier covers it (or offers group discounts)	$20K-$30K/year (Liability+Cargo)
Fuel Taxes (IFTA)	Carrier handles filings	You file quarterly (+$2K in accounting costs)
Truck Payment	Yours (but some carriers offer leasing programs)	Yours
Maintenance	Your responsibility	Your responsibility
Dispatch/Back Office	Included (No extra cost)	$500–$2K/month (or time spent self-dispatching)
Compliance & Safety	Carrier manages audits, drug testing, ELDs	You handle everything ($3K–$8K/year in admin costs)
Load Access	Carrier’s contracts + freight network	You hunt for loads (risk of low rates/scams)

📉 Hidden Costs of Authority in 2025

Broker credit risk (30% of loads pay late—can you float cash?)
Forced downtime (No backhaul? That’s $800/day lost)
Safety audits (Fail one = $10K+ in fines & lost contracts)

✔ When Lease-On Saves More (Ideal For…)

Newer Owner-Ops (Avoid $25K+ in startup costs)
Drivers Who Hate Paperwork (No IFTA, no compliance headaches)
Anyone Wanting Steady Freight (Carrier contracts = no load droughts)

Example: A 2025 lease-on driver with Fleet North:

Saves $18K/year on insurance & compliance
Keeps 85–90% of rate (vs. 70% at mega-carriers)
Gets instant payments (No chasing brokers)

✔ When Own Authority Pays Off (Ideal For…)

Large Fleets (5+ trucks) (Economies of scale on insurance)
Specialized Freight (Oversized, hazmat—you keep 100% of high rates)
Established Brokers (You have a loyal customer base)

But Warning: In 2025, insurance rates jumped 30%—many independents are leasing back on to survive.

🚀 The Verdict? It Depends—But Here’s the 2025 Smart Play

Start leased (Build cash + credit for 6–12 months)
Then go authority (Only if you have $50K+ saved for surprises)
Or stay leased (With a fair carrier like Fleet North that doesn’t skim your pay)

💡 Pro Tip: Use our free [Lease vs. Authority Calculator] to crunch your numbers.

🔥 Fleet North’s 2025 Lease-On Advantage

We’re not a mega-carrier—we’re a driver-first partner with:
✔ No forced dispatch (You choose loads)
✔ Transparent 85–90% payouts (No hidden cuts)
✔ 24/7 back-office support (We handle compliance, safety, and billing)

🚛 Ready to Maximize Your Earnings Without the Headaches?
👉 [Join Fleet North’s Lease Program Today]