In US trucking, "lease-on" (sometimes called "leasing on to a carrier") is when a driver or owner-operator agrees to operate under an established motor carrier's authority rather than register their own. The FMCSA-issued MC and DOT numbers, cargo and liability insurance, and IFTA/permit compliance all belong to that carrier. You drive; they carry the paperwork and legal responsibility for the operating authority.
Lease-on means an owner-operator or driver signs a lease agreement to haul freight under a trucking carrier's operating authority (their MC and DOT numbers) instead of getting their own. The carrier provides the authority, insurance, and often the loads, while the driver runs the truck under that company's name.
How lease-on typically works
- You sign a lease agreement with the carrier, often for a set term.
- The carrier's authority covers your loads — dispatch, rate confirmations (рейт-кон), and billing run through their MC number.
- You get paid a percentage or flat rate per load, minus agreed deductions (insurance, ELD, plates, escrow).
- You still run your CDL and hours under FMCSA rules — the authority is theirs, but the driving record is yours.
Two common versions
Owner-operator lease-on: you own or lease the truck and lease it plus your service to the carrier. Company lease/lease-purchase: you drive the carrier's truck under a payment plan toward ownership. Read every clause — escrow, forced dispatch, and early-termination terms vary widely.
Why drivers choose it
Getting your own MC authority means insurance, filings, and back-office work most new drivers aren't ready for. Leasing on lets you start hauling faster under someone else's compliance umbrella, then decide later whether to go independent. The trade-off is less control: the carrier sets policies, and you share revenue.
Whether you're leased on to a carrier or running your own numbers, Fortuna helps keep your truck loaded and your miles paid.