For the past year-and-a-half, Getman, Sweeney & Dunn attorney Lesley Tse has served U.S. Department of Transportation Truck Leasing Task Force (TLTF), working with industry experts on a year-long investigation into lease-purchase programs. The Task Force recently released their report, finding that, “The negative impacts of inequitable lease-purchase programs affect individual drivers (especially new drivers), the trucking workforce, the health of the industry, and roadway safety. Enumerable drivers report serious financial, professional, and psychological harms due to these programs.”

After hearing from drivers, non-driver industry stakeholders, and reviewing other data, the TLTF concluded that lease-purchase programs cause widespread harm and do not create meaningful business opportunities for drivers looking to own their own business.

The TLTF recommends, “that such arrangements, whereby a motor carrier controls the work, compensation, and debts of the driver, should be prohibited.”

The TLTF noted the race-to-the-bottom approach to driver compensation, the harmful effects of low wages, and the lack of governmental oversight to protect drivers. At the moment, the only avenue drivers have for relief is litigation.

Getman, Sweeney & Dunn is honored to help lease-purchase drivers recover their lost wages, and we are incredibly proud of the work Lesley Tse has done to advocate for them on a national level.

You can read the TLTF’s full report here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2025-01/TLTF%20Cover%20and%20Enclosure%20FINAL%201-16-25.pdf