Transport Enterprise Leasing

What Transport Enterprise Leasing does

Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) is a privately held commercial equipment finance and leasing company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, founded in 2004 by Doug Carmichael and current President & CEO Jud Alexander. The company serves the U.S. transportation industry through two primary customer segments — fleet carriers and private fleets on one side, and independent owner-operators on the other — offering Class 8 sleeper truck and trailer leasing (Class 8 dry vans, reefers, flatbeds), Fair Market Value Lease (FMV), Direct Finance Lease (DFL), Lease Purchase, and third-party-financed path-to-ownership structures. TEL also runs a TEL Certified pre-owned sales channel built around a 150-point refurbishment process with a 90-day no-hassle guarantee, and a heavy-equipment financing vertical (TEL Finance Advantage) that extends beyond over-the-road trucking into other industries and asset types.

The platform integrates a customer portal (portal.tel360.com) for account management and a Fleet Support Program that coordinates 24/7/365 maintenance, priority OEM service (Freightliner, Peterbilt, Volvo, Kenworth), nationwide parts and labor discounts, and repair-estimate reviews for both TEL-leased and non-TEL equipment. TEL monetizes through recurring multi-year lease contracts (typically 23–33 months for owner-operators, with fixed-cost structures and no mileage charges), one-time used equipment sales, managed-services fees for maintenance coordination, and structured equipment financing — supported by a direct sales-led go-to-market with dedicated departments for fleet leasing, owner-operator leasing, equipment sales, and equipment finance. The company does not disclose revenue and has no recorded funding rounds, operating as a bootstrapped, founder-led business that emphasizes 20 years of operating data from over 100,000 trucks as the foundation of its trade-cycle and cost-per-mile benchmarking.

Name

Transport Enterprise Leasing

Legal name

Transport Enterprise Leasing

Website

https://tel360.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) is a Chattanooga-based, privately held commercial equipment finance and leasing company serving U.S. fleet carriers and independent owner-operators with Class 8 truck and trailer leasing, lease-purchase programs, used equipment sales, and nationwide maintenance management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Truck & Trailer Leasing

NAICS

Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53249)

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Dry Van Trailer Leasing/Rental (TLABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rent-to-Own (RTO) Consumer Leasing (FSAKANAE), Used Vehicle Leasing (Pre-Owned Lease Programs) (TLABAAAG)

Keywords

• Commercial truck leasing
• Trailer leasing
• Equipment financing
• Owner operator leasing
• Fleet support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fleet Truck and Trailer Leasing: Commercial truck and trailer leasing for carriers and private fleets with flexible lease terms, new or like-new Class 8 trucks, and full-range trailer types. Revenue generated through monthly lease payments over terms typically 23-33 months for owner operators, with fixed-cost structures.
2. Owner Operator Leasing Programs: Programs including Fair Market Value Lease (FMV), Direct Finance Lease (DFL), and Lease Purchase options for independent owner operators. Weekly payment structures designed for sustainable cash flow.
3. Equipment Sales: Sale of TEL Certified used trucks and trailers from off-lease inventory. Late-model, fleet-maintained units sold with competitive financing options available. Revenue from one-time equipment transactions.
4. Equipment Financing: Financing solutions for customers who choose their own equipment, working across all industries, manufacturers and asset types. Finance department handles structuring of solutions.
5. Fleet Support Program: Maintenance management services for fleet owners including estimate reviews, parts and labor discounts, and priority service coordination. 24/7 dedicated support specialists.
6. Maintenance Services: Truck maintenance support including 24/7/365 breakdown assistance, nationwide service network, OEM service location priority, and maintenance escrow programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) provides commercial truck and trailer leasing, equipment financing, used truck and trailer sales, and fleet support/maintenance services. The company operates two primary distribution lines: fleet leasing for carriers and private fleets (Class 8 trucks, dry vans, reefers, flatbeds) and owner-operator leasing for independent drivers, with multiple lease structures including Fair Market Value Lease, Direct Finance Lease, Lease Purchase, and third-party financing.

Product overview

TEL (Transport Enterprise Leasing) is a commercial equipment finance and leasing company founded in 2004, offering a unified portfolio of truck and trailer leasing, financing, and sales solutions for fleet operators and owner-operators. The core offering consists of three linked programs: Commercial Truck & Trailer Fleet Leasing (for carriers and private fleets needing new Class 8 trucks and trailers), an Owner-Operator Lease Program (with Independent Owner Operator Program sub-options including FMV lease, Direct Finance Lease, and third-party financing paths), and a Commercial Truck Lease Purchase Program (for drivers seeking a path to ownership). These are supported by a Used Semi Trucks and Trailers Sales channel (featuring TEL Certified inventory with 150-point refurbishment and 90-day guarantees), the Fleet Support Program (maintenance management with nationwide discounts), TEL Finance Advantage/Financial Solutions (customized financing across multiple industries), the Commercial Truck Maintenance & Repair Support service (covering Freightliner, Peterbilt, Volvo, and Kenworth), the TEL Veteran Discount Program ($750 discount for veterans), and Vehicle Re-Marketing Services. Together, these products serve the full lifecycle of commercial trucking equipment from acquisition through disposition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TEL 360: The complete business solution platform offering equipment leasing, fleet support, and financial services.

Products and services

• Commercial Truck & Trailer Fleet Leasing Core fleet leasing program for carriers and private fleets providing new or like-new Class 8 sleeper trucks and semi-trailers (dry vans, reefers, flatbeds) on flexible lease terms, with no mileage charges and no rate adjustments for the life of the lease, with a 5-trailer minimum per lease.
• Owner-Operator Lease Program Leasing program for independent owner-operators offering new trucks from Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Volvo with full factory warranties, sustainable weekly payments, 24/7 breakdown assistance, nationwide parts and labor discounts, and a path to ownership through Fair Market Value (FMV) lease, Direct Finance Lease (DFL), or 3rd Party Financing (3PF).
• Independent Owner Operator Program Sub-program within owner-operator leasing providing flexible financing options including Fair Market Value Lease, TEL's Direct Finance Lease, and third-party financing, with interest-free halal financing option and a $750 U.S. Military Veteran discount on security deposits.
• Commercial Truck Lease Purchase Program Lease-to-own program enabling truck drivers to acquire brand-new or like-new trucks with low upfront costs (as low as $500 down for qualified applicants), transparent terms, full factory warranties, an 8-week startup coaching program, and ongoing business advisory support to help drivers become successful owner-operators.
• Used Semi Trucks and Trailers Sales TEL Certified pre-owned truck and trailer sales featuring late-model, fleet-maintained, off-lease units that undergo a 150-point refurbishment process. Available inventory includes Freightliner Cascadia, Peterbilt 579, Volvo VNL860, International MV607, and Wabash trailers with a 90-day no-hassle guarantee.
• TEL Finance Advantage / Financial Solutions Flexible equipment financing solutions serving multiple industries beyond over-the-road trucking, allowing customers who have identified equipment needs to structure finance solutions designed to protect cash flow and support long-term growth.

Quantifiable outcome

• $268,000 additional annual cost for running twenty-five 4+ year old tractors versus new tractors per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Freightliner (Daimler Truck)coreTechnology or IntegrationTEL provides maintenance services for Freightliner trucks including DETROIT DD15 engines. Maintains maintenance interval guides, driver's manuals, and access to Freightliner Smart Source app for iOS and Android. Maintenance support for New Cascadia models.
• Peterbilt (Paccar)coreTechnology or IntegrationTEL offers maintenance support for Peterbilt trucks with Cummins and Paccar engines. Provides maintenance interval sheets for X15 and MX-13 engines, operator's manuals, and warning symbol reference guides.
• VolvocoreTechnology or IntegrationTEL provides maintenance support for Volvo trucks including VNL series. Offers maintenance interval reference sheets, operator's manuals, and Volvo VDS-5 product sheet. Priority treatment at Volvo OEM service locations.
• Kenworth (Paccar)coreTechnology or IntegrationTEL offers maintenance support for Kenworth trucks with Paccar and Cummins engines. Provides maintenance interval sheets, operator's manuals, and maintenance reference guides for T680 and other models.
• BlueCross BlueShield of TennesseeminorOthersTEL offers 100% employer-paid medical insurance premiums through BlueCross BlueShield of TN as part of employee benefits package.
• Third-Party LendersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTEL works with third-party lenders for 3PF (Third Party Financing) option to help owner operators finance trucks after FMV lease completion. Part of path to ownership strategy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Penske Transportation Solutions: Penske is one of the largest full-service truck leasing and rental operators in North America, offering Class 6-8 leasing, contract maintenance, and fleet services; it is a broad incumbent that overlaps with TEL's fleet leasing, contract maintenance (Fleet Support), and remarketing offerings.
• Ryder System: Ryder operates a major commercial truck leasing, rental, and fleet management business alongside supply chain solutions; its dedicated transportation solutions (DTS) and full-service lease compete head-on with TEL's fleet leasing program for carriers and private fleets at scale.
• Element Fleet Management: Element is one of the largest fleet management companies globally, with substantial commercial vehicle leasing and fleet services; while more diversified across vehicle classes, its commercial fleet management capabilities compete for the same mid-market and large fleet customers TEL targets.
• Paccar Financial: Paccar Financial is the captive finance arm of Paccar (Kenworth, Peterbilt) and offers truck leasing, retail financing, and dealer financing; it competes directly for the same Class 8 truck lease and lease-purchase customers TEL serves through its Peterbilt and Kenworth programs.
• Daimler Truck Financial Services: Daimler Truck Financial Services finances Freightliner and Western Star trucks through retail and lease products; it is a direct OEM-captive competitor to TEL's Freightliner-focused lease and lease-purchase programs in the owner-operator and small-fleet segment.
• Volvo Financial Services: Volvo Financial Services is the captive finance and leasing arm for Volvo Trucks; it competes for the same VNL-class owner-operators and fleet customers that TEL serves through its Volvo partnership and maintenance alliance.

Direct peers

• Premier Truck Leasing: Premier operates full-service truck leasing, rental, and sales across multiple US locations, focused on Class 6-8 commercial trucks; it is a direct peer for TEL's fleet leasing and used-equipment sales business serving for-hire and private fleets.
• Velocity Vehicle Group: Velocity Vehicle Group is a Daimler Truck dealership network offering commercial truck sales, leasing, and service; its truck leasing and contract maintenance offerings overlap directly with TEL's fleet leasing and maintenance management products.
• Star Leasing Company: Star Leasing Company is a trailer leasing specialist offering trailer rental and lease-purchase options to trucking operators; it is a direct peer for TEL's trailer leasing and lease-to-own trailer programs serving owner-operators and small fleets.
• Wabash National: Wabash National is a leading manufacturer of trailers and related equipment with associated leasing and financial solutions; it competes with TEL in the trailer leasing and remarketing market and serves overlapping trucking customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TEL360
• Facebookfacebook.com/TransportEnterpriseLeasing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transport-enterprise-leasing-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/tel_360
• TikToktiktok.com/@tel360advantage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transport Enterprise Leasing