Dry Lease vs Wet Lease: Equipment Leasing Compared

Dry leases have lower monthly payments because you provide the driver, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Wet leases cost more monthly but include everything — the truck shows up with a driver, fueled, insured, and ready to go.

With a dry lease, you control driver selection, routing, and operational decisions. Wet leases hand operational control to the lessor's driver and systems. For operators who want control over their business, dry leasing is the clear winner.

Wet leases are turnkey — the lessor handles maintenance, insurance, driver management, and compliance. Dry leases require the lessee to manage all operational aspects. For companies needing temporary capacity without operational expertise, wet leases are ideal.

Wet leases can be engaged for short periods (weeks or months) to handle peak demand without long-term commitments. Dry leases typically require longer terms (1-5 years) to justify the operational infrastructure investment.

Dry leases build operational capability and may include purchase options. The lessee develops expertise and infrastructure. Wet leases provide capacity without building internal capabilities — useful temporarily but not for long-term fleet strategy.