"I am interested in starting a trucking business."

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TripleSix, Jun 22, 2019.

  1. prisonerofthehighway

    prisonerofthehighway Light Load Member

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    You want to make big money in the trucking industry? Excuse me while I wipe the coffee off my laptop from laughing so hard! With the "mega" companies doing everything they can to drive freight rates down and starve the true independents out there is no such thing as making lots of money in this industry anymore. Around 30 years ago when I started a wise old hand told me, " You want to have a million dollars I the trucking industry? Start with 5 million." I'm sure with as educated as you are you would understand this saying, if not, come on out here on the road and you'll figure it out quick. All kidding aside, the only way your going to really make any noticeable money in this industry is to get your own contracts to where you direct bill your customer and not go off load boards where they double and more often than not triple broker loads. If your planning on doing it the hard way and go off load boards than do yourself a favor and just throw your money in your fireplace, with just one truck and no experience actually doing this job your chances of success are about as good as someone agreeing with what I've said in this post on here. Slim to none and Slim just left town. There is a lot more to this if you don't know the freight lanes that typically pay better than others and what time of year they do etc etc. Not to mention trying to figure out what kind of trailer to pull. Good luck on your endeavor,
     
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  3. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Mr @FoolsErrand said something that I want to address:


    You’ve probably seen the various quotes that say
    -Show me your friends and I will tell you your future/tell you who you are
    -Make friends with people on the same mission as you

    One of the things that will give you the edge in business is by you creating a network of like minded people. When I started out, I met other drivers like me. Invite them out, break bread together, go have a few beers. People know people. I created a network of “criminals.”

    Every Monday, I would call them and see where they were at and what they were doing. See, freight moves in waves. You can figure out where you need to be by where and when the criminals move. They can turn you on to loads that you won’t see on load boards. When you get into the same area, make it a point to meet up for a meal.

    One more avenue the network will open to you is trustworthy mechanics. That helps tremendously. Hidey holes for parking, shipping and receiving notes, good restaurants and watering holes.

    Some guys play poker tournaments, some golf, some do shooting and 3 gun competitions. Some travel overseas to chase skirts. Some are bikers. If you and some of the gang have a common interest, take time away from the truck and go on holiday with the guys. Iron sharpens iron.
     
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  4. csmith1281

    csmith1281 Medium Load Member

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    Atlanta, GA
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    There’s a lot of lead time there, too. You either start out busting tires, or you have to go to school. And those tools aren’t cheap. By the time you spent three or four years positioning yourself to buy a truck, all you’d have is (maybe) some cash in the bank and the ability to be a DIY mechanic. I think three or four years hence, I’d much rather have the experience in the driver seat, the experience in the business, and the ability to pay someone else to fix my truck for me.
     
  5. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    I will take being able to fix my truck. After I get sick of or go broke trucking I’ll still have a skill
     
  6. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

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    Im with rank.

    And my entire life has been a case of if i want it done right i need to do it myself. Seriously.. Nearly everything ive ever hired out has gotten screwed up. So i just do it all now.
     
  7. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    If I’ve learned anything in retrospect, is that a Person can do almost anything they want to do. Naysayers are everywhere. Projecting their own fears onto others. Sure there’s always reality. But more so than not, Perception IS reality. I’ve always have and still do hear that “ You can’t make it in Trucking.” I emphasize the “want” factor. I could have done a lot of different things, just didn’t want to.
     
  8. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

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    Where i live now life is so simple. Buy land, plant pine. Or beans. Or corn. You can log. You can truck. You can quarry. You can doze. You can fix equipment. You can fab. Saw timber. Make charcoal. Make topsoil. Make gravel. Etc etc etc.

    But you cant do ANY OF IT if you never actually start. What all successful people have in common is that they started somewhere. What a lot of unsuccessful people have in common is that they never took a chance.
     
  9. stayinback

    stayinback Road Train Member

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    And reasonable taxes too right?

    Nearest shopping center or Walmart?

    Nearest City Fire dept or police for emergencies?

    Nearest Clean piped Water supply?

    Nearest Public School? (Not private)

    Nearest VFW K of C, Or veterans hall?
     
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  10. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

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    Im not sure what your point is.
     
  11. stayinback

    stayinback Road Train Member

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    Im Asking questions...I Dont know that style of living.
    Im a city guy.
     
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