trucking start up advice

Im not going to say it’s impossible - because I’ve seen a guy do it.

But I’m not sure you’re. ‘That guy” - because we’re all different.

Loads of financial preparations - planning, research - and an open mind. And more research.

 

One thing that doesn’t help is a lot of load boards that show loads for “free” often post fake loads in order to get people to signup because the prices are good. I think that gives new people who are doing research a false impression.

A guy I know sends me loads all the time from those free boards and it’s never realistic. He wants to be an owner op when he retires from LTL.

 

i have a friend that did exactly what you are wanting to do. Here is a run down of his story/path

He had family & friends to speak to for an education before shopping for trucks.

He secured work for the truck before he went truck shopping.

He got his financials in order before went truck shopping.

He found insurance before shopping for a truck.

Finally he went shopping for a truck.

Six years later, he’s still driving that truck!

He’s been under his own Operating Authority since day #1

Start asking questions. Read back thru these forums. There is a wealth of info here. Learn to ignore the Aholes & Trolls (we have our fair share of them). Be confident in yourself & make double sure you have your ducks in a row.

forget the people that say you can't do it. They took the easier, more traveled road. There is nothing wrong with taking the road less traveled.

Main words of advice are find work, then find insurance. Forget the spot market (load boards) that is how you scrape by, not how you make it!!

 

There is alot to learn in the business side of things that have absolutely nothing to do with driving a truck, but is important to be successful. It is hard enough to manage that and still drive as do all the work a truck driver has to do. But u dont have any experience as a driver. That is alot to handle all at once. There is alot to learn just being a driver . Where to park, how to drive, how to manage time effectively. Etc. Atleast get enough experience thru all 4 seasons as a company driver. If ur gonna put the truck in the ditch in the winter time ur rookie year , would be better if u was not also paying the bills on it

 

No experience. Dont want to go out with a trainer for 2 or 3 weeks but want to buy a truck. I sense a little arrogance here....

 

Yeah that's the exception, not the rule.

With an average of 85% of all newbies failing, it is those who tell people what they can't do that matter a hell of a lot more than those who sugar coat it and say they did or know someone so others can.

This forum has a problem with many members, people come here not to hear what is wrong with their ideas even though they ask for opinions but they want support for it, and then go on defending their idea when people point out what is wrong or what the reality is with the idea.

Right now is the worst time to buy a truck and be an owner operator, freight wont catch up to the needs of the owners, to be exact it is time for many to leave and stay out of the industry. Rates are directly related to capacity and this is the disaster we need to bring lingering high capacity down so the demand actually goes up so rates will go up.

 

@Ridgeline yes that is the exception. However i am the exception as well. I did not have $30,000 in the bank after i bought my truck. Hell i took myself down to my last dollar to make this happen. It worked out well for me.

i wasn’t sugar coating it for the op, bottom line is that if you do the leg work ahead of time it is possible and you can succeed. The number one thing to do it this way is not touch the spot market. You need contract freight. That guaranteed work for a guaranteed price. You need to know what your income will be and then figure out your expenses. Work the business plan backwards if that makes sense?

I knew before i signed papers on my truck i would generate $X per week. Then searched for insurance, then i figured on an acceptable truck payment, found a loan and a truck that fit my needs.

By going spot market and relying on brokers and such, there are no guarantees. You can only guess what your weekly revenue will be. This imo is where 85% of new ventures fail.

So back to my op in this thread. It’s totally doable if you do that leg work. Get the work 1st, then go down the list...

 

I started with no experience 16 years ago with an $8,000 White/GMC, a trailer that was barely road worthy, and my own authority. You'll learn fast, this isnt rocket science. BUT - I would secure a couple direct shippers as quickly as possible, this is not the time to be relying on brokered freight.

 

Got it so let me ask you this ... given the present ambiguity within our country, do you think you can repeat your success?

 

@Ridgeline I do, and i’ll explain...

find a local wholesaler to lease up with. Have them agree to a route or a set of routes, so that you can build your hard numbers.

For example go to Shoprite, or Burris, or the sort. Talk to them get the work settled. Now i did this with a flower wholesaler, it could work with any that are local to you. A manufacture can work as well, but i think you would have a harder time getting a consistent route. Manufactures are also where everybody else goes...imo go where they aren’t.

after you have built up your reserves, your knowledge, your confidence and you feel ready then apply for and open your own operating authority. I owned my truck for just shy of a year when i got my dot numbers. I still pull for the flower company.

i admit the food company’s may not be the best examples, but you understand what i’m getting at.