starting my own ltl company

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by kidz bop, Jul 4, 2022.

  1. kidz bop

    kidz bop Medium Load Member

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    i'm just an average joe who wants to GO HARD in the paint. and start a new ltl company. start off like somewhere between 2 to 10 terminals.

    what i just said isn't the truth, it's hypothetical thinking.

    how difficult would it be to do what's in the first line. is it realistic and average joe can orchestrate such a feat.
     
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  3. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    If you are named Jeff or Elon. Very easy. Otherwise no.
     
  4. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Only 2-10 terminals for starters? Why not go big right off the bat?
     
  5. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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  6. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    It could probably be done on a regional level. But it would have to be a serious niche operation to be able to take business away from the FedEx and ups of the world. 2-10 terminals fully staffed (which u would have to overpay to take labor away from other warehouses) and the equipment cost as well as any other expense associated with this operation.. We Are talking 9 figures start up cost and you haven't even hauled a load yet.
     
  7. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Enjoying the holiday?
     
  8. motocross25

    motocross25 Road Train Member

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    I think jumping right into the LTL world and trying to go up against them, on your name alone would be business suicide. BUT there are companies that interline with the big LTL companies and that might be a way to test the waters and build your brand so to speak. You’ll do all the deliveries they don’t wanna do i.e., way out of town stuff in the corners of their servicing area, liftgate deliveries, residentials, things like that. Or dip your toes in the courier or hotshot market first to get your name out there. Factories and businesses ship very very expensive stuff and a lot of it time critical, they want to know it’s going to get from A to B without it “falling off the truck”. I’m not saying it can’t be done, I’m just saying I wouldn’t have the business cajones to dive right in, the day to day details seem so daunting. Hazmat insurance, alcohol hauling permits and god knows what else. I don’t even know who you’d contact to get PRO stickers made up. It boggles the mind.
     
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  9. Hotplate

    Hotplate Medium Load Member

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    Very tough, if not impossible to do. There's huge barriers to getting into LTL which is alot different than truckload.
     
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  10. Lazer

    Lazer Road Train Member

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    As some have mentioned, find a niche, interlining would be your best shot. Be prepared to be very competitive on wages, and sales bonuses. You will be luring others away from what they have.
    You sales force will need to very knowledgeable, or very sexy hot women who are not bashful about doing all sort of ‘favors’ for potential customers. Yes, I am serious about that, your lady salesperson’s had better comfortable sleeping with customers, bj’s in restrooms/supply closets, etc.
     
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  11. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    In order to make something like this happen it would have to be somewhere that few of the nationwide outfits will go to, like the upper midwest from the Dakotas over to Idaho. You’d need a warehouse to transfer the freight. And lastly, you need a truck. A single screw tractor with a liftgate pup might be good to start off with, but I can pretty much guarantee you’d be running all over the place and burning the candle at both ends for quite a while.
     
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