Going to start a trucking company - advice welcome

You are learning there is no cookie mold to make a trucking company work. Circumstances dictate procedure. I would try buying several older power units, maybe lease a few newer ones. Try both, and after a while you will see what works for you.Then you can go that way.
Have you thought about leasing a few good O/O's to pull your freight ? I am sure there are some in your area. Maybe hire a few O/O's to get started,as you get your equipment.Offer a good rate, hire good truckers, be fair.You will get a good reputation.And a good reputation is a trucking company's best asset.
There is always someone willing to pull a load cheaper.Try to get a written contract to keep competition at a minimum. Very cut throat business.
40 { + or - } cpm can be a very good drivers salary. Or it can be like minimum wage, depending on miles run, load times, scheduling, unloading requirements, etc. I know of some jobs paying double that, but much more wait time than normal OTR hands are used to. Pay just depends on the situation.I think you realize the better the driver, the more pay is expected. The better the driver the better the job YOU get done. Drivers make or break a company.
To make it in a trucking company, you need an edge.An advantage. Either have great contacts, do a better [ or cheaper] job than others,good financing,do something few others want to do, be a good mechanic,something different. Just hard work alone often is usually not enough.Good luck.

 

ltl drivers make well into the .50's cpm range. Not saying pay that but, ya get what you pay for...no what I mean?