Starting a business

In my opinion, you're putting the cart before the horse. So, you go out and buy your one truck. You fork over the $$ for the permits, plates, insurance, etc. (The list of expenses is long) So, after all that cash outlay you're ready to head out and hit the road. Guess what, until you've actually driven and worked over the road, you can not know what it's like. So, what if you hate it? Are you willing to take that chance?

I'd highly suggest getting a job and working as a company driver first to see what "trucking" is all about and if you even like it. You said you want to learn the trucking business without spending a lot of money. The way to do that is by NOT buying a truck and having to spend all that money I mentioned.

That probably wasn't what you were wanting to hear, but it's what you need to hear. Sorry.

Good luck to you at any rate.

L

 

What kind of driving experience do you have? If the answer is none.... Then your going to be in the 99.9% failure category.

 

Most people on here seem to do it backwards. Find a freight base that requires you to buy a truck, don't buy a truck and then try to find a freight base.

 

Now you have moved from the 99.9% failure rate to the 110% failure rate.

Buying a truck & hiring a driver will make you go broke quick!!! Are you prepared to spend $150,000.00 a year in truck expenses plus an additional 40 to 50 thousand in drivers wages?

With a 1 truck operation, you will barely even make enough money to cover your expenses. You will have a better chance of survival if you buy 5 or more trucks to start with.... And even that would be difficult when you have no knowledge of the industry or the expenses involved.

To answer your orginal question.... If you plan on getting your own authority.... Then yes, you will need your own trailer. If you plan on leasing to another carrier for 80 cents per mile, then you can pull one of theirs.

Also.... There is an old saying. Never do business with family or friends. It will never end well.

 

I have owned a business in the past and just recently started again as a sub-contractor, I own my truck outright and have driven trucks for over 20 years. ok best advice I can give is , if you can not find your own clients that you work for directly and you can not do the majority of maintainence and repairs yourself, and given the setup you said (having a driver) then forget about it, dont think about it any further, because it will not be worth all the heart ache.

 

good posts in here - I'll also add in my two cents about a site that's helpful for starting out a small business (not necessarily trucking related though) but http://www.businessinsurance.org - loads of good info about how to set up a business and such. Hope that helps!