Starting a trucking company

Well... how prepared are you to start a trucking company? I mean, if you're planning to take on 30 trucks, it would seem to be expected that this all would've been sorted out and figured out already...

 

The Human Factor.

So, you're 19 years old, in college and wanting to have your own trucking company. Sounds like a plan. We see it all the time. Buy some trucks, hire some drivers out and pay them what you think is a good wage, right? You can be the brains behind the operation!

The way that most trucking companies start is by a single hardworking owner operator that has the right contacts with the right contracts. He runs a truck and works a truck for years, then has to get out of the truck because he is needed in the office or to turn wrenches. Buys a shop, works like a demon for years...has a faithful hardworking wife to keep him grounded. They work extremely hard for 3-4 decades, and know the business like the back of their hands.

eventually, they get a team of good, solid drivers, a couple really good mechanics and things take off. The owners have a stellar name in the trucking community and their drivers would follow them to hell and back. Then the now old man puts his worthless son in the business. Worthless runs things Daddy's way while Daddy is alive, but as soon as the old man passes, everything immediately goes down the crapper.Immediately. Then the once great company becomes a breeding den for idiots. Idiot son and his idiot bean counting buddies drive out the 30 year drivers that the old man had, and replace them with POS drivers and put them in POS trucks. Contacts and contracts are lost.

Junior doesn't care. He squanders the company money until one day, the creditors take everything. Fortunately Dad put some money beside for mom so she doesn't have to spend her final years in a home.

Theres only one way to have a successful trucking company, amigo. You are going to have to get into a truck and lead by example. And along the way, you are going to have to pick up solid drivers who are willing to invest their lives into your idea of a company.

i would love to see you be successful, amigo.

 

Bigger isn't always better and you can't just pick a number. If you are making money with 4 trucks for example and then you hire a dispatcher (or office help etc,) you will need to have more trucks just to pay for the dispatcher. You may be losing money with 6 trucks because the dispatcher's salary is eating up all the profits. You have to always justify any additional expenses or you should not do it. Finding quality people that you can trust is huge. I work in both the office and drive local when we are busy or someone calls in sick. When I am in the office and getting paid, I am an expense to the company, when I'm out driving I am revenue. You have to keep expenses low. You really have to watch every penny and remember the quote Pres. Reagan made famous: Trust but verify.

Good luck and please actually go to class. (NOT JUST ON EXAM DAY!!)

 

Attitude is actually a good thing.

Just letting you know that's an extremely difficult road you are wanting to travel. If the old man is still strong and in good health, have him go in with you. That's the first resource I would tap in....FAMILY.

 

Well, you are a college guy that wants to just jump in. But that's not a bad thing. Jump on in!

The difference between the owner OP that's not making money to the owner OP that is making money is the guy or gal making money is the first person willing to get dirty. I own my truck. I carry everything in my truck to do what I need done. I am no mechanic, but I have done an inframe. I've changed brakes in a parking lot. I build my own cars, I built my own truck. She's really strong and performs the way I need her to. She's old, but why the heck should I buy a new truck with half the HP, and twice the problems?

if I were you, and young and had diesel in my blood, I would make a name for myself first. Buy you a truck and build her. Make contacts with shippers and make a reputation with exceptional service. Do some charity stuff in the community and have the rig in the background. Hospitality is the first sign of greatness in a man. There are two people you need to meet:

1. another driver like you...a good driver, strong like a force of nature, loves trucking and will take care of your truck. Put him in a strong solid, good looking truck and watch him go. A good driver doesn't need his hand held. Have Pops dispatch and find loads or take care of any local loading while you and the other driver run as hard as you can. Now, you have your go to guy, your right hand man. That takes a lot off of you.
2. a really good woman...completely opposite of you. She will help keep you sane and balanced. Run like hell during the week, and chase her around the bedroom all weekend. I've never seen a single company owner build a good company.
Make absolutely certain to always stay loyal to your lady and your right hand as long as they are loyal to you.

you will meet other drivers, and hear all kinds of BS and grandiose speeches from guys who've been driving longer than you were alive. One minute, they're bragging about their prowess in a big rig, but the next moment, they're crying about something. You don't want this type of driver. Like I said, the drivers you want for a small fleet will be strong like a force of nature. They stand out, you can't help but see them. When the hurricane comes to town, you only have two choices, take cover or get the heck out its path. Since they don't need their hands held, they will be more responsible and take care of your trucks as if they owned them. Good drivers cost more money, but they save you even more. There will be mutual respect amongst your drivers. So automatically, you will be doing better than most companies could ever imagine.

anyways, I would love to see you be successful. Best of luck to you, friend.