starting a trucking business

At 200/ week you'll have enough too buy a set of steer tires in about 2 months.

 

You need to do a lot more "thinking"..........and shortly you will realize that noone in their right mind is going to go out of the gate with 5 new trucks and just expect to manage the business and make a 1k a week profit. Do some searches on here........reality WILL sink in young grasshoppa!!!

 

Can be done.
There are a number of questions I would ask first.
1st , How much cash do you have to put behind this idea?

 

Not to mention you could easily put out 75-100K in fuel before you ever see your first check.
Unless of course you opt for cash advance, quick pay or God forbid the dreaded factoring route.

 

This isn't an easy business and you should start out with one simple thing - money. If you have operating capital for at least three months, then that’s a good start. That is not working capital, that is reserve capital.

The other questions are answered in due time, but as for business stuff, like percentage vs flat rate and so on, these are things that no one should take from a forum but put a plan in place with professionals who can actually look at the market, the trends and other indicators to judge what you need in your situation with your plans.

$200 is too low, by the way - if my trucks can't hit $300 a day over 7 days, I have to figure out what's wrong quick.

DO you drive a truck?

 

I am in a holding pattern right now. Been in the business for 37 years and FMCSA is bound and determined to put small owner/operators out of business. I parked my second truck, fired the driver and am just waiting to see what happens with this mess. I think truckers pay more than their fair share and the licensing, medicals, record keeping, repairs, parts and on and on just keep going up. The rules and regulations FMCSA is adding aren't just initial investment into more and more equipment, that accomplishes nothing, the equipment they are mandating also have monthly expenses that go along with them. I am absolutely worn out trying to keep up with what is proposed, what is passed, what has been changed and has been changed and what is coming down the pike. You can expect a minimum of $10,000 per truck, per year just to get it and keep it legal for DOT and FMCSA.

It will take some very, very deep pockets but I wish you luck if you can find a way to get five trucks running, find five drivers that don't bleed you to death and drive you to the mental institution AND be prepared to invest a whole lot more to remain compliant. I believe Ferro also has a pen and phone and she is started using it already with changes to the rules and regs when nobody can figure out what the original rule is all about. You might want to hire an attorney to keep on retainer and an accountant.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend anybody even attempt to try to get into trucking until FMCSA decides to back off a bit and I only see it getting worse with the next batch of rules and regs that are on the way down the pike.

 

Yes you can make $200 per week per truck. But you might find it easier to lose $2000 per truck per week. So if 4 make it and one loses. Your only out 1200 per week. Not a very good business plan.


Not sure what your experience or how much real capital you have. But unless you have plenty of both you will most likely fail. To run 5 trucks out of the gate with no dedicated direct customers you are asking for trouble. 5 trucks and no customers that's just insane. You would be better off buying gov't bonds with your startup money and taking a burger flipper job. You will eat better and have more money at the end of the week. With a lot less stress.