Which way do I go?

I'm trying to get all my ducks lined up too head out on and my own, but I'm having trouble deciding which way to go.

I want to start either go flatbed, step deck, or reefer. I won't be driving the truck, but rather sitting back and running the business. However, I don't know how much I want to or how much I should be involved. I have a couple candidates for drivers, I know hiring drivers is a pain in the rear, but I've known these guys awhile and I trust them. My real question though is should I go out, get my own numbers and do my own thing, or lease on to a company so they can worry about all the insurance and load bookings, or just hire a dispatch company, but still run with my own numbers?

Also, what is the best trailer to run? I would think get a reefer and a husband and wife team and let them roll. However, I'm a flatbed guy at heart and so are my two drivers. They both want to run flatbed if possible. I want to be able to run a profitable business with as little down time as possible.

All I know is I'm ready to do it, just got to figure out the little things. I will be using boards if I go with my own numbers, but I'll do my best to get direct customers.

Thanks guys for all the help.

 

Oh, that's too bad. I'm sure it would've worked had you been more business savvy. You know there is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

Yes, I am currently an O/O locally, also I'm a flight instructor in Central Florida.

 

Luckily I'm in a position where I have some assets for running the business. It isn't enough to sustain it forever, but enough to get me by for awhile if it doesn't work. That's even before I start using my income money. My house is payed off, my car is payed off, we have one car that's a lease. We are sitting good right now. However, I don't want to be sitting good, I want to be sitting great. I don't mind taking a risk knowing the outcome could be great.