How to Start a Trucking Company with no knowledge about the Trucking Industry

the average trucking company's profit margin is 2% Glad you were not involved in developing my business plan back when I started my trucking company

 

2% ? .. at 2% profit how many trucks would one need to see a profit and a cushion ?

 

A heck of a lot !

 

What you won't see until you're hip deep in it, is the complete lack of integrity in transport in every corner of it. You will have more hands reaching into your wallet from every direction than you can imagine. Also, you will be taking on the lion's share of the risk that exists in the entire supply chain, while only getting a tiny slice of the profit that's in there. I think if you are dead set on doing this, AllowMe's post is the best one in my opinion.

If you're thinking of going the independent route (either starting with your own authority from scratch or buying/investing in an existing outfit), you really need to read a couple of threads. Don't just skip through. Read the whole thing. None of these stories include many rainbows and unicorns.

I hijacked a similar thread and kept it updated through my first year or so. I'm into my fourth year in business now. At about the three year mark, a combination of reduced costs to an established business, along with plenty of hard-knock lessons, things have gotten much easier. Still not taking half a year off in some island paradise yet, but operating with more breathing room and less stress. Read here: No experience but getting Authority.

Another guy set out and sort of did the same thing. Only it didn't go that well. He started with less money and really learned everything the hard way. Read this: Instant O/O and Load boards. There's a gap when that thread got locked for a short time and this one fills in the blank Instant O/O and Loadboards II.

Plenty more reading on the topic of startups if you take the time to use the search feature. Within both, you will find references to even more related threads you can search for. I advise you do that until your eyes bleed, get some rest, then start again LOL.

 

Not encouraging or discouraging you, it's your money spend it how you see fit. Just thinking, why not invest in something you have experience or knowledge in.

 

Maybe they got interstate because intrastate wasn't paying the bills?

If the part you helped create was the ifta/irp section at the dor website. It gets the job done but not very compatible, I mean the site supports internet explorer only, that's so ....1995. Not to mention it's discontinued, but hey it was really popular in 02/03. Thank the Lord they are finally updating their site. I actually had to install xp on a virtual machine just to properly file my taxes.

As for your trucking question, something tells me that you really haven't looked into it to much or otherwise you would have been asking more specific questions, rather then a vague generalized question. I truly do not mean to offend you I just tend to come if there wrong way. I wasn't socialized as a child.

You could break down your objective into smaller subjects and learn about each one and in doing so it will lead you into more categories that you may or may not of realized were intertwined. There is a plethora of information on the web of the steps to take and the order to take them.

Honestly Google is your greatest asset to get started and you will receive minimal backlash vs. just asking on a forum where flames and rejection are abound.

To get you started LMGTFY and one last word of advice, never pay a third party to do any of the steps for you.

Best of luck.

 

You guys realize this is a two year old thread, and the op hasn't been online in as long?

 

Why?

 

Then why did you resurrect it?

 

DUUUUDE, I started laughing just when I saw the question. So I opened it just because I knew the entertainment that will come next. LOL