Need some advice on starting a trucking company.

Your biggest concern should be getting flamed upon this very forum.

Put on your fire suit, and hang on tight.

Here it comes . . !!!!!

 

Trucking Company Fortune Express.

Start with two million, a large fortune and end up with 200,000 in a small fortune.

Continue until you cannot afford to stay in business anymore.

People sometimes get shiny eyes and fasten on the lucrative part of business. But none of those talk about the expense of keeping one truck and driver moving. Hopefully not breaking something or getting hurt or some other problem not in your control.

With respect, those are not the people you want to listen to.

Trucking is not the best way to make a lucrative fortune. You can however by being very careful accounting of all costs down to the penny versus revenue coming in MAYBE you will have a little something to put aside. But it's all money money money to go out the door, window, gutters, toilet and fuel pumps etc. Every day. It's a wonder sometimes people don't go crazy with the insanity of it all.

Me? I prefer to be a company driver. You tell me to go here load there and be somewhere next monday. My life would be relatively free of problems that keep YOU up at night. =)

Good luck!

 

Awww come on - that’s got to be horse radish!

Swift and Schneider had to start somewhere - why can’t that be me?

 

Honestly what do you expect to get out of this, other than money.

 

Ok. So, there’s a few problems here.

Good owner operators are NOT looking for ‘best miles’ . They’re happy running 300 miles for $60/mile.

This is an assumption - but as a CDL instructor, what are the ‘lot of people I’ve talked to’ comprised of - ? - students? Other instructors? Students parents?

Most ‘good drivers’ either have a great paying company gig, or own their own truck.

You had better have a highly lucrative business plan on offer to attract either camp.

 

Well, yes there is. From the outside - it looks easy. The reality is it’s what my bank managers superiors call a . . ,

“High risk industry “

(This turns up on every over ridden business loan I apply for).

 

There is always room for a small player in this business. However the failure rate is very high. Some merge, some sell out. However I would write this somewhere where you can see it everyday. THE BEST WAY TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS IN TRUCKING IS TO START WITH TWO MILLION! Just keep that saying in mind as you go forward! I'm not picking a fight. Just saying keep both eyes open and try to keep a good reserve!