Tips to Start Your Own Trucking Company
Ready to start your own trucking company but not sure exactly where to begin?
The first prerequisite is hands-on experience or working knowledge of the industry. You are definitely at an advantage if you have experience in this area.
Second is to decide what kind of equipment you will be using. Will you be hiring drivers or owner operators with there own equipment. Will you be leasing, renting or investing in tractors and/or trailers. This is very important during the start-up phase because it can become quite costly depending on what you choose. Will you go full force or start gradually and build up as time goes bye.
Third is obtaining all or your authorities, licensing and insurance so you can get your business started. This will vary depending on where you want your business to go, what states you want to travel to and through. Do you want to border cross into Canada or Mexico or all of the above? Setting a plan in place will help you with expenses and not paying for various authorities and licensing that are unnecessary. Knowing the pitfalls to avoid and using cost savings steps can save you not only time but thousands of dollars.
Forth and foremost are load boards, contracts and contacts. If you are an owner operator or have working knowledge of the transportation business you will be way ahead. Knowing others involved, such as shippers and dispatchers will help you in the beginning with contacts, it's always good to know people in the industry. You will also want quality load boards. There are many out there, they are user friendly and most come with free trial periods and some are free. That always helps when you are starting up a company.
Even in these critical financial times we face and fuel prices on the rise the transportation industry is not going away and is one of the few businesses expected to grow 2% in the coming year. That makes for great opportunity, especially for those individuals that are eager to stop working just to make ends meet and are ready to build a future and become their own boss.
If you would like more information on obtaining authorities, licensing, cost cutting and/or materials to start your own business contact us at 411 Transportation Solutions