How to Start a Trucking Business

If you have a passion for the transportation industry, alongside the experience and knowledge it takes to run a company, learning how to start a trucking business can give you a solid foundation for growth and profitability.

At Rechtien International Trucks, we want you to get the most out of your career in the transportation industry. That’s why we offer you our trucking business tips to help you. Learn how to have a successful trucking business with this step-by-step guide and checklist from Rechtien International Trucks!

Perform Market Research

Begin with thorough market research as you learn how to start a trucking business. Are there more trucking companies in the Ft. Pierce area? How will you stand out from others near Ft. Lauderdale? What value propositions do you bring to the industry for Riveria Beach business owners?

Analyzing your market is a crucial initial step when understanding how to start a trucking business. Identify potential customers, learn about competitors, and find a niche that helps your company stand out. Consider local deliveries, long-haul shipping, hazmat transportation, oversized loads, or specialized freight as some of your primary shipping jobs.

Create a Business Plan

A solid business plan helps document the blueprint for how to start a trucking business. You’ll need a lot of numbers here, from operations and growth to marketing and financials with projected income. You’ll need to take this business plan to the bank when applying for a commercial loan to provide your initial financial source for starting the company.

Register Your Trucking Company

The third of our trucking business tips include registering your trucking company with the right authorities, including the Secretary of State’s office, the IRS, and the Department of Transportation. You’ll also need to get a business license at the local level. This is also the period where you choose your business type, from a corporation or LLC to a partnership or sole proprietorship. This step is vitally important to avoid regulatory snafus later when learning how to have a successful trucking business. Follow these requirements:

• Form a properly structured corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Obtain your 9-digit employer identification number (EIN)
• Open a business bank account
• Appoint a registered agent (if required by law in your state) to register your company
• Obtain licenses and permits (as required by the type of hauling you will be doing and where you will operate)
• Obtain International Registration Plan (IRP) credentials and an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decal (if your company will operate in or across multiple states)
• Designate a process agent to file Form BOC-3 on your behalf with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA)

Select the Right Equipment & Location

Learn about the right equipment to invest in and the location of your trucking business. Do you need reefers or tanks? What about hazmat hauling? Sleeper cabs or day cabs? Do you want an in-house shop or take your fleet to other shops? Are you an owner-operator or do you want to manage a fleet? Are you seeking used or new equipment? Knowing how to have a successful trucking business from Day One means choosing the right equipment that performs well.

What kind of building do you need? How many bays? How large of a parking lot? A new building or an existing building? Our trucking business tips will cover all of these angles.

Purchase Insurance & Software

You’ll need insurance for your trucking business, including premises insurance for the building and your trucks and equipment. Then, there is the software to manage your fleet. There are plenty of fleet management platforms out there. Find one that allows you to scale easily with different rates depending on your business size. Consider a CRM to manage your customers, too. Operations software can ensure you make deliveries on time and monetize your flee correctly.

Land Some Customers

Now it’s time to land some customers. Do you have past connections you can tap into? You can reach out directly to potential customers through emails and phone calls. Create a website that can draw customers to you.

Build Your Operations

Do you need to hire help? Operations staff will include administrative personnel, a fleet manager, a mechanic, and other drivers. You don’t want to build your company too fast because you might keep up with demand fast enough. So, aim for a slow growth pattern as you’re starting.

Tap Into Your Expertise, Grow From There

What do you do best? Is it driving, managing, or repairing? Tap into your existing expertise first so you deliver the best customer experience. Then, branch out from there as you develop more and more customers.

Expand Your Trucking Business With Rechtien International Trucks

Do you need to expand your fleet? We have what you need with new and used trucks to purchase. Our inventory includes trailers for your cabs and forklifts for your warehouse operations. Call 305-888-0111 to talk to us about a purchase. We’re happy to help you with your trucking business tips at Rechtien International Trucks!