Trucking is a great idea for business, as it can be highly profitable. You can start with one truck and end up owning more over the years, effectively expanding your operations. But trucking is also a demanding business; it is competitive, and only the best survive.
To help ensure your trucking business’s success, here are some of the common pitfalls to avoid.
Underestimating the work
Many people who start a trucking business are truckers too. You may be right in thinking of yourself as a good trucker, but that may not always translate to the business side of things. Driving a truck and running a trucking business are two entirely different things. If you want to start a trucking business, learn how it works and not just how your truck works.
Settling for low prices all the time
When you start your business, you may resort to bidding on loads. To beat the others bidding for the same job, you might start charging the lowest fees. This is fine if you’re just starting to make a name for yourself in the field, but it should not be your long-term plan. It is advisable to seek out customers diligently and secure contracts with them. You can earn as much as double per truck if you don’t have to bid per load.
Not keeping a schedule
A schedule is important to make sure your trucks arrive at their destinations on time, every time. But a schedule does not involve only your job; it also involves keeping a strict maintenance schedule for your trucks and other tools of the trade. Using a particular type of software for your asset maintenance makes things easier to track.
Not expanding your services
Don’t stick to one service forever. The more trucking services you can offer, the better for your company. You may start with something relatively simpler, such as offering LTL trucking service and expand to include other trucking services for better profits. Look for fuel tankers for sale, for example, and start transporting fuel to distribution stations. In this field, you have a good chance of getting contracts with fuel companies that pay better.
Your trucking business can be a goldmine if you know what you are doing and can avoid these most common pitfalls which are responsible for many failed attempts at this kind of business. Follow your business acumen, but stay grounded and know what missteps to stay away from.