Starting Own Trucking Authority......No CDL

I have very little experience in trucking or business. No CDL............nothing.

I need to figure out how to bring in extra income and want to start my own authority with another driver in the truck first and I will be following up by getting an additional truck after.

Probably not how truckers begin, but my circumstances will not allow me to leave my current job at the moment.

Not something I just woke up and decided to do; my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and a buddy of mine are truckers. We've talked for years and I wasn't in the position to make the move myself. It's looking more likely now and I'd like to begin by getting a truck and driver first.

I realize the cost isn't cheap and probably will not make much the first year. Just need plan and wanted to pick more brains from people in the Industry.

Victor, welcome aboard!

I'm a long time business owner, and now a truck driver. I originally had a plan much like yours when I first decided to get into this. After months of consideration, planning, and working the numbers, I came to the conclusion that it just didn't make sense for me to risk the kind of capital required. The freight market has been really hot this year, but already showing signs of trouble ahead. The business end of this industry is hot and cold based on a lot of factors outside your control.

Doing this to generate a little extra income sounds bizarre to me. It's a business which will require you to be "all in." I found that being a competent dedicated company driver is a great way to make some good solid money. That is the only way I would ever recommend someone get started in this. Having relatives in the business really means nothing - having "skin in the game" will be as damaging as it will be challenging. I just can't give you any encouragement to follow through with this.

We focus on helping new drivers make a good start at this, and for as many years as I have been involved here, we've never tried to get anyone to jump right into the deep water like you're contemplating. It's a commodities business, and it's complexity leaves little room for error while providing very modest profit levels. The national averages of the largest trucking companies are usually in the 3 to 5 percent range, and that is with billions in revenue.

I know you'll probably persist in your quest, so I hope you'll get some help from people who specialize in this sort of advice. The best place to start would be the OOIDA Website.

BTW, I just want to make clear that I do not wish to offend anyone or minimize the amount of work and hardship doing trucking takes.

I asked this very question in another forum and wasn't met with the friendliest of responses.

I figure they thought I was joking or trying to troll them or something.......not sure.

All input will be greatly appreciated. Ask away if you have any questions.

Just out of curiosity how much money do you plan on "investing" and how much will you have on hand for when it is needed?

Victor, welcome aboard!

I'm a long time business owner, and now a truck driver. I originally had a plan much like yours when I first decided to get into this. After months of consideration, planning, and working the numbers, I came to the conclusion that it just didn't make sense for me to risk the kind of capital required. The freight market has been really hot this year, but already showing signs of trouble ahead. The business end of this industry is hot and cold based on a lot of factors outside your control.

Doing this to generate a little extra income sounds bizarre to me. It's a business which will require you to be "all in." I found that being a competent dedicated company driver is a great way to make some good solid money. That is the only way I would ever recommend someone get started in this. Having relatives in the business really means nothing - having "skin in the game" will be as damaging as it will be challenging. I just can't give you any encouragement to follow through with this.

We focus on helping new drivers make a good start at this, and for as many years as I have been involved here, we've never tried to get anyone to jump right into the deep water like you're contemplating. It's a commodities business, and it's complexity leaves little room for error while providing very modest profit levels. The national averages of the largest trucking companies are usually in the 3 to 5 percent range, and that is with billions in revenue.

I know you'll probably persist in your quest, so I hope you'll get some help from people who specialize in this sort of advice. The best place to start would be the OOIDA Website.

I Just mentioned the knowing someone in the Industry to show that this wasn't something I woke up and thought of one day. I'm fully aware this is something will mine to maintain fully.

Thank you so much for your advice.

I have considered going head first into driving as well.

Just out of curiosity how much money do you plan on "investing" and how much will you have on hand for when it is needed?

8-10K invested

15k on hand.

This topic comes up often, I'll keep it short and sweet.

Most trucking companies make 3% profit if all goes well, it will be all but impossible to hire a decent driver and have anything left for yourself.

I wanted to start my own company as well but after I did the research it wasn't worth the risk, as you can make as much or more with 0 risk as a company driver.

I would strongly suggest investing your money elsewhere.

This topic comes up often, I'll keep it short and sweet.

Most trucking companies make 3% profit if all goes well, it will be all but impossible to hire a decent driver and have anything left for yourself.

I wanted to start my own company as well but after I did the research it wasn't worth the risk, as you can make as much or more with 0 risk as a company driver.

I would strongly suggest investing your money elsewhere.

Ok.

That might just be the route I take.

I'd prefer to be home every weekend as I have a family, so I'm sure that will limit me.

What is the average yearly income of a driver that is home on the weekends?

To keep it simple, say he hauls dry only.

Where are you located? If your location is good you could land a pretty lucrative line-haul type job pulling doubles. You can make 80,000 plus dollars a year and be home on weekends, maybe even home nightly.

I am home every day and off on weekends running linehaul , I made 75k in my first full year. Being a regional driver where you are home for your 34 hour reset at a minimum should be able to be in the low 50s and can go up from there.