RESOURCES
Below are Motor Carrier HQ’s resources to help truckers, owner- and fleet-operators.
COMPLETE GUIDE TO STARTING A TRUCKING COMPANY
The hardest part of getting your trucking company started is exactly that: figuring out where to start. That’s why we’ve compiled the first nine steps you should take to figure out what you need to get started, how to do it, and some information on how to do it right. Check it out here!
PARTNERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE
Deciding whether or not to go into business with a partner is a HUGE decision and you want make sure you make the right one. A great partnership can be one of the best things for a business, but a bad partnership will tear it apart. If you are considering working with a partner you want to make sure you are on the same page with most things. Find out by completing this short questionnaire.
TRUCKING COMPANY START-UP COST CALCULATOR
Interested in seeing how much it costs to start your own trucking company? We’ve compiled a list of the major expenses that you can expect to pay when starting your own business. Use your own numbers for the annual overhead costs to get an estimate for yourself. Calculate here!
COST-PER-MILE CALCULATOR
The most important number you should be able to calculate is the average cost-per-mile. We’ve created a list of each expense to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay and ways you can plug in your own numbers to calculate the cost for your own trucking company.
COST OF BUYING A TRUCK
The truck you buy is one of the biggest decisions you will make when you start your trucking company. Your truck has the biggest impact on your bottom line, which makes the truck-buying decision one of the most important. You really want to get it right. Use this spreadsheet to help you figure out what is right for your company.
DOT COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
Following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations and compliance rules is not something any of us enjoy doing, but it is a critical part of any trucking company. Not following DOT’s regulations will stop your truck from rolling just like an accident will. Check out this helpful checklist to make sure you are fit for the road!
FREE LIST OF BROKERS FOR NEW AUTHORITIES
One of the biggest challenges for any new trucking company with a brand new motor carrier authority is finding loads. Most new trucking authorities have to use brokers to either find all their loads or to find backhauls. The problem is, many brokers won’t work with a trucking company unless they have been in business for 30, 60, or 90 days. Some brokers will even make you wait for 6 months or even a year. We have compiled a helpful list of brokers who will work with new authorities.
VIDEOS
Check out our video library for additional content to help you on a range of topics, like getting your DOT PIN, or requirements to get your authority.
GLOSSARY
The trucking industry is full of unique terms and acronyms. Whether you are new to the industry or an experienced industry-vet, we all come across terms we’ve never seen before. Take a look at our glossary to see some of the most common (and some of the more obscure) trucking terms and find out what they mean!
HAULIN ASSETS
Our very own Chris Vernon has been in the trucking industry for years, and in an effort to help more drivers become owner-operators he left the desk and hit the road. He documented his journey in buying a truck and starting a profitable trucking company in a podcast called Haulin Assets. He goes over the highs and lows and shares every detail (including the finances, paperwork and audits) and you can check it all out here.
NEED MORE HELP?
We are always looking for ways to help our customers. Shoot us a message at info@motorcarrierhq.com.
