Learn how to start a trucking business with one truck from scratch, real advice, smart steps, and personal stories to guide your journey.
Have you ever looked at your one reliable truck and thought, “Wow, this could be the start of something big?” I know how you feel. You have the desire, the rig, and just enough guts to think of starting a full-fledged business.
Spoiler alert: Yes, you can.
It could seem like a David vs. Goliath narrative to start a trucking firm with just one truck, especially because most trucking companies have enormous fleets and lots of money. But David had a strong arm, and you have strength, speed, and heart. That’s enough to get you going.
By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what kind of equipment the big players trust, like the Old Dominion Truck Tire Brand, keep reading, understanding these choices can help you build your own professional edge.
In this piece, I’m going to tell you everything: the steps I took, the things I wish I had known sooner, the blunders that cost me time (and money), and the precious nuggets that helped me improve. This is where you should start if you want to know how to establish a trucking business with just one truck. I’ve been where you are, whether you want to know how to start a trucking business with one vehicle or how to grow steadily.
Article Breakdown
1. Why begin with just one truck?
To be real, you don’t need a fleet. Starting with one vehicle is a good idea. It keeps your costs down, your work modest, and your learning curve acceptable.
I began out with a used Freightliner that I bought. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. My objectives were bigger than my bills. And since I didn’t have to worry about 10 drivers, 10 routes, or 10 insurance policies, I could put all my effort into executing one thing well.
For real, one truck is your MVP (minimum viable powerhouse). Don’t take it lightly.
When people ask me how to start a trucking business with just one vehicle, I always encourage them to focus on being efficient first, not on growing. That one truck can help you figure out how to start a trucking business, especially if you’re doing it on your own.
2. Register Your Business: Give It a Name and Take It
First things first, you need to make it official.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Pick the structure of your business: There are pros and cons to each type of business: sole proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp. I picked an LLC because it protects me from lawsuits.
- Sign up for your business name: Make sure it stands out and sticks in people’s minds.
- I chose something straightforward and clear for the industry. Think: Swift Hauls Logistics.
- Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number): You’ll need this for taxes, banking, and pretty much everything else.
Don’t skip this step, pro tip. From the very beginning, you want your business to be real. It makes brokers, clients, and even lenders trust you more in the future.
This is one of the easiest and most important wins if you’re trying to figure out how to start a trucking business with just one truck. This is a huge step in starting a transportation business.
3. Licenses and permits: Your ticket to ride
No hauling without a permit.
This is where things become serious. And yes, I’m not going to lie, this bit made my head spin. But you’ll get through it.
This is what you need:
- You need a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) if you’re driving.
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) needs a USDOT number.
- Motor Carrier (MC) Number: If you’re moving regulated freight or crossing state lines.
- BOC-3 Filing: Names a legal representative in each state.
- IRP (International Registration Plan) and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement): For businesses that operate in more than one state.
My experience: I paid someone else to help me with some of this. It cost a lot, yet it kept me from getting migraines for a week.
This is where you should start if you want to know how to do trucking company paperwork. It also applies to people who want to start a box truck business.
4. Insurance: Don’t Drive Without It
This is when I learnt the hard way that cheaper isn’t always better.
You will need:
- Primary liability insurance: This will pay for damage if you’re at fault.
- Cargo insurance protects the load.
- Insurance for physical damage: protects your truck.
- Bobtail insurance: When you’re driving without a trailer.
Look around. Get estimates. Talk to other owner-operators. After six months, I switched since I realized I was paying too much for less coverage. You learn as you go.
This is a very vital stage in running a trucking business well, especially when your profits are low.
5. Plan Your Money: Make a Budget Like Your Business Needs It (Because It Does)
If you only have one truck, you need to be particularly careful with your money. If you’re not ready, one breakdown might cost you all of your month’s profits.
List out the costs of starting your business:
- Buying or leasing a truck
- Permits and registration
- Insurance
- Fixing and keeping up with things
- Software for fuel (ELDs, accounting tools)
- Fund for emergencies
I made a basic spreadsheet to keep track of everything. I updated it all the time. That habit definitely kept me from going under twice.
An analogy that makes sense? Treat your truck like a pet. You love it, but it will cost you food, vet costs, and a lot of time. Get ready.
If you want to learn how to establish a trucking business with just one truck, you also need to learn how to handle money like a CFO, even if you’re the only one in the cab. The math has to work out, whether you’re looking at a semi or a box truck for sale.
6. Find Loads: The Most Important Thing for Your Business
You have the wheels. You need the job now.
Where to get loads:
- DAT, TruckStop, and 123Loadboard are all load boards.
- Freight brokers (make connections, they matter)
- Direct shippers (get in touch with small enterprises)
- Dispatch services (they find loads and take a cut)
At first, I lived on DAT. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. I eventually made friends with brokers who called me first.
Big tip: Always be on time. Talk to each other. Be trustworthy. Your reputation is your most valuable asset.
This is what you need to know if you want to start a transportation business with just one truck.
7. Use technology to stay up-to-date and competitive
You need the correct tools even if you only have one truck.
This is what worked for me:
- ELD (Electronic Logging Device): Required and keeps you legal.
- Waze, Trucker Path, or specialist GPS units are all examples of GPS and route optimization apps.
- Apps for keeping track of maintenance: Keep records of inspections.
- I used QuickBooks for accounting, but there are also trucking-specific programs like TruckingOffice.
The initial expense of software could hurt, but trust me, it will pay for itself in saved time and fewer fines.
8. Get Your Business Systems Ready
Don’t only think of your trucking business as a job; think of it as a small business.
What you need:
- Account for business banking
- Credit card for business
- Billing software or invoice templates
- Card for gas
Keep your business and personal money separate. It makes taxes easier and shows banks or investors that you mean business.
After each haul, I also put some money aside for emergencies. It was a pain, but I didn’t have to use up all of my credit card when my radiator broke in Ohio.
9. Stay Compliant: Paperwork Isn’t Fun, But It’s Necessary
Compliance might not be sexy, but fines and shutdowns are worse.
Keep up with:
- Testing for drugs and alcohol (if needed)
- Checks on vehicles
- Hours of service (tracked with an ELD)
- Renewals of permits
I prepared a Google Calendar with all the dates I need to renew and put up email reminders. I didn’t have to say “Oh crap” a lot.
10. Grow Smart: Don’t Try to Run Before You Can Walk
It’s easy to want to acquire a second truck once the money starts rolling in. I almost did, but it was too soon.
Instead, I:
- Paid off my truck loan
- Made a fund for emergencies that lasts six months
- Started sending out deliveries to other companies
- Hired part-time help to do administrative work
I only thought about growing my business when I was making money all the time. I started with one rusted truck and a lot of late hours. Now I have three trucks.
If you’re starting with a moving truck for sale or a heavy-duty vehicle, remember to grow on purpose.
Key Takings:
- I’ll be real: it’s not always easy. There were times I slept in my cab in the middle of nowhere, wondering if I’d made the right choice.
- But every mile taught me something. Every load built my business. And every lesson shaped me into an owner, not just a driver.
- If you’re thinking about starting a trucking business with one truck, stop thinking and start planning. It’s doable. It’s scalable. And it starts with that one decision to roll forward.
- You’ve got the truck. Now go build the business.
- And hey, if you ever need someone to swap stories or compare ELD apps with, I’m just a horn honk away.
Additional Resources:
- How to Start a Trucking Business:A comprehensive, real-world guide from Entrepreneur.com that walks you through everything from securing proper licenses to managing finances and scaling operations, perfect for those starting with one truck.
- Choose a Business Structure: An official resource from the U.S. Small Business Administration explaining the pros and cons of different business entities. An essential step when legally setting up your one-truck business.
- 7 Steps to Starting a Successful Trucking Company: This guide from SCORE, a nonprofit partner of the SBA, outlines the key steps to launching a profitable trucking business, from writing a business plan to managing cash flow, all tailored for startups, including those with just one truck.
