Trucks are responsible for more than 70 percent of the freight goods that are transported in the United States, so there is plenty of business to be had as a new independent truck driver. Here's how you can save some money and increase your profit margins and your business grows:
Tap Into Word-of-Mouth Advertising
Instead of spending your start up money on television, radio, or print advertising, tap into word-of-mouth advertising and take advantage of free leads as time goes on. Create a website and let potential customers know what types of services you have to offer. Include an engaging blog section where customers can access in-depth information, tips, and guidance. If they're intrigued enough, they'll share your content with colleagues through social media outlets, who may then turn to you for services.
You can also offer your customers small discounts on their next service order if they refer a customer to you who places an initial order. Most companies are happy to save some money on the transport costs for their goods, especially if all they have to do is spread the word about their satisfaction with your trucking business. You can give a stack of cards to vendors and clients that you work with so their colleagues and customers have access to them even when you aren't around.
Serve Multiple Clients at Once
As you grow your client base, consider consolidating the goods you transport so you can deliver for more than one customer as a time. Schedule two or three customers at once if you have room for it in your truck. You'll save time, money, and effort over serving each customer separately. Use large pallets, plastic wrap, and ropes to enclose each order before putting it in your truck. This will help keep the fragile stuff safe and ensure that customers' goods don't get mixed up together. It should also make unloading the goods at their destinations less time consuming and more convenient overall – and as they say, time is money.
Prepare Personal Living Quarters
If you plan to transport goods long distances, you can save yourself a significant amount of money on travel costs by preparing personal living quarters inside your semi truck. You'll avoid the need for expensive hotel stays and you can take advantage of the freedom to stop when and where you pick and choose. And if you like cooking for yourself, you can save some money on restaurant bills. If the cab of your truck doesn't feature a bed of some kind, make sure that is enough room to erect a small cot or memory foam pad when it's time for a good night's sleep.
You can also build small shelves in the back of the cab to store clothes, toiletries, food, and dishes. Keep a five gallons of water in a reusable container that has a nozzle – you can use it for cooking, washing dishes, and even sponge bathing. And you'll need a small camp stove with propane tank so you can set a little kitchen up outside your cab and cook when the need arises.
Buy Your Truck Used
Buying your semi truck used is one of the best ways to save some money and increase your profit margins as you grow your new independent trucking business. You'll lower your risk because your overall costs, and likely your monthly payments, will be lower than if you were to buy new. Therefore, you'll have less to lose if you decide to change direction or careers in the future. And you can use the money you save on the cost of the truck to fund other important aspects of your business or to maintain a positive cash flow as you grow.
And when buying used, you can expect to pay less for things like insurance, and possibly registration costs. You may even be able to get your hands on aftermarket upgrades that have already been installed at a fraction of the cost you'd face if you were to buy new. Visit a local dealer to check out used Mack trucks for sale.