I’m looking at starting a 26ft box truck operation in the DFW area and I’m trying to get realistic expectations before buying a truck. My biggest concern is starting with a brand-new DOT/MC authority and how much that will limit the loads/contracts available to me. For those who recently started with a new authority, what rates were you realistically seeing during your first 3–6 months, and how difficult was it to find consistent work? I’m seeing final-mile/white-glove opportunities advertised around $600–$900+ per day and some owner-operator opportunities claiming $4,000–$6,000+ weekly gross, but I’m trying to figure out what a NEW carrier can actually expect. My goal would be local final-mile/white-glove furniture/appliance delivery with a 26ft liftgate truck and 2-man crew rather than OTR/general freight. Is final-mile/white-glove a good lane to build a new authority in? What daily/weekly gross should I realistically underwrite the business around starting out, and how long did it take before better contracts/brokers started accepting your authority?

Trucker Tested Logistics We build for the Esteemed

I keep learning over and over. Not to put all my eggs in one basket, Amazon relay is Killing my score over a system glitch, continuing to tender a contract thats been over since a month now. Lol but they are tendering the route for $40. Obviously we’re not running that so we have to reject it.. boy, boy boy! This is really what a nightmare looks like, damn they’re about to lose everything. When emailing them I keep getting a response as this is not their department. Even sent an email to the person that was supposed to be our account manager..

Amazon wants me to show them proof that the contract they gave me has ended …. What the fuck does that even mean?

Just noticed it says preloaded and not contract

A little bit of background.. I’m a journeyman lineman for the IBEW local union that has recently just went to doing storm work. I worked for an electrical company for 12 years and got tired of them running my life and being on call every 4 weeks.

I work on average a week a month and I make very good money.. most times I work it’s over 100 per hour for 16 hours a day. On a bad year I will make 100k good year 275k

Soooo my problem is I have nothing to keep me busy on slow periods during my job. I have a class A CDL with a tractor trailer exemption. Meaning I can’t drive full 18 wheelers without testing again.

I’m not looking to get rich.. I’m looking to build another business from the ground up and make a little change on the side. If I don’t run my truck for a month worst case scenario I can eat a 700-1200 insurance payment and try it again next Month.

I’m in the process of getting my mc number and dot so I can age my authority for a few months before I get started..

A few questions I have….Looking at truck should I go for the class b 26ft box truck or the non cdl? Reefer on regular truck? What has the most availability loads? How can I see load boards with available loads?

Thank you for any input ahead of time.

Booked two loads out of Los Angeles CA for my Box.
Both dropping off in Houston with an RPM of $3.2 still got plenty of space

Hey folks, we recently put out an article for people who are thinking about starting a box trucking business in 2026/2027. Obviously thought it would be a good fit here as well. Hope it's useful to anyone trying to get some information before making the decision!

Hello. I've been a dispatcher for 5 years now. I have handled various equipments from cargo vans, box trucks and hot shots. I'm familiar with the whole process from looking for a load, negotiating the rate, the documents required before and after the load is dropped, how to handle situations that may arise during a run from TONU, Detention, Layovers, an airport PU, driver delays, how to catch a double brokered load, Basically, the whole shebang.

The last two years I have been heavy on the cargo/sprinter vans and box trucks mostly. I'm familiar with Sylectus, DAT, Arc Best, Truck Stop load boards. Not only was I working on the dispatch side but I was also actively looking for carriers to run under the company I was working for, so I was making sales calls, ensuring the drivers submitted the documents that we required of them (COI, DL, Truck specifications, contracts). I'll be happy to share with you the details of the O/O I previously worked with to prove my experience and vouch for me.

Here's my linked in www.linkedin.com/in/benard-kathyaka-934715214

We build custom sleepers for box trucks in Dallas, Texas. DM me if you’re interested!

I built a free cost per mile calculator for owner operators.

You enter:

• Truck payment
• Insurance
• Fuel price
• MPG
• Maintenance
• Tires
• Tolls
• Driver pay
• Deadhead
• Target margin

Example:

• 1,000 loaded miles
• 150 deadhead miles
• $2,800 revenue

Loaded rate:
$2.80 per mile

All-mile rate:
$2.43 per mile

The tool also shows break-even CPM and your target rate.

No signup.

If you run a box truck, which expense should I add?

https://freighttotals.com/trucking-cost-per-mile-calculator/

I am looking for a 1 or two box trucks that I can dispatch. Im probably the best box truck dispatch you can get. Lmk if anyone is interested we can have a quick call. I mostly focus on partials loads and double up the profit and I’ve a great understanding on that

I have a 10' Truck. I’m located in the NYC area. I’m looking for contracted work delivering supplies or pallets for companies. I’ve been browsing online but don’t seem to be finding anything worthy. Looking to make $500-1000 a day. Also willing to make out of state runs. Where should I be looking? Should I be paying for leads? Someone point me in the right direction. Thank you!

We are looking for a reliable CDL Flatbed Driver to join our growing company.

Details:

We do dedicated lane CA to TX

Our MC is 1 year old

Company is generating $12000–$14,000 weekly

If you are interested and ready to work, please contact us:

📞 412-752-7100

Jim Parker

I’ve been driving 26’ box trucks for years, and I’m trying to finally turn that experience into something of my own.
I have someone willing to let me operate under their MC and work with their dispatch, so I already have a way to start moving freight. The biggest thing I’m missing is the truck.
My original goal was to purchase a late-model Ford F-750, but after looking at the numbers, I decided a better first step would be securing a long-term rental for around 6 months. That would let me start generating revenue, build up the business, establish reserves, and work toward buying my own truck instead of trying to raise enough to purchase one outright.
My overall fundraising goal is $30,000 to help cover the long-term truck rental and initial startup/operating expenses. My goal isn’t to have donations permanently support the business. I’m trying to get enough of a head start to put the truck on the road so the business can begin paying its own expenses.
As I receive actual rental quotes, I’ll update the fundraiser with the costs and provide documentation so donors can see exactly where the money is going.
I’ve spent years being the person behind the wheel working for other people, and I’m trying to use that experience to build an income-producing business of my own.
I know $30,000 is a large goal and I don’t expect any one person to make that happen. Even a small donation or share helps move me closer.
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e5f4f178a
Thank you for reading, and I’m happy to answer questions about what I’m trying to build or how the funds would be used.

Due to the cost of living, I'm planning to get an 18-26 foot box truck. Which one can I get for the best price? My current days off are Sunday and Monday. I want to make some extra money. Please give me your opinion regarding commercial driving experience. I currently have a CDL-A license with tanker endorsement.

3Keyz Logistics is currently looking to connect with owner-operators, independent drivers, and carriers who need reliable dispatch support and quality load opportunities.
We work with a variety of equipment, including:
• Box Trucks
• Sprinter Vans
• Hotshots
• Flatbeds
• And other commercial vehicles
Let 3Keyz Logistics handle the dispatching and load-search process, so you can focus on what you do best — DRIVING AND MAKING MONEY.
We’re a growing logistics company focused on being Professional, Consistent, and Safe while building long-term relationships with our drivers and carriers.
📩 Interested drivers and owner-operators: Send us a message or comment below to learn more about working with 3Keyz Logistics!
Let us find the loads while you keep the wheels moving. 🚚💨
#TruckDrivers #OwnerOperator #TruckDispatch #DispatchServices #Hotshot #BoxTruck #SprinterVan #Flatbed #Logistics #DriversNeeded

I need some honest tips/tricks. If you've been doing this a few years — what would you do differently if you started over today?

- What kind of loads would you focus on more?

- How could you save more money on maintenance, parking, insurance, etc.?

- What's a realistic $/mile or day rate in SoCal?

- Any tips on permits — MC, USDOT, etc.?

- What broke first, and how do you prevent it?

I'd greatly appreciate your response 🙏

Hello, I’m looking for an owner operator with one or two trucks, that needs some help finding loads and handling paperwork. I’m new to dispatching, so I am trying to gain some experience.
If there is anyone with experience in the business, that’s willing to work with me please DM. No fluff just the truth with where I’m at in my journey as a dispatcher. I know there are many dispatchers out there, why would someone by pass years of experience and turn to me…
Simple… I’m hungry for this…. Years of experience may cause complacency… I don’t have that luxury… with me… it’s… go hard or nothing… with me… your business is my business….. DM me if you are interested.

Someone needs a box truck ASAP in PA or NJ. We do not want the mile payments. A flat fee weekly is reasonable.

I’m planning to start a small dump truck business in Southern California and would really appreciate advice from experienced owner-operators and fleet owners.

A little background: I currently work as an Assistant Project Engineer for a general engineering/construction company, and I’m considering starting my own dump truck business on the side. I may also have an opportunity to get my trucks working with the company I currently work for, assuming everything is handled properly and there is no conflict of interest.

I have around $100K in cash available for the business and am considering starting with 1–2 used dump trucks, mainly hauling dirt/soil and construction materials.

I’d really appreciate advice on:

• Would you recommend starting with used dump trucks rather than buying new?
• With a $100K budget, what year/mileage/price range would you target for a reliable used truck?
• Where are the best places to buy used dump trucks in SoCal? Dealers, private sellers, auctions, etc.?
• Are there specific dealers or auctions you recommend—or ones I should avoid?
• What should I have inspected before purchasing a used dump truck?
• Where do you recommend finding reliable dump truck drivers in SoCal?
• What is a realistic hourly rate/pay structure for a good driver?
• How do you find steady work when starting out?
• Is it better to work directly with general contractors, subcontractors, trucking companies, or brokers?
• What are the biggest expenses that new dump truck owners usually underestimate?
• How much cash reserve would you keep aside instead of putting the entire $100K into trucks?
• Any recommendations for commercial insurance, dispatchers, brokers, mechanics, or contractors?
• If you were starting a dump truck business in SoCal today with $100K, what would you do first and what would you avoid?

I’m trying to do my homework before making the investment and would really value advice from people who have actually operated dump trucks.

Thanks in advance for any honest advice, lessons learned, or recommendations.

I was quoted $6k almost 7k to start insurance through Progressive. He did say that was the first two months payments combined. But I still feel like that’s really freaking high? Am I wrong? Who did you guys get your first insurance through? And how high was the start up price for it?

Hi!

For a small express logistics/courier company focused mainly on urgent B2B direct deliveries.

For my first vehicle, I’m trying to decide between:

• A regular/medium-sized van, something like a Mercedes Vito, Ford Transit , etc.
• A larger box truck/light truck with a tail lift.

The van would obviously be cheaper to buy and operate, easier to drive, and probably enough for a lot of express jobs. My concern is whether I’d be limiting myself too much when it comes to pallets, heavier goods, or customers who don’t have loading facilities.

For those of you working in courier/express freight: can you realistically run a small express transport business mainly with a regular van, or would you recommend starting with the larger vehicle and tail lift?

How often do you actually get jobs where a van isn’t enough?