If you’ve been in the truck driving business for a while, you have at some point likely considered expedited trucking. If so, it’s important to first consider certain things before making the leap. Here is a checklist to follow to make sure you maximize your profits and lower your risks.
Lifestyle Considerations
It’s important to understand the type of lifestyle that you will be leading as an expedited shipper. Sometimes there could be long time periods between loads, which may or may not be a big deal for you. Other times you’ll be away from home for a long period of time, sometimes for weeks. You’ll need to take these factors into consideration before deciding to make a change in your career.
Truck Selection
There are various avenues you can take when entering the expedited shipping industry. Buying a truck can be a very costly purchase, but you can always choose to lease. In addition, you may also decide to buy a smaller expedited van, but this will put limitations on the types of products you may be able to transport. For instance, you may not be able to haul equipment that calls for larger trucks.
Work Alone or as a Team?
Depending on how you prefer to work, you’ll need to consider if you want to drive solo, or as a part of a team. There are plusses and minuses to both, which should be considered. For instance, if you go solo, you can make all the decisions on your own and have your own space.
On the other hand, having a team member might give you some much-needed company and support.
Make sure these considerations are thought about before you take the plunge to becoming an expedited trucker.