The vast majority of trucking companies in the United States have six or fewer trucks they operate, according to the American Trucking Association. If you want to become a new owner-operator, starting with just one truck, you’re not alone! Whether you start with one truck, or two or more there are a few important steps you have to follow to legally establish your company.
Start with a business plan for your trucking operation. Though it is often overlooked, this is an important step since it will serve as a blueprint for how you establish your trucking company.
Maybe you are not convinced that you need a business plan. Take our quick 9 Question Quiz to find out if you need a business plan.
A good business plan will help you define and clarify your:
If you would like to work through these steps, we have created a Free Guided Business Plan worksheet that is yours to keep forever. It walks you through all the questions you need to consider as you put together a business plan.
It’s common for a new trucking company to be set up as a limited liability company (LLC). In a nutshell, what this does is separate your business and personal assets and legal liabilities. In other words, if somebody sued your trucking company, they couldn’t come after your own personal assets.
With the formation of a corporation or LLC, steps you’ll need to take include:
Here is a more in-depth article on forming your LLC from ATBS, a company that provides tax and business solutions for truck drivers.
Our next article in this our series of how to start a trucking company is how to obtain necessary licences and permits.
