If you want to start a trucking company and don't know what type of equipment to buy because you're brand new to the freight game, here's where I recommend you start.
If you're brand new, I recommend two options to start with: either a box truck or a hotshot.
Box Truck — you'll need a 26-footer that's dock high, with a liftgate. Brokers preferably look for box trucks with swing doors over roll-up doors — more clearance equals more boxes, pallets, and barrels, which equals more loads, which equals more money. Also, get yourself a pallet jack.
I used to be a freight broker and worked with Apple Computer, helping them move loads. I always used 24 to 26-foot box trucks for over 2 years and got really good at the box truck game, moving 10+ box truckloads a day. Those are the qualifying questions a broker is going to ask you before you even start talking price: "Size? (26ft) Liftgate? (yes) Swing doors? (yes, but roll-up will work 90% of the time) Do you have a pallet jack? (yes)" Then they'll ask about the truck's current location and how long it'll take to get to the pickup zip code.
Over and over I've seen someone rush out and buy the wrong equipment — the first truck they see, often a 16ft or 20ft box truck. As a broker, I don't want that truck showing up at the shipper. I want the biggest box truck available, because 50% of the time the customer changes the load and adds 2 pallets or 50 more boxes, and now that 20ft truck doesn't have the space. I have to cancel the load, pay a TONU, and scramble to find a different truck. This happens all the time. So if you're going to shoot, shoot to kill, and book a 26ft box truck the first time just in case the shipper changes the pallet quantity. This is why I recommend a 26ft box truck to start — plus you don't need a CDL to drive it. Getting a CDL will help lower your insurance payment, but that's for another blog post.
Hotshot — get yourself a GMC, Ram, Ford, or Chevy and a flatbed trailer that's 35ft to 40ft long. I recommend only running General Freight loads, not auto hauling. General Freight covers everything from oil equipment to tractors, bobcats, piping, lumber, etc. I recommend staying away from auto hauling because the liability can be tricky — say you haul 4 brand new Ford Mustangs, and at delivery the receiver notices a rock hit a side panel on one. That insurance claim can take up to 6 months or longer to resolve. I've seen it firsthand. Besides, 90% of factoring companies won't factor auto hauling loads for exactly that reason.
In 2022, I had multiple first-time carriers who started their trucking company and cleared over $300,000 in revenue in their first year. You heard me right — their first year in business. So if you're going to get into the freight game, get yourself a 26ft box truck or a hotshot with a 35/40ft trailer. These are great entry-level trucks for making money and gaining experience. Then, during your 2nd or 3rd year, keep an eye out for a 53ft food-grade trailer, or a 53ft flatbed if you can find one (53ft flatbeds are as rare as unicorns). If you can find one, you'll make some serious money, and everyone will be saving your phone number.