Congratulations! You’re joining one of the most reliable businesses that entrepreneurs choose to go into. As more goods are shipped everyday, freight has increased exponentially and there is no shortage of demand for your service. Not to mention the freedom that comes from choosing which load you run, and a business that pays you to see this vast and beautiful country. Even your office location changes by the minute – how cool is that!
But still: you need to remember that this is above all a business – and you should treat it as such. A well-run carrier business can make you money and give you freedom for years to come.
Here are four things you must consider when starting your carrier business:
1. Have a plan
Some basic considerations:
- Where do you want to be based?
- Do you have capital to buy your own equipment or will you start out driving someone else’s equipment?
- Do you have the right equipment and driving licenses?
- Have you registered with the DOT for your MC number?
- Have you secured the right insurance coverage?
Form your own LLC for effective tax reporting and limit liabilities so any accident doesn’t expose your personal and family assets. It takes only 15 mins to register online with your state’s Secretary of State.
2. Execute the plan
Now you take your vision on the road, literally. You are ready to move your first load. While working directly with a shipper is one way to grow your business, it is very time-consuming to break through that competitive barrier as a new carrier.
A better way is to seek out freight brokers: they have effectively solved the “need to find load” problem for you and they are always looking to grow their carrier networks. Here at Heritage we have partnered with active, high-volume shippers for decades and we are constantly looking to grow our carrier networks to serve our shippers. Call us now to get onboarded in 15 minutes.
3. Deliver value
Needless to say, the most important part of this business is to deliver. Literally to deliver the goods safely and on time, but also to deliver on a professional and hassle-free customer experience for the shipper and consignee – these are hallmarks of a good carrier. And because the carrier business can be competitive, leading carriers are delivering next level of value in terms of visibility and transparency.
The most transformative piece of the carrier business in recent years is the adoption of technology to offer shipment visibility. Many leading carriers have already adopted real-time shipment GPS tracking apps on their mobile phone and offering the shippers full visibility into where their goods are in transit. This gives shippers peace of mind if they promised consignees that their goods will arrive by a certain date. And consignees can plan around intake and downstream production workflow. It is all about efficiency and running a smooth operation – in all the years that we have been operating, all of our shippers have the highest integrity and zero interest in tracking the personal whereabouts of a carrier.
4. Find good partners
Lastly work with good partners who can help you grow, help you stay profitable and even have fun while doing so. At Heritage, we are proud to say that numerous of our carriers run the same lanes with us year after year because of precisely that win-win mentality that we have with our carriers.
We have daily loads on some of the most profitable and easy lanes in the US. Call us now to find out what we are actively seeking to move right now. Get onboarded in minutes to our carrier network – and welcome to the business!
