It is a big jump from having no experience to purchasing 5 trucks. I would question your friend's judgement since he is leasing a company truck. Many of the questions you ask are very subjective. If you have plenty of money then you can learn as you go, but will lose a lot of money as you learn the business. It isn't that complicated, but there are many ways to lose money. I don't want to discourage anyone from bettering themselves, but you will need a couple of things to be successful.....money and determination. It also helps to have someone in the mix who has some experience in the business.
If you purchase an existing trucking company, you should will probably be able to find someone in operations who could stay on and assist in the transition and help you learn about the business. If you choose to buy the trucks then you will still need to learn something about the business.
The two most popular methods of financing are leasing or out right purchase. Which way you choose will depend on you financial and tax situation. I think it is usually best to purchase rather than leasing, at least in the beginning.
Atlanta is strategically located and finding freight which will bring you through town frequently should not be a problem. There is a lot of freight coming in and out of Atlanta. Keep in mind that if you run your authority, you will also need at least one trailer for each truck. And unless you want to concentrate on profitable lanes, there is no reason to be in business. The idea is to make a profit. You won't be able to do that unless you find good paying loads.
J.B. Hunt pays mileage. Someone stated that they now have a percentage carrier. If I were to lease to someone, I would only lease to a carrier who paid percentage and had decent rates. I might consider mileage if it were around $1.50-2/mile plus incidentals. It costs too much to to run a truck to lease to a carrier who only pays around $1/mile. If you run your authority, you may or may not receive 75% of the load revenue. It depends on the broker and your negotiating skills. Which companies have the best programs. You need to clarify whether you want to run your authority or lease to a carrier. If you want to lease then there are several carriers to consider. Which ones to recommend will depend on the type of operation you plan on running. Are you going to pull vans, flats, tankers, etc.,
Your profit will depend on the rates you get, where you run and your management skills.
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