You can't randomly set a figure as to the cost of operating a trucking business. If you take ten people, each will have different costs of breaking even. That is what becomes confusing to some people just starting out. I have spoken to some who only want to consider the cost of fuel when it comes to operating costs. There are costs such as payments, insurance, taxes, wages, maintenance, etc., Two things most forget are wages and taxes. Just because you drive a truck yourself doesn't mean that wages should not be part of your operating costs. Whether you pay a driver or do the driving yourself, you need to consider wages as part of your operating costs. Over the years, I have known of a lot of business owners who forget to pay themselves. If a business can't afford to pay the owner then it isn't a viable business. When you look at what you need to take a load, you should consider wages and profit as part of the equation. If you don't consider wages and profit, then you won't stay in business very long. As a business owner, you also pay all of the employment taxes. I find most people under estimate their true operating costs.
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