For starters, would it be worth wild to lease onto a company while building the business up when first starting out with your own authority? I would like to obtain my own authority by spring time. I reside in upstate NY and I'm not sure of the local freight. Maybe I should join a load board and study my area's of interest first.

Thanks

It depends on your cash flow, and how much you already have invested in your business. If money is an object, then staying with a carrier and leasing on may be the way to go until you learn the "ins" and "outs" of this business.

Are you currently a CDL holding driver?

To start with most carriers will not allow you to have your own authority while being leased to them. It will be difficult to build a business such as you describe while being leased to another carrier. I think you need to decide which way will be best for you. If you have never owned a truck you may find the transition easier to lease to a carrier first. It takes more money to operate as a carrier than if you lease to someone. You don't mention how much driving experience you have, but unless you have at least 2 years driving experience, you will find it difficult to find someone to insure you without severe restrictions. Good luck.