haulage help
Author
Discussion

no-worries88

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

214 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Good noon,quick one really,thinking of starting up my own haulage firm (cab,few trailers etc) just wanted to hear from people who may have done this themselves or know of a friends experiences etc, i know its a fiercely competitive business and appreciate that but going to go ahead i think. Had HGV licence for 4 years,so not exactly a lifetime but i feel i can afford it and very dedicated and hope to make something of it,any help/suggeations more than welcome, cheers guys,

dowahdiddyman

965 posts

227 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Sign up to the trucknet or truckersworld web sites,both are free, then read the o/d or small haulier topics. If your thinking of doing `general` then it really is a cut throat game, `boxes` pay nowt, `tippers` even less. Saying that there is still room for the small guys,the more the merrier and must admit if I had the money and the nerve I would do it myself.

davepoth

29,395 posts

215 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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It is a difficult business. What you'll need to do is get some regular business, something where you've got a guaranteed load all the time, which will give you something to build on. Something like a pallet network would be good.

The market I'd look into is container work. For the distances involved it seems to be quite a lot (around £100) more expensive for a run from Bristol to Southampton.

Stitch

933 posts

233 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
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Have you got an operators licence?

Where are you going to run the fleet from?

Have you got the funding to purchase the fleet and satisfy the ministry that you have the wherewithall to maintain the fleet?

Who is going to maintain the fleet?

Jasper Gilder

2,166 posts

289 months

Sunday 20th February 2011
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Not to mention a CPC