Growing a small fleet.. Expanding.. How do you guys do it?

Brand new and learning as much as I can about the industry.. I want to make as much money as possible. This business appeals much more to me than strip clubs, coffee shops, restaurants etc.. Looks like there is opportunity.


What is the general consensus on best methods of growing and expanding your own fleet?


I'm told OWN AUTHORITY is most profitable. But then getting loads is your weakest link.. correct? Manually going shipper to shipper hoping you can get business. Just seems like it could take forever to grow much. Do you utilize good relationships with freight brokers then? How do you guys do it?



How about working with a company like Schneider.. Landstar.. CH Robinson.. ?? Do you call that leasing to? That sounds most appealing to me.. As they have a much more solid network of shippers at your disposal. Obvious downside of them taking a solid cut. Then paying the tractor driver.. Is there any way to make it pencil out?



How is it typically done?




I don't expect any successful people here to go around giving trade secrets.. but if you guys could enlighten me anyway you can I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

Not currently. I plan on doing it later this year though. Because I know you can make a decent living as an owner operator if you are driving it yourself.

Just didn't know how it factors after you hire your own driver.. Like would your driver's wages basically destroy any kind of profit you could make?

 

Not even a driver at this point. That's why I want to learn as much as I can before going too much further. And no MBA's or anything.. which I can understand would probably be helpful, but I don't see it as being vital.

I would think it just takes a business minded person. Factoring in every little thing that can affect your margins. Personally I've never been a big fan of those people. They like to think they are vastly more intelligent than everyone else because of some paper degree they show off.

Not that it's worthless.. I mean for specific functions within a company I would hire somebody like that in a heartbeat.. But business sense is more than taking classes and having theoretical smarts.