Starting a container company

Stay away. Not worth it.

If you have the funds, backing of several people who drove before and know the in and out's then maybe. But it's a whole different animal. Plus, it's hard to get setup with actual steam ship-lines. Pulling JBHUNT wont get you anywhere. You will need alot of overhead and you wont see any profit until a couple of years. oh and need i say, fmcsa is all against small carriers and their current protest of claiming insurance is too low (1million, they wanna raise to 5mill). STAY PUT and lease my friend.

My two cents.

 

If you have the funds to get started go for it. After you learn the port it's a piece of cake. I'm in the process of getting my authority to haul container. You can get lots of overflow work to keep you afloat until you get some accounts. If you are currently running the port when you go to the customers get contacts names and numbers who to talk to if you want to haul for them. Some carriers are actual brokers for some ship lines.

 

You need dot number, insurance I would suggest $1 million policy, if you have less some customers won't work with you, make sure your insurance include chassis interchange, you need a scac code. If you plan to start a company where owners can lease on to you, do not take on any owner until you have a customer base to keep the owners busy. Start out trip lease the owners. Do some local drayage to get work from other carriers. Port work is not bad as people make it seem.

 

Off the top of my head. You need 2007 or newer tractors to start in the pier. I do believe more then the standard $1 million liability insurance is required, would have to look into that further. Your own chassis would help, and a place to park them.

How is your first week in the NJ piers, how long have the turn times been?

 

That must be something new because I know someone right now running jersey pier and his truck 1998.

 

I think as of 3/1/16 all trucks had to be registered in the RFID system,1994 or newer. His 1998 must have been in the system. After 3/1/16 to start in the pier you must buy a truck registered with a RFID tag, or start with a 2007 or newer truck. There is a current program through the Port Authority to replace 1994 & 1995 trucks.

 

The first thing you need to do is learn the system. Learn how the ports operate and what types of loads for who pay better.
Then focus on getting starting capital and work to get trucks, trailers (get a few real trailers like dry vans or flats to diversify), and a good mix of chassis. Try getting some contacts when delivering so that when you decide to go out on your own you can knock on their doors- in other words make them request you.

Or

Start off as an o/o leased on or with your own numbers as a one truck operation. If you can make it as a one truck than you should make it with a fleet.
Word of advice, come in from a different angle. Focus on getting and retaining quality owner operators by having company trucks pull cans to your yard and having owners do the deliveries. It'll be easier and give you an advantage. Owner Operators also like incentives- paid for cargo insurance, liability, tolls paid for, fuel discounts, shop discounts, etc. Stuff like that you'll figure out.

 

In my experience out there, Maher and APM were decent, never went into PNCT, Global, the one I mostly went into, was a timesinking craphole, and NYCT over on State Island was pretty good though I only went in there twice. Pulling oversize out of APM was fun with all those lines to get out and they always sent me that way. lol

Never really understood how owners made decent money with all that sitting even at the decent terminals there.