Local hauling start up

[gsgar]

Hello,

I am interested in obtaining as much information as I can from those of you who have experience in making local deliveries. By this I mean short hauls within a fifty mile radius. Currently, I live within an local that has numerous appliance, garden & home improvment,as well as furniture and home entertainment department stores. With this in mind, I am interested in learning the right way to go about starting up a delivery service to cater to these businesses. Although most of them have delivery services available, it is usally on their terms (wait 2-3 days and be home between 8:00 AM and 10:00 at night). My idea is to cater to the one's who cannot or do not want to wait for their delivery. I have a truck and can get a trailer without any problem. Please advise.

Thanks,

GSGAR

 

[terryandrene]

We've had several appliance and furniture deliverys scheduled this year and each time we've had to cater to the sched of the delivery folks. It would have been nice to have had an avail service that you're interested in. I'd rather have paid you for on-time rather than pay them for some-time.

If you had a contract with the suppliers you would, I think, eventually fall into the same sometime delivery mode as the current del contractors. Your idea would have you be the contractor for the consumer and in so doing you'd need to get the word out in an inexpensive way that the service is available. Perhaps frequent visits to the appropriate person at every one of the suppiers in your operation area would convince them that you can help them satisfy their impatient customers. You might then have a cadre of interested people helping you to help them.

Follow the lead of the major expediters and offer a 90 minute pickup arrival with dedicated door-to-door service. With time and a good helper, you just might have a good idea. I'd have used your service if you were bonded and insured and recommended by the store.

 

[geo]

good idea, also check out local air cargo companies also
as they alway's need help with del's to also are there any big
air ports by you to, once you find out stop by them and tell them
what you are to do for them,
also don't forget home depot to and 84 lumber etc, don't put all your
egg's in one basket good luck
what city are you out of e mail me and tell you about some other
things to

 

[Crazynuff]

The only problem I see is you want to offer people delivery without having to wait . What happens when 2 or 3 people ask for deliveries within the same time frame ? If you're busy enough to succeed somebody will have to wait but you have a good idea . Keep in mind the risks of difficult deliveries ( heavy , bulky items to a second floor and damage claims . You might not notice a small scratch at the store that the customer notices on delivery . If you're handy with tools you might offer assembly and instillation of things like gas grills and entertainment centers . Some people buy these things and don'thave a clue how they go together and would gladly pay for help .

 

[Fr8 Shaker]

You will also need to have your own operating authority.

 

[Preacher]

More than likely you will only need intrastate as opposed to interstate authority. Big difference in cost and paperwork. Unless you plan on going across state lines, then you will definately need interstate authority.