start up questions

[nacho3647]

hello all I am trying to run some numbers to get a business plan started. I have 2 questions.
1. what would a 49 state. and 2 canadian provinces, IRP tag cost estimate at yearly.
2. and what would be an average dollar amount for monthly maintenance.
truck will be a C unit and we are praying banker will loan us new truck money.
any help will be very much appreciated.

 

[layoutshooter]

hello all I am trying to run some numbers to get a business plan started. I have 2 questions.
1. what would a 49 state. and 2 canadian provinces, IRP tag cost estimate at yearly.
2. and what would be an average dollar amount for monthly maintenance.
truck will be a C unit and we are praying banker will loan us new truck money.
any help will be very much appreciated.

Have you been an expediter before or are you planning on starting in business with you own truck with no experience?

I would STRONGLY suggest that IF you are totally new to this business and lifestyle that you put off buying a truck and run for an owner for AT LEAST a year, two would be better. Pick an owner that is leased to the carrier you would like to lease with yourself. THAT time will give you a MUCH better idea of what this lifestyle/business is like and IF you keep your records correctly you have have a pretty good idea to what it costs to operate a truck.

 

[Wolfeman68]

hello all I am trying to run some numbers to get a business plan started. I have 2 questions.
1. what would a 49 state. and 2 canadian provinces, IRP tag cost estimate at yearly.
2. and what would be an average dollar amount for monthly maintenance.
truck will be a C unit and we are praying banker will loan us new truck money.
any help will be very much appreciated.

IRP plate costs vary from state to state. Contact the BMV in your home state. Also, ask the carrier you plan to lease to if they have a IRP plate program. Then compare the costs. The downside of using the carriers plate is you have to re-plate if you change carriers, and the carrier usually charges an extra fee.

That said, a C unit may not need an IRP plate. If the GVWR of the truck is under 26,000 lbs., an IRP plate is not required. You would plate it as a commercial truck in your home state.

As for business plans and banks, most banks don't lend money for start ups. They require experience in the field you are entering. If you don't have expedite experience, you should drive for a fleet owner before you buy your own truck. This will help you decide if you like the lifestyle and satisfy the experience requirement the bank will ask for.

Finally, buying a used truck is better than buying new. Use the price difference to fix any problems on the used truck, and set up a maintenance fund for future problems.

Hope this helps you.

 

[bluejaybee]

hello all I am trying to run some numbers to get a business plan started. I have 2 questions.
1. what would a 49 state. and 2 canadian provinces, IRP tag cost estimate at yearly.
2. and what would be an average dollar amount for monthly maintenance.
truck will be a C unit and we are praying banker will loan us new truck money.
any help will be very much appreciated.

Your questions are of a general nature and will be hard to answer. I would say you IRP tags would depend on what state you bought them in. Maintenance cost of your truck will vary with each driver. You would have to get alot of drivers to give you their costs to ever come up with an average. I would say it depends on how many miles you drive each month.

You don't mention if you have any prior experience in expediting or not. If you don't have any, no way would it be wise to up and buy a new truck to start. Even if you plan to put a driver in the truck, it is a bad plan. Of course, if you have the money to risk, have at it. But don't think you can get anywhere close to the dollars you gave for it if you decide this isn't for you. I would say the bank knows this also. There are several people with good credit who couldn't buy a new truck right now because of the risk involved with this business.

 

[greg334]

hello all I am trying to run some numbers to get a business plan started. I have 2 questions.

Hello ... the first question that needs to be answered - are you in the business already like driving for someone or are you starting fresh?

1. what would a 49 state. and 2 canadian provinces, IRP tag cost estimate at yearly.

As stated every state is different but I can tell you I paid $823 for my Apportioned Plates from the state of Michigan. It varies but overall it averages about $850 a year.

2. and what would be an average dollar amount for monthly maintenance.

It depends on a lot.

1 - do you work on your own truck

2 - how old is the truck

3 - what is your maintenance plan - proactive or reactive

truck will be a C unit and we are praying banker will loan us new truck money.

Why a C unit?

I would as I said before, look at the biggest truck you can get, not worrying about sleeper size or what ever. With a C unit, you are locked into a couple companies and without the flexibility it can break you quickly.

Hope that helps.

 

[nightcreacher]

AS was stated,if under 26000 lbs you can get a non IRP PLATE,but then you may have to pay for registration in the western states if you go out there.Servicing your truck has mostly with the number of miles you run each week,and the age of your truck.If you aren't already in expedite,My advice would be go to work for at least a year with someone in the business,and then decide if owning a truck is really what you want to do

 

[nacho3647]

thank you for all the tips

 

[jjoerger]

My IRP Tag in Florida was $600. 33,000 lb D unit.
As everyone else has said, drive for someone else before you spend all your money. This life style isn't for everyone.