Starting a Dry Bulk Trucking Company: Step by Step
If you're thinking about starting a dry bulk trucking company, you're getting into a solid, recession-resistant business. Dry bulk trucking is always in demand — cement, fly ash, sand, flour, plastic pellets, and all the other dry bulk materials have to be hauled from somewhere to somewhere else. It's not a get-rich-quick business, but it's a steady, reliable business. Here's how to get started.
Step 1: Decide What You'll Haul
Dry bulk trucking covers a lot of different materials. You can't haul everything — you need to specialize. Think about:
- What's available in your area? Are there cement plants nearby? Are there plastic manufacturing plants? Are there food processing plants? You need to have a source of the material you'll be hauling.
- What's the demand in your area? Are there construction sites? Ready-mix plants? Manufacturing plants? You need to have customers who need the material hauled.
- What's your experience? If you've been in the cement business, start with cement. If you've been in the food business, start with food-grade bulk. It's easier to start with something you already know.
Most small dry bulk trucking companies start with one type of material — usually cement, because it's the most common, and there's always demand. Then, as they grow, they add other materials.
Step 2: Get the Right Equipment
You need the right equipment to start a dry bulk trucking company. The most important piece of equipment is, of course, the truck.
Truck Chassis. You need a heavy-duty truck chassis, designed for hauling heavy loads. A 400-500 horsepower diesel engine is standard. You can buy new or used — new is more expensive, but it comes with a warranty. Used is cheaper, but you have to inspect it carefully.
Bulk Tank. You need a pneumatic bulk tank, mounted on the truck. The tank is the specialized part — it's not something you can buy off the shelf. There are companies that manufacture bulk tanks, and they can mount one on your truck chassis.
Other Equipment. You also need hoses, fittings, filters, and other accessories. And you need safety equipment — fire extinguishers, warning lights, grounding cables, and more.
Step 3: Get Your Licenses and Permits
You need a lot of licenses and permits to start a trucking company. Here are the main ones:
- Commercial driver's license (CDL): You need a CDL to drive a heavy truck. And if you're hauling hazardous materials, you need a HazMat endorsement.
- Motor carrier (MC) number: You need an MC number to operate as a for-hire trucking company.
- DOT number: You need a DOT number, to register your trucks with the Department of Transportation.
- Insurance: You need commercial truck insurance — liability, cargo, and more. It's expensive, but it's required by law.
- Business license: You need a business license, to operate your company legally.
Step 4: Find Customers
Once you have your trucks and your licenses, you need to find customers. Where do you find customers for a dry bulk trucking company?
- Cement plants: Cement plants always need more haulers. Call the local cement plants, and ask if they need additional trucking capacity.
- Ready-mix concrete plants: Ready-mix plants always need cement hauled. Call the local ready-mix plants, and ask if they need a new hauling company.
- Industrial customers: Plastic plants, food plants, chemical plants — they all need dry bulk hauling. Call them, and ask if they need more haulers.
- Brokers: Freight brokers can find loads for you, but they take a commission. It's a good way to get started, when you don't have your own customers yet.
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to start a dry bulk trucking company?
A: If you start with one used truck, you can get started for $50,000 to $100,000 — the truck, the licenses, the insurance, and the working capital. If you start with a new truck, it's $150,000 to $300,000 or more. Most small trucking companies start with 1-2 used trucks, and then expand as they get more customers.