How to Start a Box Truck Business in Five Super Simple Steps
Following these simple steps will show you exactly how to start a box truck business this year. Whether you’re aspiring to own a fleet of 10+ trucks or are content with running a one-man show, this article is for you.
In it, I reveal everything you need to consider to get your box truck business underway. I write from authority, as I have set up two businesses myself in the last ten years, and I know the steps and processes you need to follow to turn your idea into reality.
Box truck businesses can be extremely successful, but you need to think carefully about the type of rig you buy and how to license and register your company.
To help you, I’ve put together this complete guide. It explains precisely how to start a box truck business in five steps and presents your best options for getting started without any issues.
First: What is a box truck business?
A box truck business is essentially a delivery business. In the United States, a box truck is considered a medium-duty delivery rig. In other words, it’s not a small delivery van or a huge trailer. With a box truck, you can deliver all manner of items, from chilled and refrigerated goods to precious cargo.
If you start a box truck business, you will likely begin with one rig. However, over time, you might establish a fleet of box trucks which provide delivery solutions within your local area or even nationally.
As such, the potential for growth is significant, and the process of getting your business underway isn’t as difficult as you think.
The pros & cons of starting a box truck business
Before we reveal the steps you should follow to create your company, here are some of the pros and cons of opting for a box truck business:
| ✅Pros | ❌Cons |
| You don’t necessarily need to obtain an expensive CDL (license) to operate a box truck. | Insurance, taxes, and licenses are expensive to obtain, adding to the cost of launching this business. |
| It’s possible to operate a box truck business as a full-time enterprise or as a weekend side hustle, depending on your availability. | It’s a competitive industry, and it can be difficult to find contracts when you’re just starting out. |
| Box trucks are extremely versatile and can be used to transport various cargo, offering lots of business opportunities. |
Is a box truck business right for you? It might be if you can resonate with the following:
- You want to deliver goods but don’t want the high costs associated with obtaining a trucking license.
- There’s an opportunity in your local area to deliver specific goods which you think you can fill.
- You have enough money to buy, service, and maintain a box truck, including repairs, maintenance, and taxes.
- In the future, you have aspirations to grow your business and establish a fleet of delivery vehicles.
How to start a box truck business: 5 simple steps to success
I want to begin with a disclaimer. Most of the information presented in this section deals with how to start a box truck business in the United States. Every country has slightly different regulations for trucking businesses, and it would be impossible for me to touch on every country in this relatively short article.
Helpfully, you can adapt this content by asking Arvin for box truck business recommendations in your country. For instance, you could prompt our AI chat to provide you with licensing requirements for box truck businesses in Australia.
You will find all of these tips are relevant to you, regardless of where you live. But with the clever use of AI, you can find the precise information you need for your country. So, with that established, here are the steps you should follow to start a box truck business this year:
Step 1: Start with a license: Do you need a commercial license to drive your rig?
The first and most important step is to begin with a license. Which license do you require to drive a box truck in your country? In the USA, you need a Class B CDL for box trucks over 26,001 pounds.
So, in other words, if your rig weighs less than 26,000 pounds, you don’t need to apply for a special license to drive this truck – a standard driver’s license will suffice.
Please be mindful that this regulation differs from country to country, so always do your research before proceeding any further.
Step 2: Plan your company structure and register your box truck business: Sole trader or limited company?
It’s now time to consider the structure of your company. If your goal is to operate a fleet of box trucks, I recommend registering as a limited company. This is the best structure for growth. It also enables you to hire employees and do everything other delivery companies do.
However, if you’re planning a box truck business as a side hustle or to operate just one vehicle, you can register as a sole trader. This is easy to do, but it offers less protection and growth prospects than a limited company.
If you’re launching in the United States, you should also register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS. The US Small Business Association has lots of helpful information relating to federal tax requirements and registration, so it’s a good place to begin your research.
US truck drivers may also need a USDOT Number to perform inter-state deliveries – find out more here.
Regardless of where you live, you will need to do the following before proceeding to the next step:
- Obtain the correct license to drive a box truck. As part of this, check if a commercial license is required or whether you can drive your rig with a standard license.
- Decide how to register your company. If you want to drive one truck, opt for a sole trader license. Register a limited company if you want to grow and operate a fleet.
- Check how to register for taxes and whether you need any other special permits to drive a box truck in your country.
At this stage, it also makes sense to open a business bank account. This is usually fairly straightforward. You can present your company registration documents to a local bank, and they will advise you on the best route forward.
Step 3: Create your brand: Harness AI for the best results
As soon as you’ve completed your initial research and registered your company, it’s time to launch your brand. This is a more enjoyable, creative experience than filing paperwork and checking for taxes.
There are several components of brand creation that you need to consider as you start a box truck business, each of which I introduce below:
Decide on your business name
You will have to decide on your business name as a starting point. In fact, you probably had to do this when you registered your limited company in step two.
Still, deciding on a business name is an important part of the box truck business registration process. Learn how to come up with a business name here, or follow these simple tips:
- Brainstorm ideas with your friends and family and shortlist those that you like.
- Check for trademark infringements and ensure that your company name isn’t already taken.
- Think of ways of incorporating your name or initials into your business name.
- Future-proof your name, and don’t restrict yourself. For instance, don’t add your small town name to your business, as this can limit your future growth potential.
Are you struggling to get the perfect name for your box truck business? Use our free company name generator tool for inspiration. Prompt Arvin to create a business name in seconds and play around with different ideas before settling on the perfect name for your trucking firm.
Create a professional logo
After settling on a name for your business, it’s time to take your brand to the next level. You can do this by creating a professional logo.
Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a graphic designer, you can use our free AI-powered logo designer. Our logo maker creates unique, professional logos in seconds, giving you easy access to a stunning logo for your new business.
When you’re happy with the logo, download it for use online and offline. You can upload it to your website and use it across your social media platforms (if you use any). You’re then all set with a pro logo in seconds without breaking the bank.
Launch your online brand
With your name and logo in the bag, it’s time to launch your box truck business brand online. Though you don’t have to invest a huge amount of time or money into an online campaign, you should complete the following tasks to get your brand underway:
- Create a website: Using a tool like Wix or WordPress, create a simple website to serve as a landing page for your box truck business. You can then update and add to it as your business grows.
- Launch on social media: Create a Facebook page and start promoting your box truck services online. This is a viable way of attracting business from the general public, including one-off delivery jobs and help with home removals.
Launching your online brand is straightforward for a box truck owner. But you can refer to our helpful Brand Bible for tips and insights from marketing experts to get ahead.
Step 4: Buy your box truck: Different options to consider
The biggest expense for your new business is buying a box truck. But there are several options you might like to consider at the start of your business operations:
Renting
In your first weeks or even months as a box truck business operator, you might consider renting a truck. This is a good option if you only get one or two jobs in and want to test the water before making a long-term commitment.
Though renting is expensive – you might pay anything from $50 a day for a box truck per day in the US – it alleviates some of the financial burden from the outset. I recommend checking out companies like Enterprise and Ryder if you want to rent a box truck. You can access decent deals, which cover your insurance and other key details.
Leasing
Another option to consider is leasing a box truck. Leasing arrangements work just like they do in the personal vehicle market. You agree to a long-term lease of a box truck and pay a fixed fee per month for the duration of the contract. At the end of the deal, you might have the option to buy the box truck outright, or you can return it and start a new lease.
Most leasing deals require an upfront commitment of up to $5,000, so it’s still expensive. That said, it’s much cheaper than buying upfront and frees up your capital for other purchases. If you want to go down the leasing route, I recommend companies like Penske and Truckworx as a good starting point.
Buying
The third option is to buy a box truck outright. New box trucks tend to cost between $30,000 and $100,000, so they require a significant initial investment. For a used truck, you can pay anything between $5,000 and $50,000. Be careful when shopping at the budget end of the market, as you don’t want to be stuck with an old, rusty rig that won’t last more than a year.
Commercial Truck Trader is a safe and trusted website to start your search for new and used rigs. It has nationwide listings across the US and is a good representation of the current market.
So, which is the best option? This depends on your requirements. Here’s my advice:
- Renting is a viable short-term solution if you want to test the water before committing to a long-term investment. But, given the high cost of daily rentals, it’s not a viable long-term option.
- Leasing is a good choice if you want to spread the cost of your truck over several years and want to use your upfront capital for other costs. But you nearly always end up paying more for a lease compared to buying outright.
- Buying a used rig is the best option, but you should do your research and inspect the truck thoroughly before buying it. It will also tie up your capital and leave less money for other costs associated with launching your business.
After buying or leasing your truck, you must insure it. Every country has different requirements for insuring commercial loads, which are different from insuring standard vehicles. Conduct thorough market research and shop around for the best deals to comprehensively insure your truck and the goods you plan to transport.
Step 5: Winning business: How to find work as a box truck owner
The final step in the process is winning business as a box truck owner. This is also the most difficult step for most new business owners, as it’s competitive.
Finding work in the trucking industry is known as searching for a load board. There are several marketplaces for load boards, including Landstar and DAT. You can also search for work on Amazon Relay, which is a platform exclusively for delivering for Amazon.
When you begin your search via load boards, you can acquire good relationships with distributors. This can often lead to long-term, ongoing work if you’re reliable and trustworthy.
Another option is to contact freighters directly in your local area. You can introduce yourself and your rig, and they might add you to their list of distributors. A personal approach works best here, so feel free to drive up and introduce yourself over a morning coffee.
I also recommend using Facebook to your advantage. You can advertise your services on your trucking page and then on the Facebook Marketplace. This is a good way to land one-off gigs when the load boards aren’t giving you the work you need.
Diversifying your strategy is best and will ensure that your box truck isn’t sitting empty on your driveway when you should be out delivering.
Final words: How to start a box truck business this year
Launching a box truck business is relatively straightforward. But the key is finding out about the licensing and registration requirements in your country or state. As shown above, you can harness AI to do this research for you.
You can also use our advanced AI tools to create a business name, launch a logo, and complete various other tasks that will help with your company registration.
So, without further ado, take the required steps to launch your box truck business this year.
How to start a box truck business FAQ
How to find loads for box trucks?
Head to load boards like DAT and Truckstop.com to find loads for your business. As mentioned earlier, you can also sign up for Amazon Relay if you want to deliver for the huge online marketplace.
How much do you need to start a box truck business?
The main expense is buying the truck itself. If you buy a used rig, you can probably stat your business for $20,000 or less. You may also kick things off with a lease deal, enabling you to start your box truck business with under $10,000, though your ongoing costs will be higher.
How do I start a box truck business from scratch?
As explained above, there are five key steps to follow:
- Start by researching which license you need to operate a box truck.
- Plan your company structure and register as a limited company or sole trader.
- Launch your brand by confirming your business name and creating a logo.
- Buy your box truck or consider renting or leasing a rig.
- Win business by visiting load boards and marketing your company.
