Most people budget for the truck and forget everything else. Here's a fuller picture of what it actually takes to launch.
One-Time Startup Costs
- Down payment on a truck (if financing): often 10-20% of purchase price
- Authority and registration filings (MC, IRP, UCR, BOC-3): a few hundred to low thousands combined
- ELD and basic technology setup
Ongoing Monthly Costs
- Truck payment: commonly $1,500-$3,500/month
- Insurance: new authorities often pay the highest premiums in their first year, commonly $750-$1,300+/month
- Fuel: your single biggest variable cost
- Maintenance reserve: budgeting monthly even when nothing breaks that month
The Cost People Forget
Working capital. New authorities often face 30-45+ day payment terms from brokers while their own bills — fuel, truck payments, insurance — come due weekly or monthly. Underestimating this cash flow gap is one of the most common reasons new carriers fail in year one, even when the business itself is fundamentally sound.
Bottom Line
Budget for at least two to three months of operating expenses in reserve before you take your first load, not just the truck payment.
👉 For a full financial breakdown, our Open a Trucking Company Training Course includes startup cost modeling built from real operating numbers.