How to Make Money Owning a Semi Truck (25 Best Ways & Tips)

If you want to know how to make money owning a semi truck, you will find this article really helpful.

It explains how it works and provides 25 best ways and tips to help you.

 

Importance

One of the joys when traveling with others in a vehicle and passing a big rig trailer was to make the hand gesture of pulling the cord to get the driver to activate the air horn on the semi-trailer.

It was always exciting and fun when the driver or the road warrior responded and the blast of that horn filled the highway sky.

There are many different phrases or words that are used to talk about a semi-truck.

Some of those different phrases include truck trailer, trailer truck, semi-trailer, semi, rig, and a big rig.

Often the trucking industry and its drivers are romanticized for their love for the open road, traveling from destination to destination, and maneuvering these gargantuan machines to haul various supplies and products.

The reality is that it may be all that but it also can be lonely and hard work for the individual as they are often away from their loved ones.

Fortunately, they are compensated and money can be made by an individual who owns his or her semi-trailer.

Climbing aboard one of these big rigs lets us look away at ways that this money can be earned and other options in which additional money can be realized.

 

25 Best Ways & Tips to Making Money Owning a Semi Truck

 

1. Know all about a Semi-truck

A semi-truck, sometimes known as an 18-wheeler, is a combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers that are hauled by a motorized cab.

Generally, the trailer carries freight between destinations and does so at a cost to the customer receiving or distributing the goods.

 

2. Know the Importance of Semi-truck Drivers

Semi-trucks and their drivers play a critical role in the supply chain of America.

Often, this is the best way of transporting goods from location to location and has proven to be the most economical.

 

3. Do Your Research

Before plunging into the deep end of the pool on your business venture of owning a semi-trailer it is important to do your due diligence as it relates to the trucking business.

Part of the preliminary research should include competition in the area, the opportunity to reach customers, crunching numbers as it relates to profitability, etc.

 

4. Prepare a Business Plan

For a truck driver who owns and operates their own business, it is more than just stepping up into the cab and starting the motor, and heading off to deliver your freight.

As a business owner, it is important to develop a business plan which includes your executive summary and your mission and vision statement, company budget, marketing plan, choice of a business model (LLC, Sole proprietorship), etc.

It’s also important that you get all of the necessary sales permits, business permits, work with the Department of Transportation for your licensing, etc.

 

5. Prepare for the Unexpected

As part of doing your due diligence as a business owner, it is also important to anticipate the unexpected.

For example, there may be a mechanical failure, unexpected equipment failure, damage to the tires, etc.

To handle these unexpected events it is important to have a contingency plan and monies set aside to handle these possible emergencies.

 

6. Work with Local Businesses

When starting a business, the best way to begin getting customers and building momentum is to begin locally.

Working with local businesses and individuals that need your semi-truck and the services that you offer, is a great way to build a reputation and start your customer base and begin.

 

7. Use Social Media

It is important not to underestimate the power of the various social media platforms that are available.

These platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok, etc.

As a suggestion, you can take a video of yourself in the cab driving up, pulling the cord to your air horn, capturing the viewer’s attention, and then offer your semi trucking services.

 

8. Use a Trucking Company

A way that you can earn money and begin your semi-truck road to profitability is to work for a trucking company.

Through these companies, you can obtain extra training and take advantage of the various support processes that they have for their drivers.

Also, many trucking companies have sign-on bonuses as well as benefits and incentives that help you to save money.

 

9. Long-Haul

A great way to earn money if you do not mind being on the road for several days at a time is by taking long-haul opportunities.

The reality is that the more miles that you drive the more money you will earn.

Also See: How to Make Money as a Contractor.

 

10. Transport Freight

Another opportunity that presents itself to an individual who owns a semi-truck is the opportunity to transport freight.

The cargo that you haul can be for businesses or individuals.

Also, you could join a freight company and get paid to be involved with the transportation of cargo and goods for the company.

 

11. Own Business

Another exciting way to earn business with your semi-trailer is to start your own business.

This would provide you the opportunity of being your boss and setting your schedule and choosing which businesses and individuals you would like to the associated with.

In starting your own business it is important to know that you will need a commercial driver’s license and insurance and be responsible for building up your customer base.

 

12. Lease-Trucking Company

Another way that you can earn money with your semi-truck is to lease your rig to a trucking company.

This would be a great way to earn passive income without even having to get behind the wheel of the truck and get paid while letting your truck work for you.

 

13. Oversize Loads

In the trucking business, payment is not only for the cargo that you transport and the miles that you drive but also the types of cargo and product or freight that you are delivering.

Therefore, if you have the opportunity to transport an oversized load this would be an opportunity to acquire a premium price for this service.

 

14. Hazardous Materials

Another type of freight that can provide you with an above-average payment for transportation is the transporting of hazardous material.

It is important to remember that there are special precautions that need to be adhered to when driving or hauling this type of material.

Specifically, a special permit is required as well as the various placards that need to be placed on your trailer and truck.

 

15. Trucking Association

There are various trucking associations that you as a trucker can be affiliated with.

Often these associations offer their members various discounts and other resources that may provide cost-saving measures.

One association can be reviewed by clicking here.

 

16. Advertisements

A fairly passive way of earning income with your semi-truck is by allowing the advertisement to be placed upon your trailer.

You can contact local businesses or beyond your geographical area and offer your truck as a traveling billboard to advertise a business’s services and products.

 

17. How to Find a Semi-Truck

There are a variety of ways in which you can try to locate a semi-truck.

You can shop around locally to see what types of products are available that can be both used and new.

Another competitive way to find the best deal for a semi-truck is to utilize the internet.

 

18. Take Most Lucrative Hauls

The best way to maximize the use of your semi-truck is to be involved with those opportunities that provide the best money-making opportunity.

The highest-paid freight to transport includes:

• Hazmat truck driver
• Oversized load hauler
• Ice road truck driver

 

19. Be Aware of Spending

When looking to maximize your earnings with your semi-truck, it is important also to be aware of the expense side of your ledger or budget.

As much as possible, minimize your eating out, look for fuel discounts, etc.

Check out the following Truck related articles:

• How to Make Money Owning a Box Truck
• How to Make Money With Pickup Truck Jobs
• How to Make Money in Construction
• How to Make Money Owning a Truck & Trailer

 

20. Pay off You Rig Early

As much as possible, a good cost-saving measure is to pay off your semi-truck as early as possible.

By adding extra payments here and there you will reduce the number of payments required to own your semi-truck free and clear and save interest in the process.

 

21. Don’t Forget Your Monthly Obligations

While out on the road during the month, your thoughts may be focused and centered on the business, the current transport of goods that you are involved with, and a host of other issues.

It is quite possible and easy to forget about your ongoing bills and perhaps not remember to pay certain bills that come due.

This can be costly if there are associated late fees which can cut into your monthly profits.

Therefore, it is important to have some sort of system devised to remind you of your bills or set them up on automatic pay.

 

22. Owner Operator

The question may arise as to whether it is better to be an owner-operator with your semi-trailer or be part of a corporate driver working for a company.

Owner-operators earn, on average, a higher amount of money per mile that they drive.

The reality is that with hard work and being aggressive, you can run a profitable semi-trailer business.

 

23. Towing

Owning a semi-trailer also provides the opportunity to branch out into various types of different work other than hauling freight.

For example, one of those services that can be provided through the use of a semi-trailer is the providing of towing services.

 

24. Earnings

It is quite possible as an owner-operator for you to earn anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 each week.

Of course, this is not all profit as the business will incur a variety of expenses ranging anywhere from fuel, truck maintenance, driving-related expenses, etc.

 

25. Niches

To establish your business, you may wish to look at providing services in a particular niche.

Some of those niches that you can concentrate on would include the providing of your truck for construction services, moving, hauling services, etc.

 

Personal Story

It was the day after our wedding and we were traveling to our favorite restaurant which was on the outskirts of town about 20 minutes from where we lived.

We were excited and my wife’s daughter had come to share the celebration with us and was seated in the back seat of our 1972 Chevelle along with my wife’s granddaughter of 3 months.

We came over a ridge and up ahead the traffic had slowed down due to an accident on the westbound lanes of the interstate and everyone was rubbernecking to see what was going on.

I had slowed down because the vehicle in front of me was also rubbernecking and the next thing that I know is that we were rear-ended by a semi-truck that was going at a fairly good clip of speed.

Fortunately, the vehicle that we were in was well-made and absorbed most of the impact.

Somehow I had the presence of mind to break and pull over to the side of the road and, as you can imagine, was pretty dazed and out of it.

The next thing I know my wife’s daughter is talking to me about going and getting her mom.

The somewhat humorous thing about all of that was that I couldn’t find my wife and the mother of my step-daughter because my glasses had flown off and I was having trouble locating them.

When it was all done and said what had happened was my wife was so upset about the danger that we were put in with the semi rear-ending us that she had started marching up the highway to give the driver a piece of mind.

So the celebration of marriage ended up being a celebration of life and appreciation of family as the semi-driver returned to town to work through his trauma and we waited on the side of the road waiting for friends to pick us up.

 

FAQs

 

If Buying a Used Semi-trailer What Are Some Questions That You Should Ask?

Some of those questions should include:

• Are there any extended warranties available
• What are my financing options
• Is there documentation regarding maintenance
• Will the truck pass Department of Transportation standards

 

What About Leasing a Semi-trailer?

Answer: Leasing may be a good option as it relates to operating a semi-trailer.

Therefore, it is important to “run” the numbers, length of time needed, would it be more cost-effective to buy, tax benefits, loss of equity, etc.

 

You Can Do It

You are looking to make money by owning a semi-trailer.

The opportunities are vast and as open as the very road that the trucker travels on.

 

Conclusion

The trucking industry is a critical component of meeting the supply demands of the people of America.

In addition, other services require the use of a semi-trailer and are still part of the productive transportation needs of the variety of services.

The truckers work long hours in accomplishing their job.

They are a special breed of American workers and enjoy the open road, the romance of themselves and their truck and work for all of us in meeting the delivery of various and necessary supplies that are delivered.