Should I buy my own truck or hire a freight company?

You're shipping enough that freight costs are adding up. Maybe it's time to buy your own truck and handle deliveries yourself. The math isn't clear, and you need to know which option actually saves money in Arkansas.

The break-even point depends on how often you ship the same routes. Own trucks make sense if you're running identical routes three or more times per week, every week. Otherwise, you're paying for an empty truck sitting in your lot.

Buying a truck means driver wages, commercial insurance, DOT compliance, maintenance, and downtime costs. In Arkansas, a reliable driver costs $50,000-70,000 per year plus benefits. Insurance runs $8,000-12,000 annually. Maintenance and unexpected repairs can hit $15,000-20,000 per year. Most businesses don't save money until they ship 50+ loads monthly.

Calculate your current monthly shipping costs against truck ownership expenses. If you're shipping less than three times per week on consistent routes, freight companies like Gateway Distribution cost less. Backhaul logistics means your freight rides on trucks already making the trip, cutting costs without the truck payment.

With the right freight partner, you get reliable delivery without driver headaches, maintenance bills, or trucks sitting idle. Your shipping costs become predictable, and you can focus on running your business instead of managing transportation.

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