Should I buy trucks or hire a trucking company?
Cost breakdown and decision guide from Gateway Distribution, hub-and-spoke distribution in Colorado, CO.
Your shipping volume is growing across Colorado's I-25 and I-70 corridors. Buying trucks and hiring drivers sounds expensive upfront. But paying freight companies every month adds up too. You need to know which option costs less long-term.
Most Colorado businesses face this decision when they hit 15-20 shipments per month. Buying trucks means truck payments, commercial insurance, maintenance, driver wages, and DOT compliance costs. Hiring a trucking company means per-shipment fees but no fixed overhead or regulatory headaches.
Owning trucks typically costs $8,000-12,000 per month per truck including all expenses. That breaks even around 40+ consistent loads monthly. Below that volume, outsourcing usually costs less. Factor in Colorado's winter driving conditions, which increase maintenance and insurance costs for your own fleet.
Calculate your total cost of ownership first. Include truck payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, driver wages, benefits, and compliance costs. Compare that to current freight bills multiplied by 12 months. Gateway Distribution can provide shipping cost estimates to help with your analysis.
Once you run the numbers, the right choice becomes clear. Companies shipping under 40 loads monthly usually save money outsourcing. Those above 40 loads often benefit from their own trucks, assuming they can handle the management overhead.
Other things people in Colorado ask
freight shipping transit times
LTL typically takes 2-5 business days depending on distance. Full truckload is usually 1-3 days. Expedited can be next day. Weather, holidays, and freight class affect timing. Get a transit time estimate in writing before you book.
how long does hub and spoke shipping take
Hub and spoke adds 1-2 days compared to direct shipping but costs significantly less. Your freight gets consolidated at the hub then moves on optimized routes. Good for non-urgent shipments where cost matters more than speed.
when to book freight shipping
Book LTL 1-2 days ahead for standard service. Full truckload needs 2-5 days notice depending on season. Peak seasons (harvest, back-to-school, holidays) require more lead time. Expedited services can often pick up same day.
Ready to talk?
Gateway Distribution handles hub-and-spoke distribution in Colorado and the area around it.