Buy trucks or hire a trucking company?
Cost breakdown and decision guide from Gateway Distribution, hub-and-spoke distribution in Missouri, MO.
Your shipping volume is climbing and freight costs keep rising. Buying trucks and hiring drivers sounds expensive upfront. But paying trucking companies every month adds up too. You need to know which option saves money long-term in Missouri's competitive freight market.
Most Missouri businesses face this choice when they hit 15-20 shipments per month. Owning trucks means truck payments, commercial insurance, maintenance, driver wages, and DOT compliance costs. Hiring trucking companies means higher per-shipment rates but no fixed overhead or regulatory headaches.
Total truck ownership typically costs $8,000-$12,000 per month per truck in Missouri. That includes payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and driver salary. Outsourcing costs vary by route, but I-70 corridor shipments average $2-4 per mile. Calculate your monthly shipping miles to compare real costs.
Run the numbers on your actual volume first. Most companies save money outsourcing until they ship 40+ loads consistently every month. Gateway Distribution's hub-and-spoke network from our Cincinnati, New York and Virginia hubs reduces empty miles and cuts costs per shipment. Call us for a volume analysis based on your Missouri routes.
Once you know your break-even point, the choice becomes clear. You'll either have predictable monthly trucking bills with no surprise repairs, or you'll own assets that pay for themselves through high-volume shipping across Missouri's major corridors.
Other things people in Missouri 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 Missouri and the area around it.