Own truck vs freight company: what makes sense?

You're shipping regularly across North Dakota's vast distances between farming communities and distribution centers. The freight bills are adding up, and you're wondering if buying your own truck would save money. The math isn't as simple as it looks.

The break-even point depends on how often you ship the same routes. Own trucks make financial sense when you move freight on the same route at least three times per week, every week. Below that frequency, you're paying for a truck that sits idle most days.

Factor in the hidden costs: driver wages, commercial insurance, maintenance, fuel, and downtime for repairs. A used truck costs $60,000-$120,000 plus $8,000-$12,000 per month in operating expenses. Most businesses don't save money until they hit 50+ shipments monthly on consistent routes.

Start by tracking your current shipping patterns for three months. Count how many times you ship between the same cities along I-94 or I-29. If it's less than 12 times per month on any single route, freight companies will cost less. Gateway Distribution's backhaul logistics can reduce your per-shipment costs by pairing your freight with trucks already making the trip.

You'll know the right choice when your shipping volume and route consistency match your costs. Freight companies give you flexibility to scale up or down without the fixed costs of truck ownership.

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