Buy trucks or hire a trucking company?
Cost breakdown and decision guide from Gateway Distribution in Utah, UT.
Your shipping volume is growing across Utah's sprawling geography. Buying trucks and hiring drivers sounds expensive, but so does paying freight companies every month. You need to know which option costs less long-term.
The break-even point depends on your monthly shipping volume and routes. Owning trucks means truck payments, commercial insurance, maintenance, driver wages, and DOT compliance costs. These fixed costs stay the same whether you ship 5 loads or 50 loads per month.
Most Utah businesses save money outsourcing until they consistently ship 40+ loads monthly. Below that threshold, the fixed costs of ownership exceed what you'd pay a trucking company. Factor in Utah's long distances between cities and seasonal weather affecting I-15 and I-80 corridors.
Calculate your total cost of ownership first. Include truck payments, insurance ($8,000-$12,000 annually per truck), maintenance, fuel, driver wages, and compliance paperwork. Compare that to quotes from freight companies. Gateway Distribution can provide pricing for your current shipping patterns to help you run the numbers.
Once you have real numbers, the decision becomes clear. You'll either save money buying trucks or confirm that outsourcing makes more sense for your volume. Either way, you'll know you made the right financial choice.
Other things people in Utah 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 Utah and the area around it.