7 Expert Tips for Managing Financial & Technical Issues in Trucking

Starting and running a trucking business can be lucrative, but it’s not without challenges. 

As an owner-operator or fleet owner, you face both financial and technical hurdles that can affect the profitability and sustainability of your business. 

From managing cash flow to complying with industry regulations, several obstacles can be overcome. 

But don’t worry – with the right strategies and tools, you can navigate these challenges and ensure the success of your trucking business. 

In this article, we’ll discuss seven tips to help you overcome financial and technical challenges and thrive in the competitive trucking world.

Tip 1: Create a Detailed Budget

Financial management is crucial for your business, and a budget is one of the most important tools you need to manage finances effectively. 

It helps track income and expenses, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about investments and expenditures.

To create a detailed budget for your trucking business, start by reviewing your financial statements, including your profit and loss statement and balance sheet, to identify fixed and variable expenses such as insurance, fuel, maintenance, and employee wages. 

Based on this, you can project potential income and expenses for the coming year or any given period.

It’s important to plan for slow months when the business might slow down due to weather or economic factors. Labor costs and diesel fuel are the two biggest expenses for trucking businesses, and you need to plan for them accordingly. 

You can minimize diesel fuel costs by planning the most efficient routes for transportation.

Many budgeting tools, such as QuickBooks, Truck Bytes, and Trucking Office, are available for trucking businesses, offering features like automated expense tracking, invoicing, and financial reporting. 

Choose a tool that suits your business needs and helps you stay organised and in control of your finances. Or the better option is to hire someone to manage it for you, like the Trucker CFO. Sometimes, things like this should be left to the professionals.  

Tip 2: Manage Cash Flow Effectively

Managing cash flow is especially important for trucking businesses that operate on tight margins. Adequate cash flow ensures you have enough funds to cover expenses and make investments that drive growth. 

Without proper cash flow management, your business can run into financial trouble and struggle to stay afloat.

To manage cash flow effectively, closely monitor your receivables and payables. Then, ensure you’re invoicing customers promptly and following up on any overdue payments. 

On the expense side, negotiate payment terms with your suppliers to avoid cash flow crunches. You can also reduce expenses by using technology to track and manage your fleet more efficiently. 

Consider establishing a line of credit with a bank or alternative lender to provide a financial cushion during lean times. 

Nowadays, there are tools, tips, and resources for everything—especially when it comes to finances. Whether you need a tax bracket calculator to handle fluctuations in taxable income, a comparison tool to compare different lines of credits and lenders, or just a resource video to walk you through basic accounting principles, all of this and more can be found quickly and easily online. 

Tip 3: Stay on Top of Industry Regulations

Compliance with industry regulations is critical for trucking businesses. Not being able to comply with safety and environmental standards can cause fines and penalties and damage your reputation as well. 

Staying current with industry regulations can be challenging, given the complex and constantly changing nature of the trucking industry. 

However, there are many resources available to help you stay informed. For example, you can keep up-to-date copies of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and file your IFTA Fuel tax services and IFTA Quarterly Fuel Tax Returns. 

To optimize operations, create systems and monitoring processes to gain visibility into performance. Keep an eye out for new federal trucking regulations, like speed limiters that may be implemented in 2023. 

How to Stay Compliant in Trucking

It’s also important to regularly check your compliance scores and identify any patterns so that you can design targeted training for your employees. 

You can stay compliant in trucking by following several steps:

• Regularly reviewing DOT compliance
• Knowing Hours of Service (HOS) and other applicable regulations
• Monitoring BASICs
• Managing grants that enable states to implement changes needed to remain in compliance with new regulations.
• Having a general understanding of rules and safety standards that align with FMCSA’s expectations.

Tip 4: Invest in Technology

The trucking industry is constantly changing and improving with new technologies that help semi-trucks run more efficiently and safely. 

These technologies include electronic logging devices (ELD), trailer tracking systems, collision avoidance technology, platooning technology, and GPS systems. With these, truckers can communicate better, streamline the transport process, and reduce the risk of accidents.

GPS systems help drivers know where they’re going, and modern communication devices make it easier for drivers to talk to dispatchers and loved ones while on the road. 

Improved safety, comfort, and efficiency are just some benefits of investing in technology like a complete dispatching app/platform or telephone system.

Autonomous long-haul trucking is one area where autonomous driving technology is expected to take off soon. The benefits of this technology are huge, so it’s almost certain to happen. 

Tip 5: Build a Strong Network

Your network can provide valuable insights, support, and opportunities to grow your business. You can leverage their expertise and knowledge to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities by developing strong relationships with industry contacts.

There are many ways to build a network. For example, attending industry events, such as conferences and trade shows, is a great way to meet new people and learn about the latest trends and developments. 

Joining industry associations, such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) or the National Private Truck Council (NPTC), can also provide you with access to valuable resources and networking opportunities. 

Collaborating with other businesses, such as freight brokers or logistics providers, can help you expand your network and tap into new markets. 

Tip 6: Train and Retain Skilled Employees

The trucking industry has a tough time keeping experienced employees on staff. To keep and attract qualified drivers, trucking companies can start training programs for new drivers, continue to educate current drivers, and offer mentorship and trainee programs. 

You can create social media channels to promote the industry and share information and job opportunities.

Companies can also increase driver pay to ensure enough drivers to move their freight. In addition, they can recognize top-performing drivers and provide support for their mental health. 

Embracing technology can also help make the job of truck drivers easier and safer. Focus on these areas – 

• competitive compensation and benefits, 
• continuous training and development, 
• good supervision and evaluation, and 
• fostering a supportive community.

Tip 7: Diversify Your Revenue Streams

Any business needs to have multiple ways of making money. If you rely too much on just a few sources of income, you’re taking a risk. There are a few things you can do to diversify your income streams in the trucking industry.

Try to have a mix of different customers instead of relying on just one or two. It’s a good idea to have a portfolio of customers where no single one makes up more than 20% of your total income. 

You can find new customers through online load boards and work with freight brokers with access to many shipping clients.

Another way to diversify your trucking business is to partner with your competitors. You can call them up and share your business model and see if they’re interested in partnering on certain projects that require more resources than either company has alone.

You can also think about pivoting your business into another industry. For example, one event company started doing long-haul trucking because they had trucks sitting idle. 

Another example is starting a food truck business – diversifying your revenue streams can be very profitable. You can also regularly blog about your food truck or use social media to attract more customers. 

Conclusion

Trucking businesses face several significant challenges that are hard to avoid, even if they’re well-managed. The key is to tackle these challenges proactively by planning ahead and approaching them with determination. 

With the right strategies in place, overcoming these obstacles and achieving growth and success is possible. Remember, staying adaptable and responsive to changing market conditions and customer needs is key.