Upscaling Your Fleet

Key Expansion Indicators

If your customer base is increasing or you’re going from being an owner-operator to having a small fleet of your own, it might be time to add trucks to your lineup. I’ve been there myself and know that taking these steps can be exciting, but they need to be done with intention. There’s no “get rich quick” scheme in the trucking industry. In other words, don’t grow just to grow. To make sure you’re making smart business moves, look for these indicators before you bite off more than you can chew. 

• Capacity: Are you having to turn down customers because of work overload? If demand is steady and your trucks are booked out to the point you're turning down jobs, it's a solid sign that growing the fleet might be your next best step. 
• Finances: Before adding more trucks, make sure your cash flow is strong, and profits are steady. Growth is a lot more sustainable when you're working with healthy margins. If you're not expanding solely with your own funds, it helps to have financing or leasing options you trust. Having that support can make scaling your business feel a lot more doable.
• Your Team: Having a reliable team in place is key before you take on more. If you've made sure you have enough drivers, dispatchers, and supportive staff that you trust will handle the upscale and keep the new development from becoming too overwhelming, you're on the right path to take on more responsibilities as a team. 

If you’re going to do it, you want to do it right. When I’ve expanded my fleet, here’s what I’ve found to be the most important aspects to consider. 

• Reliability & Uptime: Having frequent breakdowns or high maintenance costs can really restrict your business from benefiting from a larger fleet. Sometimes a truck’s downtime can be more costly than the repairs themselves. You’ll want to invest in equipment that will carry your business farther and still hold up down the road. 
• Safety: You can’t do your job if you can’t be confident in how you get from point A to point B. Keeping your team and your haul from damage is never something to gloss over. Older trucks that no longer meet certain safety standards or that struggle to pass inspections can also hurt your business record. Aside from looking out for yourself, you need to make sure you don’t run a risk for those around you on the road.  
• Efficiency: Though other people might argue otherwise, it’s a fact that older trucks burn more fuel. Getting newer trucks that incorporate more aerodynamics and technology is proven to have more efficiency and run you better numbers.
• Service Availability: You never plan for something to interfere with the job, but it happens to every driver at some point. Choosing a brand that has a great network of service facilities and parts available makes handling the unexpected blips that much easier. When you don’t have to wait around for help, it cuts your downtime and helps you and your business stay on track.