Although the trucking business might seem straightforward on the surface, there are lots of things that a young entrepreneur needs to know. Optimizing your fuel consumption and routes, improving driving habits, and reducing detection are just a few factors that can bring you money. On top of that, you should also consider general business practices such as improving finances and company software.

In this article, we’ll share some incredible tricks to increase revenues while cutting costs. Furthermore, besides trucking, some of these tips will also work for other logistics companies.

1.   Keep up with regulations

The trucking business is heavily affected by local and federal regulations. Changes to fuel prices and toll payments, alcohol and drug policies, and driver training can have a major impact on how much money you’ll take home. Because of that, you must stay in the loop and try to predict new laws before they come into force.

While all market participants are affected by legal changes, you can gain an upper hand over them by making faster adjustments. Furthermore, understanding the current laws can help you avoid fines and other penalties.

2.   Maximize employee satisfaction

Although driving a truck is a job almost anyone can do, that doesn’t mean your staff is replaceable. Having a high employee turnover will not only prevent you from conducting your day-to-day business but also be detrimental to your reputation. So, like in any other line of work, you must ensure your guys are cared for.

For starters, make sure you offer competitive salaries and benefits. Making employees’ jobs easier with better software and trucks will also go a long way in increasing their loyalty toward the brand. Another excellent idea is to give out awards for drivers with the best performance and offer monetary incentives. 

3.   Improve fuel consumption

Fuel and millage are two primary tickets for trucking companies. Given the high fuel price nowadays, it is usually worth investing in modern trucks with lower consumption. Many trucking companies also use fuel cards to achieve various benefits and discounts at gas stops. Furthermore, tracking usage and setting limits to prevent employees from going overboard isn’t a bad idea.

Another great way of addressing this issue is by improving your routing. Every modern company should invest money in GPS software and plan their journey ahead of time. Pay attention to road works, weather conditions in different areas, and anything else that could slow down your journey and force you to take costly detours.

You should also share some tricks to help your drivers be more efficient. For example, idling is a common mistake many drivers make, but one that can have disastrous consequences on fuel consumption. Similarly, you should prevent them from speeding, rapid acceleration, and harsh breaking, all of which increase fuel usage.

4.   Maintain your vehicles

Besides using more fuel-efficient vehicles, you can also cut costs through maintenance. Besides increased fuel efficiency, this will prevent major breakdowns. Ultimately, the last thing you need is for a cargo to be stranded in the middle of nowhere without a chance of reaching its destination.

The management should constantly replace tires and fluids and check other essential systems. It also isn’t a bad idea to teach your staff how to perform basic repairs in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that having reliable trucks is not only great for reducing expenses, but it will also make your employees more relaxed and comfortable.

5.   Improve per-mile revenues

Trucking companies calculate revenues and expenses by using the per-mile model. With that in mind, your best bet for boosting profits is to increase the rates based on mileage. For example, you can introduce premium rates for particular items or try to upsell wherever possible. Look for market gaps and services that the competition doesn’t offer.

It also isn’t a bad idea to negotiate the prices whenever you can. Backhaul trucking is another method that can improve your per-mile revenues, effectively allowing you to eliminate losses during back trips. Even if you have to lower your regular rates, it beats not making any money on your way back.

6.   Use advanced software

Besides previously mentioned GPS solutions, there are various other programs you can use to improve overall efficiency. You can make a real difference by introducing marketing, sales, financial, and collaboration software, just to mention a few. Relying on advanced digital solutions will not only streamline your day-to-day processes but will also allow you to make better business decisions.

As the global IT industry is growing rapidly, there are always some new, better products on the market. We suggest you take a proactive stance regarding trucking software by regularly testing programs and switching to more lucrative ones when it makes sense.

7.   Improve cash flow

Due to the nature of the business, cash flow is a big issue for most logistics providers. The biggest problem is that you won’t get paid until the cargo reaches its destination, which means all delivery expenses fall upon your back. The issue is especially troublesome for smaller or growing brands that can’t cover these expenditures.

Freight invoicing factoring is an excellent way to avoid potential issues with cash. External companies can buy out your invoices for a small compensation, so you don’t have to worry about ongoing costs. By pairing this with other cost-saving measures, you can create a sustainable system where money is no longer a problem.