Small truck local freight carrier

Small manufacturers, wholesalers, building suppliers, retailers and larger carriers who need extra capacity.

A set price per load or per hour, plus regular runs for repeat customers. Some work comes through freight booking platforms and subcontracting to larger carriers.

• Safe, careful driving
• Loading and restraining freight properly
• Quoting and keeping records
• Reliable customer communication

• Licence class for the truck's weight (check with your state's transport authority)
• Public liability, goods-in-transit and comprehensive truck insurance
• Chain of responsibility and load restraint duties under heavy vehicle laws, check the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator or your state or territory authority
• Work diary and fatigue rules if you drive longer hours or further distances
• Fuel, tolls, repairs and finance can eat into each job's price, so work out your cost per kilometre
• Register an ABN and check when GST registration applies to you

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $70,000, depending on the truck, whether you buy or finance it, and your insurance. These are estimates only, so get quotes before committing.

Things to check: the licence class for your truck's weight with your state transport authority; public liability, goods-in-transit and comprehensive truck insurance; chain of responsibility and load restraint duties; work diary and fatigue rules; and ABN and GST registration.

Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on loads, distances and regular customers. Fuel, tolls, repairs and finance come out of that, so work out your cost per kilometre. Plan on around 25 hours a week at minimum.