The 26,000 pound box truck exists because of one number. Most operators do not know the other four.
Straight truck work pays on service, not on linehaul, and it lives or dies on appointment discipline and accessorial capture. It also sits in the most confusing corner of the regulations, because the exemptions depend on rating, axle count, and engine model year rather than on what the truck looks like.
Four thresholds worth knowing before you buy the next piece of equipment.
Nothing on this page is legal, tax, insurance, or regulatory advice. Confirm applicability for your specific equipment with your own advisors.
The office work, specific to this equipment.
| What | How we run it |
|---|---|
| Appointment control | Delivery windows confirmed and tracked, because a missed appointment on final mile work costs the next three loads with that customer. |
| Accessorial capture | Lift gate, inside delivery, residential, driver assist, and detention documented on the load and invoiced. This is where straight truck margin actually is. |
| Applicability screen | We work out on paper which rules reach your specific truck: CDL, IFTA, IRP, ELD, and the 100 air mile short haul exception. |
| Short haul records | Where the 100 air mile exception applies we run the time records that the exception requires instead of full logs. |
| Annual inspection and DVIR | Periodic inspection scheduled and the report retained fourteen months, driver reports reviewed and closed against repairs. |
| Invoice and follow up | Same day invoicing with the full document package, then the receivable chased until it lands in your account. |
Full obligation by obligation breakdown of what stays legally yours on the who owns what page.
10 percent of gross, with a $400 weekly minimum per active truck.
The minimum is what the office costs to staff. The percentage is what it costs when the office is working well. Commission is calculated on gross freight revenue including linehaul, fuel surcharge, detention, layover, and truck ordered not used. Documented pass throughs such as lumpers, tolls, and permits are excluded.
The back office runs alongside it at $1,100 a month for the company, $300 per active truck, and $100 per active driver.
Start with a phone call
Tell us the rating, the axle count, and the engine year. We will tell you exactly which filings you owe and which ones you have been paying for without needing to.