Haulin Assets

Starting a trucking company sounds simple—until you hit the paperwork. DOT numbers, MC authority, IFTA, IRP… it’s where a lot of new carriers get stuck, overpay, or make costly mistakes before they ever haul a load. In this episode, we break down exactly what you need, what you don’t, and how to set your authority up the right way from the start. Want a deeper dive? Check out Episode 3 for a more detailed breakdown of authority and setup.

Running a trucking business is already hard. What makes it even harder is when your own systems are working against you. In this episode, we break down the concept of “friction” in your business—those small inefficiencies that slow things down, frustrate customers, and quietly cost you money. From communication gaps to messy invoicing, we cover where friction shows up and how to eliminate it so your operation runs smoother, faster, and more profitably. We also tie it all back to real numbers with a look at February’s financials and what’s driving strong performance right now. What You’ll Learn: • What “friction” actually means in a trucking business • How small inefficiencies compound into lost time and revenue • Where friction commonly shows up (communication, onboarding, billing) • Why anticipating customer needs is a competitive advantage • How cleaner systems directly improve cash flow and repeat business Key Takeaway: If your customers have to guess what to do next, chase you for information, or deal with unnecessary steps, you’re creating resistance—and that resistance is costing you. February Snapshot: • Total Miles: 101,755 • Revenue: $251,077.05 • Rate per Mile: $2.48 • Net Profit: $44,496.50 Call to Action: Ask yourself: Where am I making this harder than it needs to be? If you’re not sure—or you want help building systems that actually make your business run smoother—that’s exactly what we do at MCHQ and Haulin Assets. Reach out and let’s fix it.

Buying a truck is exciting. Signing the wrong financing deal? Not so much. In this episode, Chris and Craig break down how to finance a truck and trailer the right way, so your equipment works for you instead of trapping you in bad payments and cash-flow stress. What We Cover We kick things off with January 2026 performance numbers, then dive into the financial realities every owner-operator should understand before shopping for equipment. Topics include: Knowing your numbers before talking to lenders New vs. used truck math — payments, depreciation, and maintenance tradeoffs Financing options explained: banks, equipment lenders, dealer financing, lease-purchase, and SBA loans How down payments impact your break-even point and freight flexibility Financing (or renting) trailers strategically Hidden startup and compliance costs most new operators overlook When you should not finance a truck at all A real-world example breaking down payments, miles, and revenue required to make a truck profitable Key Takeaway The truck payment alone won’t sink your business, poor planning will. Understanding costs, cash flow, and financing terms is what separates sustainable operators from those forced to run nonstop just to survive.

In this episode of Haulin Assets 2.0, we look back at the rapid growth from 1 truck to 12 in just 2.5 years—right before the freight market flipped. What seemed like momentum quickly turned into hard lessons. This episode breaks down the three biggest assumptions that didn’t hold up and how they reshaped the way the business runs today. Top 3 Things I Got Wrong 1. Direct shipper relationships would be easy to land. I thought showing up and doing great work would be enough. In reality, most shippers don’t change carriers unless they have to—and it can take dozens of conversations just to get a shot. 2. Being financially conservative was the main key to success. Important? Absolutely. But it’s not even top three. Strategy, relationships, and timing matter just as much—if not more. 3. Broker freight could carry us long term. Maybe as an owner-operator. Not if you want to grow. Market cycles expose that weakness fast. What’s Changed After growing too fast heading into a freight downturn, the approach shifted: slower, controlled growth, bringing on a partner, and building smarter through market volatility. What to Expect from Haulin Assets 2.0 More energy. More entertaining content. More focus on the operator’s day-to-day life—not just ownership, but life on the road and how to make it better. Final Thoughts Growth without strategy will humble you. Relationships take longer than you think. And broker freight alone isn’t a long-term plan if you want to build something that lasts. If this episode resonates, share it with another driver or fleet owner in the grind. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next. We’re just getting started.

After seven years and one of the toughest freight markets anyone can remember, Haulin Assets is back — refocused and ready for the next chapter. In this relaunch episode, we look at why the podcast started, what it was meant to solve, and what’s changing as we move into Haulin Assets 2.0. Why Haulin Assets Exists Haulin Assets has always been about owner-operators. An owner-operator isn’t just a driver. You’re a business owner who also happens to operate the truck. When I owned Motor Carrier HQ, I saw drivers come through with the same goal — becoming owner-operators. The ones who struggled usually had one thing in common: they didn’t understand the business side of trucking. This podcast started as a way to change that by letting drivers follow along with my own journey in real time. My Journey I got my CDL in early 2019, bought my first truck shortly after, and hit the road in April of that year. I drove for a full year before hiring my first driver in May 2020. By the end of 2020, I had bought a second truck. In 2021, Nate joined as a partner, and during the COVID boom, the business grew fast. The last three years have been survival mode, but even in this market, we recently hit a revenue record while running one fewer truck. Lessons Learned You don’t know what you don’t know. Learning what it really means to slide your tandems, realizing you can’t control everything, getting hit by a deer, and spending a year behind the wheel all shaped the fleet owner I am today. Driving gave me perspective on what it actually means to be both an operator and an owner. What to Expect in Haulin Assets 2.0 This isn’t a reinvention — it’s a refocus. Expect more fun, more entertaining content, giveaways, and more attention on the operator side of owner-operator life. We’ve covered ownership well. Now we’re spending more time on what makes life better on the road. Story From the Road Getting scammed out of $742 — and the lesson that came with it. Call to Action If you’ve been with us since Episode 1, thank you. If you’re new, this is the perfect time to jump in. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and send us your funniest or toughest trucking story. It might be featured on a future episode. This podcast isn’t just about my journey anymore. It’s about yours. Let’s haul some assets together.

After an extended break, Haulin’ Assets is back. In this episode, I explain where we’ve been, why the podcast went quiet longer than expected, and what’s changing as we relaunch. Quarter four was busy, the market shifted quickly, and between operational changes and a major accident, it was time to pause, reassess, and reset. This episode will feel familiar, but it also marks a more focused direction going forward. Where We’ve Been Q4 snowballed faster than expected. I talk through: Why I needed to step away How the break stretched longer than planned What we’ve been rebuilding behind the scenes The goal wasn’t just to restart the show, but to make sure it continues to deliver real value. Financials: The Real Numbers Here’s how the business performed late last year: September: $23,428 profit | $2.16 per mile October: –$6,143.88 | $2.26 per mile November: $12,877 profit | $2.18 per mile December: $27,818 profit | $2.16 per mile All P&L documents are available in the show notes. Changes in How We Operate In October, I took a hard look at our lanes, shippers, and loops. The takeaway was clear: some lanes we ran regularly were significantly less profitable. As a result: We avoid underperforming lanes whenever possible We largely stay out of the Southeast When we do go there, we head straight back west instead of drifting northeast That approach saves roughly 2.5 days of transit time, and with a truck costing about $400 per day to sit, those decisions add up quickly. This analysis is now a monthly process. Market Shifts and a Major Loss We also saw one of our strongest Q4 pushes in several years, along with new freight contracts coming online. At the same time, we experienced a major accident that resulted in the loss of a truck and trailer—an event that had real operational impact and contributed to the reset. The Relaunch Going forward, Haulin’ Assets is refocusing on the owner-operator. That means: More business-focused topics More attention to both the owner and driver side More discussion of the owner-operator lifestyle

It's Truck Driver Appreciation Week and before we get into the August 2025 Financials, Craig and I talk a little bit about what that means. I personally want to thank you all for being such a driving force in the economy of this great country. Without you we would not be able to live such blessed lives. I try to make sure my kids understand how important the trucking industry is, especially its drivers. Thank you! What To Expect From Episode 186 This year is feel more like a regular freight market, something I don’t think we have felt for 6 years, since 2019. That is good and bad. Good, because I think we are going to feel a good 4th quarter bump, which we haven’t seen in a long time. Bad because summer is always pretty tough, and August wasn’t super pretty for us. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 104,346 Deadhead miles– 7,540 (7.2%) Total revenue- $209,337.10 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.01 Haulin Assets had a loss of $6,767.91. We did not get enough miles. We really have to be over 110k to even have a fighting chance. Considering we were so far under, it could have been worse. Here are the P&L Items we are going to discuss in more detail. Revenue Damages Fuel Repairs and Maintenance Taxes and Licensing

The last couple of weeks have actually been kind of slow, when it comes to the craziness of trucking so I don't have any really dramatic stories from the road. However, now that Break Safety Week has come and gone I do talk about how it affected our fleet. Leave a comment and let me know what your experience was like. What to Expect in Episode 185 It’s a pretty normal reaction to be scared of the unknown. Just like Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow were scared of the unknown that lurked in the forest as they journeyed to Oz, changes lurking in the trucking industry can be scary too. I thought it would be interesting to talk about some of the topics that seem to be getting a lot of attention these days. Here's how this episode breaks down. Electric Trucks I talk about my experience driving an electric vehicle for the last 7+ years and how I think it relates to trucks. Driverless Vehicles My Tesla has the "Full Self Driving" feature. It's good, but I think it's going to be a while before we see anything of any significance in capability and quantity in the trucking world. Craig and I talk about why. The English Proficiency Mandate A recent crash in Florida that killed 3 has brought this topic to the forefront of the highway safety discussion. Craig and I talk about some of the specifics and how this has the potential to have a significant impact in the not too distant future.

The financial challenges continue in July, but before we get into that I tell Craig about two stories from the road. One of them involves smelly onions. The other is about some spilt milk — buttermilk, to be exact. What To Expect From Episode 184 June was a pretty rough month and July was even worse. The summer months are always hard to get through. I still think the market is in the very early stage of a rebound. The biggest problems we had in July are really driven by internal factors, not external ones. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 107,335 Deadhead miles– 8,546 (8.0%) Total revenue- $235,064.03 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.19 Haulin Assets had a loss of $8,939.48. We just did not get enough miles, especially considering the bump in expenses we had in a few areas. Here are the P&L Items we are going to discuss in more detail. Revenue Damages Repairs and Maintenance Fuel

In this episode of Haulin Assets, we’re giving a freight market update—and while the beginning might sound a little doom-and-gloom, don’t worry. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we share why things are finally starting to turn around. We walk through the current market forces, how we got here, and why I believe the 4th quarter of 2025 could be the best we’ve seen in quite a while. You can listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcast app. What We Talk About In This Episode We start off with a quick story about a rental truck and a call I had with a judge in Oregon who, until now, had never let anyone off the hook for an OR citation. After I explained how Oregon’s system works—and how it differs from other states—she had a change of heart. It was a good reminder of how misunderstood the trucking world can be from the outside. Then we dig into the big topic: how the freight market has evolved over the past five years, with a focus on: A quick refresher on supply and demand, complete with a graph analogy: Y-axis = freight rates X-axis = number of trucks and volume of freight Where the lines cross is market equilibrium—where supply meets demand What happened during and after COVID: Massive consumer spending on goods instead of travel Skyrocketing freight volume and rates A wave of new entrants into the trucking industry How it all began to change around March 2022: Too many trucks on the road Freight rates dropping consistently for nearly two years Signs of stabilization in 2024–25: Truck count slowly decreasing Demand holding steady Recent holidays (DOT Blitz, Memorial Day, July 4th) showed stronger rate spikes than we’ve seen in years The Bottom Line For the first time in a long while, we’re back near equilibrium. There’s very little excess capacity in the market right now, and when capacity dips—even a little—rates jump. That’s a good sign. I think we’re heading into a much stronger Q4 than we’ve had in recent years. If you’ve been hanging on, it might finally start paying off.

June had some short-term challenges, but also some indicators that the future might be a little brighter. Before we dive into the numbers, I share an experience one of our drivers had that caused an unloading delay. It was a new one that had never happened to us before. We also talk a little about the challenges we faced over the 4th of July weekend. It was a pretty tough weekend. What To Expect From Episode 182 June was another pretty rough month for us. The good news is that is that the biggest contributing factor was not the market, but some short-term issues that we were able to work through. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 94,128 Deadhead miles– 7,658 (8.1%) Total revenue- $219,217.73 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.33 Haulin Assets had a profit of $152.17. Our saving grace this month was a better rate per mile than we have seen in a long time. Even though it was profitable, it was a negative cashflow month so we need to keep fighting to see a significant improvement to that number. Here are the Profit & Loss items we discuss in more detail: Revenue Fuel Repairs and maintenance

The most common question I get is, "When is a good time to start a trucking company". In this Episode Craig and I are going to answer that question and the answer might not be what you think. But..... before we get into that, I tell a story about a stressful situation one of our drivers experienced that has a happy ending and gives you faith in humanity. What to Expect in Episode 181 Starting your own business is never an easy decision. It requires a huge leap of faith and a lot of guts. Most people just are not willing to jump into the unknown like that. I commend you for even thinking about it. The entrepreneurial spirit is one of the biggest, if not the biggest reason the United States is the greatest country in the world. The right time for you to start a trucking company is a very personal decision and I hope this episode will give you some insight to help you make that very big decision. I think there are different 4 scenarios or "triggers" that when you meet at least one of them you are increasing your likelihood of being able to run a successful operation. The first three are things that are well within your control. The last one is not in your control and I think it is also the one that involves the most risk and most prone to failure. It is also the one that entices most people to make the leap. Get the full show notes: http://bit.ly/haulinassets Motor Carrier HQ: http://bit.ly/motor-carrier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haulinassets Podcast/ iTunes: http://bit.ly/ha-itunes Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/ha-google-podcasts Stitcher: http://bit.ly/ha-stitcher

Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of May 2025, Craig and I talk about the crazy weekend we just had. Literally every truck had some kind of significant issue over the weekend. Everything from problems cause by getting loaded more than 24 hours late to breakdowns and blown tires. It is crazy how you can go from one weekend that is quiet with almost no activity to one like last weekend where all hell breaks loose. I also ask for your opinions on how much of an impact hot weather has on tire failure rates. What To Expect From Episode 180 The ups and downs of trucking are not limited to crazy or mundane weekends, the profitability of trucking is also one heck of a roller coaster. After a better start to the year than we have experienced the last several years, May hit a brick wall. I don't think the difference we saw in May is due to the market, but more because of internal factors we experienced. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 99,880 Deadhead miles– 7,985 (8%) Total revenue- $205,682.73 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.06 Haulin Assets had a loss of $27,150.76. Wow, that was hard to type, that is almost a $75,000 difference between April and May, even though May even had a slightly higher rate per mile. There is A LOT going on in the P&L and we talk about it in more detail than normal. You'll want to listen to the episode to get the full story. Here are the P&L items we dive into: Revenue Low revenue was the largest contributing factor to the loss, we spend a lot of time talking about it Fuel Repairs and Maintenance Taxes

What are the odds that two clutches go out within 24 hours of each other? Can't be high, but we had it happen. Does that mean I should take a trip to Vegas and start placing bets? Our experience with two different shops was night and day. One of them had our truck in and out quickly, the other one was ridiculous. Check out the episode to hear all the fun details. What to Expect in Episode 179 In this episode I am going to cover 3 things I think every business owner, whether you are an owner operator or you manage a fleet, should do on a regular basis. They are: Look for new revenue sources Review all your expenses to trim the fat Conduct a SWOT Analysis The first two are pretty self explanatory and we don't take up too much time covering them. I am sure there are several people out there who haven't heard about a SWOT Analysis or know much about them so that is where we spend the majority of our time. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Doing a SWOT Analysis and then using the information you learn from it is a great way to make a big impact on your business. Craig and I walk through a very simple SWOT Analysis from the perspective of an Owner Operator and use some examples to help show how they are used. They truly are a great tool and I hope you take the info we share and use it to conduct one on your business. Not in business for yourself yet? No worries, it is also a great tool to use to help you decide if there is an opportunity for you to go into business and help you be better prepared when you make the leap. A good SWOT Analysis is a critical element of any business plan.

Check out MotorcarrierHQ.com Find our courses at haulinassetsacademy.com See the profit and loss statement at haulinassetsllc.com Before Craig and I dive into the April 2025 financials, we talk about a fun little adventure I had. It had been a while, but I finally got to jump back into a truck for the first time in several months. This adventure included a Mother's Day departure, several Uber rides, a flight and "breaking" the truck out of a lot at 02:00 in the morning and then "breaking" into the parking lot at the shipper. What To Expect From Episode 178 April has continued the trend of year over year improvement. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 112,158 Deadhead miles– 7,746 (7.3%) Total revenue- $229,695.19 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.14 Haulin Assets had a profit of $47,211.69. The bottom line number is pretty good, but I think it is a little deceptive. There are some things in the P&L that we expound upon that give a more realistic picture of how things are going. You'll want to listen to the episode to get the full story. Here are the P&L items we talk about in more detail: Revenue Fuel Insurance Repairs and Maintenance

March 2025 was a good financial month, but before we get into that, Craig and I talk about one of our trailers being rejected. It was because of some minor damage that had happened a while ago and hadn't been an issue, so why the rejection all of the sudden? Who knows. I'm also back in the dispatching saddle again. It has been while since I have done that job full time and let's just say, I'm a little rusty. What To Expect From Episode 177 Last month I said February was a pleasant surprise, March was an even more pleasant surprise. Let's take a look at the numbers: Total miles ran– 115,070 Deadhead miles– 7,746 (6.7%) Total revenue- $246,412.65 All-in rate-per-mile- $2.14 Haulin Assets had a profit of $49,849.00. The best month in over a year and the second best month since March of 2022. I hope it's a sign of things to come. The P&L was pretty normal, but here are the things we talk about. Revenue was strong Manageable fuel, 27.1% No insurance payment

Trucking Insurance is tricky! It is also typically in the top 5 expenses for a trucking company. For Haulin Assets it is the 4th biggest expense. There are a lot of factors that go into getting the best policy and the best pricing. In this episode we go over what you need to know as an Owner Operator or a Fleet Owner to make sure you are keeping that insurance expense as low as possible. What to Expect in Episode 174 We just completed our insurance renewal so insurance is fresh on my mind and now is a great time to talk about it. Here are some of the topics we discuss. The Biggest Contributors To The Cost Of Your Policy Your loss run report Your CAB (Central Analysis Bureau) Report Drivers Who Are The Key Players Insurance Carriers Underwriter Insurance Agencies/Agent We spend the bulk of the episode in this section and go into some pretty extensive detail about who each one is, what their role is and we give some best practices for how you should interact with them. What You Will Need To Provide For A Quote Get everything to your agents 45 days before your policy expires. Here is what they will typically need. 4 Quarters of IFTA Returns Loss Runs for the last 3 years Updated Equipment List Updated Driver List Your Current COI (Certificate of Insurance) The timing of when you sign on the bottom line and bind your policy is critical. Make sure you listed to the episode to know when you should do this and what you will need to do it. Getting the best price on your insurance is something that does not happen overnight. It takes you being intentional about several things. You have to work on the things we talk about throughout the episode all year long to make sure to get the best price possible and are able to control your costs. Remember, trucking is a low margin business and profits are earned by the penny. A dollar you save in expense is a dollar that hits your profit line.