If you want to start a box truck business, you need to put your truck at work.
If that is the case, you need to look for solutions on how to get box truck contracts.The key to getting more box truck contracts is increasing the visibility of your services to your potential clients.
The more eyeballs see box truck services, the more business you may get.
Below, see marketing methods to help you get more box truck contracts.
1. Load Boards - give them a try
2. Get box truck contracts with Amazon Relay
Amazon's scale of operation is so big that signing up with them allows you to have a consistent stream of box truck contracts.
Benefits of booking box truck loads with Amazon:
- You have a nice selection of different types of loads including really short trips (like less than 20 miles) to much longer loads (100 miles or much more).
- You can book loads through their easy to use online platform interface.
- You can assign drivers, access Amazon’s Relay Load Board, track performance, view and download payment details and raise issues.
- You get access to their mobile app where you drivers can view and manage the status of their loads, report any delays, and use other commercial navigation tools.
Amazon's acceptance requirements:
- You need an active DOT number, a valid MC number, and a carrier entity type that is Authorized for Property and for Hire.
- You must also have a safety rating of “Satisfactory,” “None,” or “Not Rated” from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and have certain insurance policies in place.
- Required types of insurance need for box trucks include commercial general liability, auto liability, trailer replacement coverage, cargo coverage, workers’ comp and employer liability.
To see a complete list of requirements that Amazon has, check out Amazon Relay’s FAQ page.
3. Hire dispatchers
Another option to get box truck contracts is by using truck dispatchers who exclusively act in the carrier's best interest during loads rate negotiation.
The amount of a truck dispatcher's pay depends on the total income that they bring into the company. Usually, they receive a % from the income they brought in that they agreed on with the carrier beforehand.
Basically, the higher rates the dispatcher negotiate, the bigger his wages will be.
So, to find the highest-paying loads that fit your services, truck dispatchers explore load boards or any other option to find box truck contracts for you.
4. Local delivery
In your city or any local area, many companies and manufacturers need to deliver their goods to their customers.
Today, customers who have bought online their medicine, supplies, or appliances expect them delivered to their door.
Imagine that that box truck contract could be yours. Right?
Good options to connect with these local businesses are GoShare, Lugg, or Dolly.
You might find a box truck contract that may translate into a long-term contract. That would be a BINGO!
5. Moving jobs
The next way of getting box truck loads is by moving items for companies or individuals.
That means helping someone move out of their apartment or helping an office relocate to a different place, which involves handling heavy furniture.
In such a case, these people might look for a box truck moving service help.
You can get these types of jobs on sites like Taskrabbit and Thumbtack.
Note that if you offer professional moving services, some states may require special licensing or permits. Check with your state to determine what requirements you need to fulfill to operate a moving services company.
6. Invest in online marketing
One of the most powerful thing in increasing box truck service's visibility is using online marketing.
Online marketing is also known as an inbound marketing tactic which means creating and publishing content online to attract potentially interested users in that content.When the published content on different online sources direct that traffic towards your company website (an online source that you have most control of), a portion of that traffic may check your services pages and may become your customer.
Set up a Google My Business.
By setting up Google My Business, you provide better visibility for people who are close geographically to your office and are looking for box truck businesses around them. Usually, they use search quarries like "box truck near me ..."
That means that whenever someone is interested in a box truck business while searching in Google, your box truck business would pop up more frequently now and most likely earn your business some box truck contracts.
Get a website that draws traffic to your business
A company website should be the place where all the traffic, attracted through your online marketing efforts, is redirected.
Your website should list all the box trucking services that you provide.
If your website communicates how can your business help the visitor, you might get some box truck contracts.
Get on Yelp for business
Your potential customers might use Yelp to search for box truck companies. So, register your box truck business there too.
Create a presence on Social Media channels
Almost all social media platforms provide the option to reach your targeted audience by using their ads system.
If you have the budget, social media ads are a great way to promote your box truck business to local businesses.
7. Mobile billboards
Box trucks have a big free space on the sides of the cargo box. Use these cargo box sides to advertise your hauling services.
If you drive around a lot in peak hours on busy roads, you might get a lot of eyeballs on your mobile billboards.
Related: How to advertise on a box truck?
Conclusion
There are various methods you can use to get box truck contracts.
The success of your business depends on how heavily you’re mentally as well as financially invested in it and if you’re giving it your all, then you should be able to see the results in no time.
Start today and use these methods to land more clients so that you can make more money with your box truck.
