How do you start a shipping and receiving company?

[jrewing11]

First off, what are your oppinions about this venture. Do you think that rising gas prices will hurt the "trucking" industry bad enough for suppliers to start relying more on railroads? I think that it was Buffett is betting, but he's getting old and senile anyway right, lol?
Seriously though if this would be a profitable venture what should be done to get it started? This is the outline I have came up with so far.

1. Get Clients (Retailers, Grocery Chains, etc.)- How is this done? Would one just call up the Company Hotline and ask around? Also how would you swindle their business away from another companies?

2. Rent Warehouse- How big should this be? 10,000 SF? I know it depends on how big the supplier and how much is shipped, but just a ball park idea.

3. Get Insurance- What kind of insurance would be needed for this venture and whats the overhead on something like this, ball park again.

4. Get Employees- Pretty self explanatory, but what kind of people would you look for?

5. Sit In The Office and Watch Television- Haha, just kidding. But seriously should I be out working with these guys, or do you believe that would cause them to get disgruntled. I know I would hate for my past bosses to be looking over my back constantly, but at the same time I know what kind of non-sense and lack of work that can go on when a supervisor isn't present.

Overall what do you guys think about the whole idea? Is it worth a go? Also how much start up cash do you think this would cost? I look forward to hearing all your thoughts!!

[fisel]

I think it would be hard for suppliers to rely on the railroads since freight train prices would go up too, but it’s toomuch of a broad question to answer. It would largely depend on what’s being shipped, quantity, extra handling charges, time, location.

1. You could call them, write to them, email them, visit their hq or advertise yourself etc. For you to pursaude them to go through the process of changing delivery services you’d either have to be cheaper, or offer some kind of benefit like faster deliveries, more delivery options, betting tracking system, minimal damage, loss.

2. Depends on what you are shipping, size, quantity, how fast the stock is being moved, whether you’re doing it on a city scale or nation wide (which would also cost big bucks). 10,000 sq/ft would probably be suffice but that’s just a guess.

3. Premises, contents, goods in transit, employee liability, professional indemnity etc. No idea howmuch this could cost.

4. I’d look for people who have done it before and who know the area. Also someone quite big if you’re shipping heavy goods.

5. Most delivery services only have one man to each vehicle. If your reason to be out on the field is to merely supervise them then I think you’d be wasting your time. All you need to do is set standards, or offer some kind of commision.

There’s always money in delivery but it really depends on what you’re doing. To compete with the big boys you’d also need big money and lots of experience. A relatively low cost and profitable way to go is specializing in a certain type of delivery like glass, antiques, hazardous materials, refrigerated substances, meat, same day, important mail, animals. You could even think of something new or a new way to do something already done, the posibilites are endless