Box trucks are used by renters to move boxes, furniture and over-sized appliances from one location to another. The cubed storage space of a box truck is ideal for stacking and arranging packages neatly for safe hauling. The biggest names in the box truck business are rental companies such as Ryder, Enterprise, U-Haul and Mayflower who rent their trucks to individuals and corporations. You must understand the nuances of the box trucking industry including pricing, insurance coverage and maintenance before starting your business.

Refine your box truck company’s business plan with detailed analysis of competing businesses and budget projections. Devote an entire section of your plan to the pricing, vehicle selection and moving products offered by competitors to contrast with company. Calculate your start-up costs for trucks, liability insurance and advertising as well as available funding to create a one-year balance sheet.

Apply for a commercial loan from a local bank to start your box truck business on sound financial footing. Approach your loan officer with a business plan, an ideal loan amount and personal financial information to smooth the loan application process. After your loan application is processed, seek investments from local businesses to bridge the gap between the loan and your initial expenses.

Seek truck and general liability insurance from Western Truck Insurance Services Inc. to cover your box truck fleet. Truck liability insurance is coverage for medical and legal costs if your box trucks are involved in accidents during rental. General liability insurance is vital for box truck businesses because it protects the company from financial damages due to renter negligence.

Negotiate monthly payments for a fleet of box trucks from truck sellers such as Jukonski Truck Sales. Mix lightly used and new box trucks to keep your overhead costs low. Inspect used vehicles for current mileage, engine performance and condition of the cockpit to invest your money in the best trucks possible.

Fill your box truck office with tape rolls, furniture mats, hand trucks and other moving supplies before opening your business. Place these products on wall displays with a price list available on each wall to help consumers make informed decisions. Purchase your moving supplies from wholesalers such as U.S. Box Company; add a modest markup to earn a small profit.

Limit your office staff to a handful of part-time counter clerks and a mechanic in your company’s first year. Your counter clerks should be capable of handling reservations, reviewing truck inventories and answering rental questions. A mechanic experienced in handling wide-ranging problems such as broken door latches, engine troubles and body work can help keep your trucks looking good.

Print hundreds of rental forms for customers to complete before renting your box trucks. Your rental form should lay out clearly the per-mile rate, requirements for fuel levels upon return and sample charges for damage done to box trucks. Require renters to put down credit cards with these forms to protect your business from stolen and excessively damaged trucks.

Create an inventory form for your box trucks that will be used by counter clerks to check box trucks in and out. The inventory form should feature a silhouette of a truck where pre-existing damage can be marked before a box truck is rented. Include details about hand truck and furniture pad use to charge customers in case of damage.

Promote your box truck business using truck wraps and targeted advertising before renting your first truck. Each truck wrap should feature daily rental rates, your office location and available truck sizes to inform prospective customers. Post advertisements at college campuses, apartment buildings and condos to maximize the impact of your initial marketing blitz.

Over-the-road expenses for truckers must facilitate travel, be appropriate for travel and be required to conduct business. Many expenses are deductible; however, you must keep records, important documents, receipts, permits, statements, log books and other supporting documentations to substantiate your expense deductions. It is also important to keep your log books, licenses and permits current.

Warnings
The trailer, pulled by the cab, holds the cargo.
Fines paid for violating traffic and weight laws are not deductible. Expenses reimbursed by your employer, personal expenses and personal grooming expenses are not tax-deductible. You cannot deduct downtime for doing repairs on your truck.

Direct Vehicle Expenses
As a truck driver, you can deduct direct expenses such as diesel, gas, oil, vehicle fluids, maintenance and repair, tires and replacement parts. You can also deduct liability insurance, vehicle-related insurance, weight charges, licenses, permits and registrations. You can deduct expenses to clean, wash and wax your vehicle such as truck washing services and pressure washing. You can also claim parking fees and tolls incurred on the road. You can claim depreciation on your cab, trailer and their associated equipment. Depreciation allows you to deduct the cost of the cab over a period of years.

Supplies
Cleaning supplies such as window cleaner, paper towels, cloth towels and squeegees are deductible. Office supplies such as pens, log books, briefcases, paper and notebooks are also deductible business expenses. Personal protective equipment such as gloves, hardhats, special boots or shoes, safety glasses and hazardous material suits are deductible as well. Office equipment such as laptop computers and their accessories can be depreciated over five years.

Room, Board and Meals
Hotel and truck stop expenses are tax-deductible expenses; meals are deductible but subject to a 50 percent limit. Incidental costs such as tips paid to servers, porters, baggage carriers and hotel personnel are also deductible business expenses. Use the per diem rate for the area where you stay as a guide to see what rates are reasonable. Long-distance telephone calls from the hotel, business use of your cell phone and Internet access fees paid while away from home are deductible. Finally, laundry, dry cleaning and laundry supplies used while away from home are deductible business expenses.

Tools and Equipment
The cost of tools and equipment to do repairs and maintenance can be depreciated over several years. You do not have to depreciate the cost of tools if it is expected to be less than one year. Fees for emergency towing, GPS services, traffic and weather tracking services are tax-deductible business expenses. Costs to rent, lease or buy equipment such as CB radios, antennas, GPS systems, traffic and weather tracking systems are also deductible. Finally, safety equipment such as flags, flares, emergency kits, jack straps, tarps and load chains are tax-deductible.

Taxes and Interest
Interest you pay on loans for your truck, trailer and equipment are deductible. If your truck is more than 55,000 lbs. gross weight, you may have to pay the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax. You may deduct this tax and other excise taxes as required. The 12 percent retail excise tax for trucks and diesel taxes cannot be deducted since they are considered part of the price.

Other Fees
You can deduct the costs of trucking subscriptions, uniforms and dues paid to unions and associations. Maps and Atlases are deductible as are ATM fees while away from home.

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Cleaning fleets of trucks is becoming a lucrative business, because the way a truck looks says a lot about how a company runs its business and how it delivers and ships products from place to place. While it used to be done painstakingly with a hose and a crew of people washing, truck fleet cleaning has now become a streamlined process, Businesses all over the country specialize in different types of cleaning for different types of trucks.

Saving Money

Truck Fleet cleaning services help those who own truck fleets save money in a variety of ways. They save on driver down time: A truck can be dropped off at a cleaning center after the driver has done a delivery. It also saves on truck down time, because they are washed after deliveries, when they were going to be out of service anyway. Using a fleet cleaning service means you don’t have to hire people or buy cleaning supplies.

Washing Tools

Most truck fleet cleaning services use high-powered pressure washers to remove grime, dirt and soot that has kicked up onto the truck over long cross-country jaunts. Some pressure washers are strong enough to take graffiti off the side of a truck if necessary. Some centers have hallways with pressure washers mounted from ceiling to floor, like an oversize drive-thru car wash. These pressure washers deliver water mixed with soap and chemicals ideal for removing just about anything from a steel truck cab and trailer.

Mobile Fleet Cleaning

Many fleet cleaning services will go to where the truck is being stored and clean it there, on-site, much like a maid would come and clean a house. This saves the company that owns the truck fleet a lot of money, because otherwise the driver would have to take it back on the clock, costing the company even more money. These mobile cleaners provide their own power washers, soap and chemicals and guarantee a good wash of just about any truck cab, from a five-ton 18-wheeler to a small fleet of cube trucks.

You love your truck driver and you want him to be as comfortable as possible while he is on the road, away from family and friends. Purchasing creative Valentine’s Day gifts allows him to take some of the comforts of home along. There are a number of Valentine’s Day gift ideas that make life easier, or more comfortable, for truckers. Some of the Valentine’s Day gifts require a cigarette lighter to operate.

Espresso maker
Portable espresso machines are an ideal gift for truck drivers. Espresso machine manufacturers, such as Bertone and Velox, produce lightweight, plastic espresso makers that plug into a truck’s cigarette lighter. They come with long cords so the machine rests safely on the floor, between the seats or in the bunk area of the truck.

Massage Cushions
Massage cushions and massaging seat toppers are among the practical Valentine gifts for truckers. The Shiatsu Vibrating and Kneading Massage Cushion, from HoMedics, requires a vehicle’s cigarette lighter to operate. This Valentine’s Day gift idea straps directly onto the driver’s seat. It has four massage nodes that roll up and down the trucker’s back, providing a Shiatsu-style massage. It also has a vibrating massage option. The 10-Motor Massaging Seat Topper, from Brookestone, also attaches directly to the driver’s seat. The remote-controlled, heated massage cushion has three massage programs that massage the upper, middle and lower back. It also massages the upper and lower thighs.

Hot and Cold Snack Box
Mini-refrigerators often serve a dual purpose as Valentine’s Day gifts for truck drivers. The Hot and Cold Snack Box, manufactured by Sharper image, has a nine-foot long cord so the compact unit can safely rest in the truck’s bunk. It weighs eight pounds and measures 16 1/2×91/2×7 ½ inches. A larger size is available. The portable cooler is programmable so it can keep food warm and beverages cold. For drivers who prefer to keep the mini-fridge in the front of the truck, the cooler has a slide proof lid with two cup holders. The Wagan 2260 is a similar product. However, it also comes with a shoulder strap and a padded cover so it doubles as an armrest.

Ionic Breeze Dashboard Ionizer
Among health conscious Valentine’s Day gift ideas for truckers is a portable air purifier. Truck drivers spend many hours sitting in the cab of the truck inhaling fumes. The Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Dashboard Ionizer and Surround Air XJ-600 capture auto exhaust fumes, dust and tobacco smoke. These air purifiers circulate fresh air back into the truck cab. The Ionic Breeze Dashboard Ionizer has a pass-through socket so another device can share the power source.