19 Year-Old Starts a Trucking Business

A trucking business is a great choice for anyone looking for a recession-proof industry. As long as companies need to transport goods, trucking companies will have plenty of clients eager for their services.

In this video, Mikael Sant, founder of Sant Lines, will share his advice on how to start a trucking company from scratch. Mikael has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Although he’s still a teenager, Sant Lines is just one of seven businesses he’s started and owns. He saw the industry’s potential through a friend whose family are owner-operators and started researching how to start a trucking business of his own.

He founded Sant Lines in May of 2021, and in its first three months of operation, brought in more than $150,000 in revenue. In just over a year, he’s expanded from one truck to a fleet of five, with plans to grow even further by the end of 2022.

Maybe most impressive is that Mikael has accomplished this as a self-taught entrepreneur with no prior experience in the trucking industry. We’ll find out how he developed the skills to effectively lead a trucking company and build his business from the ground up.

He’ll share how much it cost him to get started and how he financed that investment, along with the systems he implemented to manage the business and how he grew brand awareness and found his first customers. If you’re in the transportation industry, or thinking about starting a trucking business, you’ll definitely want to hear Mikael’s insights!

Resources:

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:08 A 19 Year Old with a Million Dollar Company
2:33 The Best Freight To Haul
3:47 How To Manage Your Budgets
4:23 What It Costs To Own a Trucking Business
5:20 Systems and Processes
6:10 How To Keep Your Trucks in Shape
6:46 The Benefits of Having a CDL
8:47 Key To Profiting Fast
9:25 Key Tips for Beginners
11:09 Truck Equipment You NEED
12:47 How To Find Hauling Customers
15:07 Use THIS If You Struggle To Find Customers
16:32 Revenue of a Trucking Business
18:05 Mikael’s Deep Interview Process
19:43 Building Brand Awareness
20:28 How To Handle Inflation
21:14 Disadvantages of Being a Young Entrepreneur
22:53 The Most Profitable Truck
23:53 Mikael’s Truck Types and Purposes
24:58 Mikael’s Recommended Storage Space
26:07 Going For a Ride in Mikael’s Truck
27:26 Important Parts of a Business Plan
28:06 What Mikael Does on His Off Time
28:57 Advice on Buying Your First Truck
30:43 Managing and Paying Employees
31:35 Important Trucking Regulations
32:11 Expanding Sant Lines
33:12 Challenges in the Trucking Business
34:19 Scaling Your Business Smoothly
35:55 Buying vs. Leasing Trucks
36:30 Managing the Workflow
38:33 Mikael’s Secret

#trucking #truckingbusiness #truckdriver

[williamparker]

He's spot on with that maintenance number of 20%. I've owned my trucking company 4 years now and that figure has always worked. Someone taught this young man well. He's ahead of the learning curve of this industry.

[tinybubbles]

"Met the right people" is how a 19 year old excelled where 40 and 50 year olds who have 20 years of driving failed. Someone hooked him up with consistent profitable loads.

[krollbrian]

After 21st successful years of running my own Trucking company and making millions I can say this video is on point. Strating a Trucking company is not an easy task, you need a lot of paperwork, knowledge and large understanding to run the business. I can say the basic problem to start a trucking business is capital. To get started with Trucking business you need a large sum of money as your working capital and a minimum of $50, 000 in your maintenance account before making you final decision of joining the business because anything can go wrong anything, and you have to be prepared for it. But do you know you can get a governmental Grant of over $300, 000 to start a trucking business. I came to know about this few years ago and it has been helped my company a lot. I get a governmental grant support every six months. Getting a Governmental Grant should be your first motive before proceeding to join the business. I wish every Trucker out there a successful and profitable business Week.

[jmsmilin]

At 19 he has a trucking business, a construction company, and his pilot license, obviously he grew up in a family business and his parents were able to afford to pay and support all this for him

[BlueStreak]

This dude knows more about running a business at age 19 than anyone I know in business grad school. Salute daily.

[JasperWalker]

This young man is showing the importance of having a great Network and parents who know what they're doing. You can tell someone was setting him up to become an owner in any field. His drive alone is amazing

[xsoul]

Been running my own Trucking Company all throughout of California territories and I can this is interesting seen this young man doing well for himself. Starting a trucking company depend fundamentally on capital/ funds I don’t think this little boy can get up there without a governmental or parental help/funding. I started my own after been awarded a governmental grant.

[BrightBiden]

Have been looking for someone reliable to buy/rent truck/Mack from it’s been difficult.

[harold]

I will say he knows what he is doing. I started out with one truck at 20 yrs old back in the 80's and ended up with 22 trucks and had flatbed, dry van, refrigerator trailers and also hauled containers out of NJ port. Did all that for 33 yrs and retired at the age of 51. I think he will do well.

[Quantum]

For a 19 yr old, he knows a whole lot about trucks and the trucking biz. He's been guided well. Wish him much success.

[michelfortier]

I'm a retired private equity guy and have met many people in my career. I'm impressed. Ask a question, get an immediate response. This guy is going places and I'm happy to see it happen.

[EricaYE]

So proud of this young man. You're an inspiration and I know you're gonna go far. You got a good head on your shoulders, a great work ethic and you love what you do.

[issacreyes]

Mikael is a beast, glad to see him get some recognition for all of his hard work. Keep it up bro

[yungwun]

This is one of the best advice video for Getting into this industry I've seen in a long time. I am super joyful to see this young man, being a MAN! Hats off to you sir! You are disciplined, respectful, honest, and observant! You are in harmony young sir! Good job!

[maicolsadventures]

Incredible! One week into obtaining my CDL in Oregon and this video is extremely inspiring. Had an amazing life in the fitness industry in my 20s and now getting into driving as I turn 30. This video was incredible 👏

[taputono]

Best trucking video I’ve ever seen on YouTube, the host asked all the right questions and this kid is gonna take over the trucking industry👍🏽👍🏽

[Afif.anNayem.asSalafi]

Opportunity comes and goes, only hard work pays of. If you can learn to work with both your hands and your brain early on, you'll be pushing hard before you even know it. This guy is an absolute trooper. More power to him!

[jontnoneya]

Something is fishy - notice how they gloss over the "how did you get started" part and jump into other data. When he said "Insurance is your biggest cost, I spend $100k on insurance a yr" most people would be like "Ok hold up. How the f*** did you get that kind of money to start with?" Clearly the kid had help. He mentioned his friend who had a trucking business. I guarantee you his friends family helped set this kid up or he had a wealthy parent to guarantee things like loans and/or insurance. Total start up costs were likely well over $200k and 19 yr olds don't have that lying around from running a paper route. Also how did he get loads? FROM HIS FRIEND - who was likely going through and expansion. Sure the kid had to work hard to realize the full potential of all that help but come one starts a biz like this and jumps to making $150/mo in is just like so many self-help books on the market. They tell a great story that's impossible for most to repeat because they don't have the same backing and/or opportunities.

[NateOBrien]

This is inspiring. Classic hard working American

[aneesnammari]

This kid is going to own an NFL team by the time he's 30. Definitely learning from him and I'm 46. Good for him.