Sell my trucking company or sell your freight carrier

To sell a trucking company for a good price, you need three things before the first buyer call: three years of financials that show revenue and margin by customer, a clean safety record and insurance history, and a dispatcher or operations manager who can run the fleet without you. Small carriers commonly sell for about 2 to 4 times adjusted EBITDA or seller's discretionary earnings (SDE), with owned equipment valued on top or inside the price, and the exact number depends on contract freight, driver retention and how much of the business is you. This guide covers who buys, how the price is built, what to prepare and where to list.

Who buys trucking companies

Owners often hear from one kind of buyer and assume that is the whole market. Four types are active, and they pay differently.

A small owner operator fleet usually sells to a driver, a dispatcher or a larger carrier. A regional carrier with contract freight and a good safety score draws fleets and private buyers who finance the purchase.

How much will I get for my trucking company

Buyers add up your net profit, your own pay and perks, interest, depreciation and one time costs to reach adjusted EBITDA or SDE, then apply a multiple. Equipment is the second half of the answer. Trucks and trailers you own outright are valued at fair market value, and debt against them comes off the price.

Run your own numbers through the business valuation calculator first, then compare the result with what similar carriers are asking on the trucking company for sale page. Asking prices run higher than closing prices, so treat them as a ceiling.

What to prepare before you list

Spend six to twelve months on the items that move the price most.

1. Move key shippers onto written agreements with rates and renewal dates.
2. Hire or promote a dispatcher or operations manager so the buyer sees a company that runs without you.
3. Reconcile three years of books so revenue and fuel card spend tie to the bank. A tool that can match fuel card and bank deposits saves days of work, and a buyer's accountant will run the same test.
4. Pull loss runs, DOT safety ratings, inspection history and driver qualification files into one folder.
5. Write a fleet schedule with year, mileage, liens, lease terms and title holders.

The general selling a business checklist covers the legal and tax steps that apply to any sale.

Deal terms to expect

Most carrier sales pay 60 to 80 percent at closing and the rest as a seller note, often tied to the customers who stay for the first year. Expect a non compete for your lanes, a transition of 30 to 90 days where you introduce the buyer to the largest shippers, and a working capital adjustment for receivables, fuel and prepaid insurance. Decide early whether you are selling the entity, which keeps the operating authority and safety history, or only the assets, which means the buyer needs its own authority and insurance. Buyers who finance with an SBA loan to buy a business also need three years of returns and a documented fleet.

Where to list a trucking company for sale

You can list yourself, hire a broker or approach larger carriers directly. Brokers charge a percentage that is hard to justify on a $200,000 hotshot business but can pay off on a $3 million regional fleet with contracts and equipment to defend. On CompanyBrokers the Owner Listing plan puts your company in front of buyers with deal alerts for trucking companies in your state, and the data room keeps customer names and lane data private until a buyer signs an NDA and shows proof of funds.

How much does it cost to sell a trucking company

Selling on your own with the Owner Listing plan costs $24 a month billed yearly, plus legal and accounting fees at closing. A broker typically charges 8 to 12 percent of the price, with a minimum fee on small deals. Many owners list themselves first and bring in a broker only if buyer interest is thin.

What is the best way to sell a trucking company

List it with revenue, cash flow, fleet size and the contract share of freight visible, answer buyers under an NDA, and introduce the buyer to your biggest shippers yourself. Owners who prepare financials, safety files and a fleet schedule first sell faster and at higher multiples than those who list a rough summary.

Who buys trucking companies

Four groups buy: larger carriers adding authority, drivers and lanes, logistics and brokerage firms adding owned capacity, drivers or managers who already run the work, and individual buyers financing with an SBA loan. Larger carriers pay most for contract freight with a clean safety record.

How long does it take to sell a trucking company

Most sales close in four to nine months from listing. Carriers with clean books and contract freight sit at the short end, while owner dependent fleets with spot freight take longer and often need a seller note to close.

Should I tell my drivers and shippers before I sell

Not before you have a signed NDA and a serious buyer. After that, tell the largest shippers yourself during the transition, because accounts that hear it from you stay at much higher rates than those that get a form letter. Tell the dispatcher or operations manager early, since the buyer will want them to stay.