Trucking company for sale and trucking business for sale
A trucking company for sale is priced on its cash flow, its authority and safety record, and the freight it already hauls, not on the sticker value of the trucks alone. Small carriers commonly trade at roughly 2 to 4 times adjusted EBITDA or seller's discretionary earnings (SDE), with equipment valued separately when it is owned, and the number moves with customer concentration, driver retention and whether the owner still drives or dispatches. On CompanyBrokers every trucking listing shows revenue, cash flow, truck and trailer count, asking price and the implied multiple, while customer names, lane data and safety files stay in a data room you open after an NDA and a proof of funds step.
- NDA signed
- Proof of funds
- Data room
Trucking business for sale near me
Set a deal alert for trucking companies by state, price range, freight type (dry van, reefer, flatbed, box truck, hotshot) and minimum revenue, and new listings reach your inbox the day an owner or a broker publishes them. Carriers with clean books and steady contract freight sell quickly, often to a larger fleet that wants the authority and the drivers, so an alert beats checking a search page once a week.
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How much is a trucking company worth
Buyers start from adjusted EBITDA or SDE, add back one time costs and owner perks, and then decide how to treat the equipment. A carrier that owns its tractors outright is worth the earnings multiple plus a fair look at the equipment value, while a carrier running on leases or owner operators is priced closer to a pure earnings multiple. Freight mix matters as much as fleet size. Contract freight with a few anchor shippers is worth more than spot loads from a broker board, because the revenue repeats without new selling.
| Business profile | Annual revenue | Fleet and freight | Typical multiple | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box truck or hotshot operator, owner drives | $400,000 | 3 to 5 units, spot and brokered loads | 1.5x to 2.5x SDE | $100K to $250K |
| Regional dry van carrier | $1,500,000 | 10 to 15 trucks, mix of contract and spot | 2x to 3.5x EBITDA plus equipment | $500K to $1.5M |
| Reefer or flatbed carrier with contract freight | $3,000,000 | 20 to 30 trucks, repeat shippers | 3x to 4.5x EBITDA plus equipment | $1.5M to $4M |
| Asset light freight brokerage or dispatch | $2,000,000 | No trucks, carrier network | 2x to 4x EBITDA | $400K to $1.2M |
These rows are worked examples to show the math, not listings. Put your own numbers into the business valuation calculator to see a range for a specific company, and read the full method in the business valuation formula guide.
What buyers check before buying a trucking company
- Three years of financials with revenue and margin by customer, and which shippers are on contract
- Operating authority age, DOT safety rating, CSA scores and any out of service history
- Truck and trailer list with year, mileage, liens and lease terms, and who holds the titles
- Driver turnover, pay structure, employee versus owner operator mix and how misclassification risk is handled
- Insurance history, loss runs and claims, since premiums are one of the biggest costs a buyer inherits
- Fuel, maintenance and equipment cost per mile compared with revenue per mile
- Customer concentration, especially one shipper or broker above 20 percent of revenue
- Whether the authority and the key customer relationships transfer in an asset sale or need the entity itself
Financing a trucking company purchase
Carriers with three years of documented earnings can qualify for an SBA loan to buy a business, and equipment backed lenders often finance the trucks separately. Buyers commonly put 10 percent or more down, and sellers frequently carry a note that is tied to customer retention for the first year. Lenders want tax returns, a fleet schedule, loss runs and a clear plan for dispatch and driver management after the owner steps back.
Selling your trucking company
Owners who want the top of the range spend six to twelve months before listing moving key shippers onto written contracts, putting a dispatcher or operations manager in place, and cleaning up maintenance and driver files. Prepare three years of returns, a revenue report by customer without names for the first round, the fleet schedule and the insurance loss runs, then decide whether to list it yourself on the Owner Listing plan or work with a broker. The step by step version is in sell my trucking company.
How much does a trucking company sell for
Small trucking companies commonly sell for roughly 2 to 4 times adjusted EBITDA or SDE, with owned equipment valued on top or inside the price depending on the deal. A carrier with $300,000 of adjusted cash flow would usually be priced between $600,000 and $1.2 million before equipment, with part often paid over time.
Is buying a trucking company a good investment
It can be, because freight is a large and steady market and a carrier with contract shippers and good drivers produces dependable cash. The risks are fuel and insurance costs, driver turnover, freight rate swings and equipment that needs replacing. Buyers do best with carriers that have clean safety records, diverse customers and a manager who runs daily operations.
How do I value a trucking business
Add net profit, the owner's pay and perks, interest, depreciation and one time costs to reach adjusted EBITDA or SDE, then apply a multiple based on customer concentration, safety record, driver stability and freight type. Value the equipment separately when it is owned, and subtract debt that stays with the company.
Can I get an SBA loan to buy a trucking company
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans are used for trucking company purchases when the seller can document three years of returns and equipment ownership. Lenders typically want a down payment of 10 percent or more and often look for buyer experience in operations or logistics, or a manager who stays.
What do buyers check before buying a trucking company
They check revenue and margin by customer, operating authority and safety ratings, the fleet schedule with liens, insurance loss runs, driver turnover and classification, and whether the biggest shippers deal only with the owner. Anything that suggests revenue or the authority will not transfer lowers the offer.