Running a haulage company: earnings and costs in the industry
A haulage company (Polish PKD code 49.41.Z - freight transport by road) is a business that carries goods by road vehicles on both domestic and international routes. In this article you will find out how much haulage companies earn, what it costs to run one, which formalities are required and whether this type of business pays off.
What is a haulage company?
A haulage company is a business that transports goods. Depending on its profile, it may operate domestically, internationally or both. It uses various types of vehicles: vans up to 3.5 t, articulated trucks (HGVs) and high-volume road trains. Services are divided into FTL (full truckloads), LTL (part loads), express, temperature-controlled transport and more.
How much does a haulage company make per month?
A haulage company’s average revenue depends on the number of vehicles and the routes it runs. For a fleet of 3-5 trucks, monthly net revenue can range from 30,000 PLN to 100,000 PLN. International work (e.g. PL-DE) pays better than domestic work. According to a 2023 report by the Polish company Inelo, firms serving Western European markets achieve higher margins.
How much does a haulage company make per year?
A haulage company can generate annual revenue of 500,000 PLN to as much as 2 million PLN gross, depending on the scale of its operations. A high share of international work increases profitability, although it also means higher costs. Seasonality (e.g. public holidays and the summer break) also affects results.
How much does a haulage company owner earn per month?
The owner of a haulage company can earn from 10,000 PLN net (driving a single truck themselves) to 30,000 PLN or more in a management role with a fleet. Income depends on the number of vehicles, how the work is billed, ZUS contributions (Polish social security) and taxes.
How much does a haulage company owner earn per year?
For an owner with a single truck, annual net profit can be 120,000 - 180,000 PLN. With 5 vehicles, revenue exceeds 600,000 PLN a year and net profit can reach as much as 300,000 PLN.
Running costs of a haulage company
Profitability depends on the cost structure. The key factors are the rate per km and the level of fixed and variable costs.
What are the fixed costs of a haulage company?
Fixed costs include vehicle leasing (3,000 - 7,000 PLN per month per vehicle), insurance, driver salaries (on average 7,000 - 10,000 PLN per month), ZUS contributions, accounting and GPS systems.
What are the variable costs of a haulage company?
Fuel (approx. 35 - 45% of all costs), road tolls, servicing, tyre replacement and driver allowances are the main variable costs. Their level depends on the number of kilometres driven.
What other expenses does a haulage company have?
Additional costs include penalties for late delivery, the cost of empty running, fines and penalties for errors in documents (e.g. the CMR consignment note).
How much does a haulage company make on one truck?
At a rate of 4 PLN/km and a monthly mileage of 10,000 km, revenue is 40,000 PLN. After deducting costs (about 30,000 PLN), net profit is around 10,000 PLN per month.
What do you need to run a haulage company?
Running a haulage company requires:
- a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC),
- an operating centre,
- a transport licence,
- the right driving entitlements for the owner or an employed driver,
- management software (TMS).
How much money do you need to start a haulage company?
Starting a haulage business costs around 60,000 - 150,000 PLN. This covers leasing, insurance, official fees, deposits, GPS systems and business registration.
Is it worth starting a haulage company?
Yes, if you plan to drive yourself or have experience in logistics. Driving yourself increases your profit but comes with greater risk. Employing drivers reduces the risk, but also the profit. Strong competition and fuel prices can limit profitability.
Does it pay to own your own truck?
A new truck costs 300,000 - 500,000 PLN. Leasing costs 3,000 - 7,000 PLN per month. Driving yourself brings a higher profit, but also more responsibilities and more risk.
How much does an operating centre cost?
Renting an operating centre (plot, parking, monitoring) costs 1,000 - 5,000 PLN per month. You need one to obtain a licence.
How much does a registered office for a haulage company cost?
Your registered office can be physical (office, warehouse) or virtual (outsourced). Cost: 500 - 3,000 PLN per month.
How much does a road haulage operator licence cost?
Obtaining a CPC costs 2,000 - 3,000 PLN. The operator licence itself: official fees plus a financial standing deposit (9,000 PLN for the first vehicle and 5,000 PLN for each additional one).
How much do a Community licence and a CPC cost?
A CPC costs 2,000 - 3,000 PLN. A Community licence: 4,000 - 8,000 PLN (depending on the number of certified copies).
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Managing Director | Antrans BiS, Olkusz
Sebastian Szklarczyk has led the development of Antrans BiS, a transport company operating throughout Europe, for more than 15 years. He started as Head of the Freight Forwarding Department, gaining practical experience in organising international transport and managing a vehicle fleet on European routes.
As Managing Director, he is responsible for the strategic management of a company handling more than 21,000 transport operations a year on its main routes: Poland-Italy, Poland-Germany, Poland-Austria, Spain, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia. Under his leadership, Antrans BiS has expanded its fleet to 220 vehicles, including its own and partners’ vehicles, and achieved an on-time delivery rate of 98%.
Specialisms: international FTL transport throughout Europe, automotive and FMCG logistics, optimisation of European routes, road traffic regulations and driving bans in the EU, and transport documentation (CMR, VAT-UE, INTRASTAT).
On the Antrans BiS blog, he shares practical knowledge about international freight forwarding, transport regulations and the business aspects of running a transport, freight forwarding and logistics company in different European countries.
