What Is My Trucking Company Worth?

Trucking companies are complex to value because the business involves significant capital assets (trucks, trailers), variable operating costs (fuel, maintenance, insurance), and a labor market that's chronically tight. But well-run trucking operations with contracted freight are genuinely valuable.

Here's how to think about your trucking company's value.

Typical Valuation Ranges

Most trucking companies sell for 2x to 4x SDE, with the range heavily influenced by fleet condition, contracted revenue, and whether equipment is owned or leased.

Larger operations with $1M+ EBITDA and dedicated contracts can attract 3x to 5x EBITDA from PE firms or strategic acquirers.

Factors that push toward the higher end:

• Long-term dedicated freight contracts
• Well-maintained, newer fleet (average age under 5 years)
• CDL drivers on payroll with strong retention
• Diversified customer base
• Specialized services (refrigerated, hazmat, oversized)
• Operating authority and safety record (good CSA scores)

Factors that push toward the lower end:

• Spot market dependent (no contracted freight)
• Aging fleet with deferred maintenance
• Owner-operator model (no company drivers)
• Single customer dependency
• Poor safety record or CSA violations
• Equipment heavily financed with negative equity

What Buyers Look For

Contracted vs. Spot Revenue

Buyers heavily prefer contracted freight (dedicated lanes, long-term customer agreements) over spot market revenue. Contracted revenue is predictable; spot revenue fluctuates with market cycles. Companies with 70%+ contracted revenue command premium multiples.

Fleet Condition

Trucks and trailers are the primary assets. Buyers will evaluate:

• Average fleet age
• Maintenance records and inspection history
• Remaining useful life
• Outstanding loans or leases on equipment
• Whether a fleet refresh is imminent

A fleet needing $500K+ in near-term replacements will reduce your sale price accordingly.

Driver Retention

CDL drivers are the scarcest resource in trucking. Companies with 80%+ annual driver retention are significantly more valuable. Buyers will evaluate your driver compensation, benefits, home time policies, and culture.

Safety Record

CSA scores, inspection results, and accident history directly impact insurability and buyer confidence. A poor safety record can kill a deal.

Operating Authority

Your DOT authority, insurance coverage, and compliance history are all part of the value. Clean authority with a multi-year track record is an asset.

The Equipment Question

Trucking valuations are complicated by the capital-intensive nature of the business. Two companies with identical revenue and EBITDA can have very different values if one owns its fleet outright and the other has $2M in equipment loans.

Asset-light model (brokerage/owner-operators): Lower capital requirements, higher margins on paper, but less control over capacity and service quality.

Asset-heavy model (company trucks and drivers): Higher capital needs but more control, more barriers to entry, and generally higher multiples from buyers.

Buyers will adjust for equipment debt, deferred maintenance, and upcoming replacement cycles when calculating their offer.

How to Increase Your Trucking Company's Value

1. Build contracted relationships. Convert spot freight to dedicated contracts. Even one-year agreements with renewal clauses dramatically stabilize revenue.
2. Maintain your fleet. Documented maintenance records, preventive programs, and a fleet under 5 years average age maximize asset value.
3. Retain your drivers. Competitive pay per mile, benefits, consistent home time, and modern equipment keep drivers from leaving.
4. Diversify your customer base. No single customer should represent more than 15–20% of revenue. Concentration risk is a deal-killer.
5. Maintain clean compliance. Keep CSA scores low, equipment in inspection-ready condition, and all regulatory filings current.
6. Track your cost per mile. Fuel, maintenance, insurance, driver pay — buyers want to see that you manage your costs operationally, not just hope freight rates cover everything.

Ready to Find Out What Your Trucking Company Is Worth?

Browse the valuation multiples guide for current industry data, or schedule a free call for a confidential valuation.