How much does it cost to get into trucking in 2026

Want to get into trucking? We recommend calculating all the costs beforehand to avoid unpleasant surprises. Many newcomers underestimate this, thinking only about buying the equipment, but in practice it's important to account for the whole business launch.

Most often people start with a universal combo – a truck tractor and a curtainsider semi-trailer. This lets you work with different types of cargo and reach stable income faster. Let's take a real example from the mid segment: a tractor unit like a DAF XF 106 from 2015-2017 costs roughly $30,000 – $34,000, and a Schmitz or Krone semi-trailer costs $10,000 – $12,000. So right at the start the equipment alone comes to around $40,000 – $46,000.

After the purchase comes the second stage – getting it into operation. Paperwork, registration, certification and insurance add another $3,500 – $7,000. The first month of work almost always runs "out of pocket", so add a few more thousand for fuel.

You should also set aside a minimum reserve for maintenance. Even if the equipment looks perfect, after buying it you should always do basic maintenance: oil, filters, checking components – another $1,000 – $2,000. If you don't plan to drive yourself, add a driver's salary – $1,500 – $2,500 per month.

In summary: to get into trucking with minimal risk, you should plan for $50,000 – $60,000.

How much can you earn

Speaking of Ukraine's realities, according to DELLA, the average rate for curtainsider transport is around 49 UAH/km. So at a conditional mileage of 10,000 km, this gives about $11,000 in monthly turnover. But it's important to understand that a significant part of this sum immediately goes to expenses. Fuel alone, at an average consumption of 30 l/100km and the current diesel price, takes over $4,000, and then there's the driver's salary, maintenance, taxes and downtime. In the end, if the equipment runs stably without serious breakdowns, a carrier can expect $1,500 – $3,000 in net profit per month.

Is it worth starting

As you may have already realized, starting out in trucking requires maximum calculation. Correctly chosen equipment will reduce your projected costs, letting you reach regular runs – and income – faster.

We recommend checking out the options at tirkomis. Here you can pick a verified tractor unit and semi-trailer to fit your budget, and also get advice on selection and financing options from a partner bank. This will let you get into trucking more comfortably.