Business Plan Template

Executive Summary

This Business Plan Template will guide you through the key elements to include and discuss in your business plan whether you are using it for internal management purposes or as part of your application for financing.

Business Description

Company X was established in September 2004 to provide long haul trucking services to the U.S. market and also to the Canadian market.  Research clearly shows Trucking is the preferred mode of transport for shippers because of the industry’s ability to provide reliable, efficient, time-sensitive service that manufacturers, retailers and other shippers require. This is especially true for those who operate just-in-time inventory systems.  Just-in-time inventory management allows businesses to significantly reduce the carrying costs of their inventory and the trucking industry is the only available transportation mode to make this possible.  While rail can sometimes be cheaper, it is just not fast enough to accommodate the stringent demands of fast turnover products.  The trucking industry is particularly fond of their slogan “If You Got It, a Truck Brought It”.  Since business startup, Company X has acquired 2 trucks and has commenced shipments to the U.S.

Ownership and Management

123 Canada Inc. operating as Company X is registered as a corporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act and is owned 100% by Anthony Prune.  Anthony Prune is the President of Company X.

Key Initiatives and Objectives

Our primary objectives over the next 12 months are:
1. To increase our fleet size from 2 to 5 trucks by raising $170,000 of new financing.
2. To continually maintain our truck fleet at a minimum of  80% uptime by following a systematic maintenance schedule.
3. To ensure that our drivers achieve First Class certification each year by following all safety and industry regulations.

Marketing Opportunities

Company X with its focus on company-owned trucks and employee-driver relationships, rather than independent operators, are able to respond on a timelier basis to the demands of their customers.  The Company has entered into long-term relationships with some of the major carriers and as such its trucks are scheduled well in advance.  Our in-house mechanic service also allows us to provide a more dependable service to our customers by ensuring a higher degree of uptime for our trucks.  In addition, to securing loads by establishing relationships with key carriers, Company X also uses specialized dispatching software to secure loads online and to manage the shipping process.  This allows for maximum utilization of truck availability.

Competitive Advantages

Company X is positioned as a smaller sized trucking company.  We have been able to provide a dependable service to our customers by investing in an onsite mechanic service thus resulting in a higher degree of uptime for our trucks relative to other similar sized companies.  We have also invested in state-of-the-art software to manage both the dispatching process and the billing process.  We are also using state-of-the-art accounting software that gives us accurate and current information on a daily basis.  Many of our similar sized competitors are not using technology to the extent that we are doing.

Marketing Strategy

Company X has contacted all of the major carriers and shippers to make them aware of our long haul service.  We have already signed a contract with Contract 1, one of the major U.S carriers.  We will also be securing loads by subscribing to online load-matching services.  The largest of these services lists 40,000 available loads per day.