To start a trucking business, you need a lot of money and personal savings to buy trucks and other necessary equipment. This process can also help you keep track of your ongoing costs for fuel, insurance, and maintenance. You can, however, apply for grants to start a trucking business. These grants will help you get money without having to pay it back.
Government grants for starting trucking businesses are meant to help trucking entrepreneurs get through tough financial times. The article discusses the best grants available in the fall of 2025, other ways to get money, and how to pick the right grant for your business.
What Are Trucking Business Grants?
Grants for starting a trucking business are money that different groups, like the government, non-profits, and private foundations, give to help people start their own trucking businesses. These grants aim to assist individuals who wish to start a trucking business. Trucking grants give money to help pay for the costs of starting a trucking business. For example, the first costs might include buying trucks, getting insurance, paying for gas, or hiring new workers in some cases.
The best thing about grants for starting a trucking business is that you don’t have to pay them back like you do with loans. Therefore, grants are a better way to start your business without going into debt.
There are many places where grants can come from. Federal and state governments often give out grants to help small businesses grow, create jobs, and boost the economy. Nonprofits may also provide money to help certain groups, like businesses owned by minorities. As part of their corporate social responsibility programs, some private companies also give money to people who want to start a trucking business.
Grants for starting a trucking business can help cover the high costs of starting up. This can ease some of the financial stress and let you concentrate on expanding your business.
Usually, you have to meet certain requirements to apply for trucking grants. This could mean being a new business, being in a certain demographic group, having a detailed plan for how your business will grow, or showing that you care about sustainability or innovation.
Top 6 Grants to Start a Trucking Company in 2025
Picking the right funding can be crucial for the success of your business. It’s crucial in the trucking business, where starting costs can be high. Grants to start a trucking business can help you get on the road by paying for the costs of starting a small business.
Here is a list of the top six grants for starting a trucking business in 2024. Explore these options and use the available resources to find the best one for you.
1. SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
The SBA 8(a) Development Program is a great resource for businesses owned by minorities and those who are socially disadvantaged. The program gives money to people who want to start a trucking business and also helps them learn how to do it and find government contracts.
To be eligible for this program, at least 51% of your business must be owned by people who are poor or socially disadvantaged. The program’s main goal is to give businesses that don’t get a lot of business a fair chance at federal contracts.
The 8(a) program can help trucking companies buy new trucks, add to their fleet, or pay for other start-up costs. It guarantees long-term support for up to nine years, giving you access to the tools you need to keep growing.
This is one of the best grants for starting a trucking business in the US if you meet the requirements.
2. FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is a competitive but rewarding chance for people who want to start a trucking business. It gives cash prizes to a few small businesses each year, with the biggest prize being $50,000. Winners also get FedEx shipping credits and print services that can help them run their businesses more smoothly and save money.
Businesses must explain their vision in their applications, and finalists must participate in a public voting round. Even if you don’t win, participating can help small businesses get the word out.
3. NASE Growth Grants
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) has growth grants that are appropriate for small business owners. The program offers up to $4,000 grants to start a trucking business. These funds can be used for anything, from purchasing equipment to marketing and day-to-day expenses. This program is well suited for the independent owner-operators and small trucking businesses that need additional financial support.
To apply, you have to be a member of NASE and submit a detailed plan on how the grant will be used. The relatively smaller pool of eligible applicants and accessible entry criteria make this a great option for those looking to obtain grants to start trucking operations.
4. Veteran-Owned Business Opportunities
Veterans wanting to get into the trucking industry can obtain a number of specific grants through veteran-specific programs in order to establish a trucking business. For example, the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have grants, loans, and mentorship programs for veteran-owned businesses. These programs offer financial and technical help as well as resources to help veterans transition into a new sphere.
In addition to federal programs, many states and local governments have grants for veteran entrepreneurs. Veterans who are taking the time to enter new industries can apply for these grants to start a trucking company. This funding can be used to cover initial investments such as purchasing vehicles, setting up logistics software, and covering operational costs.
5. USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants
The USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program is targeted at small businesses that operate in rural areas. These grants for starting trucking businesses are aimed at encouraging economic growth in regions with populations of less than 50,000 people as a way of providing financial help to businesses engaged in delivering goods to rural communities. In the case of the trucking industry, this means shipping goods, transporting agricultural products, or providing support to local industries.
Received funds can be used to purchase trucks, build facilities, or even train employees. The RBEG program is one of the best grant opportunities for your trucking operations if your trucking operations are in a qualifying area.
6. School Grants for Entrepreneurs
Some universities and educational institutions have grants for a new trucking business under the entrepreneurship program. These are grants for starting a business, for students or alumni. The funds can be used for a broad variety of expenses, which can include acquiring vehicles or establishing operational systems.
School grants may be provided as part of business contests or special entrepreneurship funds. For example, some institutions organize competitions where students present their business ideas to a panel of judges to gain funding for their ideas.
Such an activity is a great way of getting grants for a trucking company for a recent graduate or current student.
Other Financial Resources for Trucking Companies
While trucking grants can be a great source of startup capital, you do not need to rely on these to manage cash flow and develop your business. SBA Loans and fuel cards are some of the basic tools required to achieve the financial flexibility and operational support required of a successful trucking business. These options also help cover initial expenses, which are more favorable funding options.
SBA Loans
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a variety of loan programs. They are designed for and for small businesses. Loans offer access to capital at lower interest rates and more flexible terms than most traditional banks loans. Whether you are opening a new business or intend to expand the operations of your existing business, you can use SBA’s financial aid to support you.
The SBA loan programs are:
7(a) Loan Program. This is the primary loan option of the SBA. In addition, it’s one of the most versatile means of initial funding. Trucking businesses can apply for this loan to cover a broad spectrum of expenditures such as working capital, purchasing new trucks or trailers, or refinancing existing holdings to gain better rates of interest.
The loan determined is as much as $55 million. The program also has competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
Microloan program. The SBA Microloan Program is an appropriate choice for smaller trucking businesses or owner-operators who require smaller funding. It lends money to the tune of $50,000 to fund start-up costs or buy smaller assets, such as a first truck or software to run small businesses.
Microloans also come with lower interest rates making them perfect for new businesses in need of a financial boost.
CDC/504 Loan Program. This is meant to be used for long-term financing of major fixed assets. For trucking companies, it means warehouses, office space or large commercial vehicles. The program is long term, fixed rate finance. Depending on the project, the numbers range between $125,000 to $20 million.
The biggest advantage of the program is the potential to invest big sums of money in infrastructure or vehicle fleets at lower fixed interest rates.
Fuel Cards
Fuel is an enormous expense in trucking companies. Managing these costs is critical in keeping the business profitable, especially for those long-haul truck drivers or companies with larger fleets. Fuel cards also are important for more control and optimization of fuel expenses. With their discounts, real-time tracking, and convenience across the country, they can enhance their fuel costs and can be more efficient because of them.
Their advantages include:
Lower fuel prices. Many fuel card programs have fuel stations or networks with which they are partnered to provide discounted prices for fuel. This can help to save a lot of money in the long run. In addition, some of the cards offer rebates based on the amount of fuel purchased, offering further cost reductions.
Tracking and reporting of expenses. Fuel cards can also be used to track the expenses in real time. They have detailed tracking features that enable companies to track the spending of the fuel that their truck drivers buy, to put spending limits, and to generate reports. This helps to manage the budget, forecast the costs of fuels, and find out the possible ways of savings.
Convenience and acceptance by all of America. Fuel card programs are accepted throughout the nation. As a result, this coverage comes good for the long-haul trucking businesses that have truck drivers that cross different states to refuel. In addition, some fuel card programs may include roadside assistance, discounts on maintenance costs, and other advantages that could help to lower operational costs.
Is a Trucking Business Grant Right for You?
Deciding whether a grant to start a trucking company is appropriate for your business depends on a number of factors. This involves your financial requirements and your eligibility for your business. Unlike loans, trucking grants come with an enormous advantage, as they don’t need to be paid back. This is particularly useful for people who want to avoid as much debt as possible when starting a small business.
The competition for grants can be tough. They often have specific eligibility requirements that apply to them; for example, it has to be veteran-owned or minority-owned, or it has to be in certain regions.
Grants can be a decent fit if you fulfill the requisites and need non-repayable funding to cover the expenses of starting off trucking operations. At the same time, the application process can be a time-consuming process, requiring a detailed business plan and financial documentation.
Grants can be an awesome source of funding if you have the time and means to take them up.
How to Apply for Trucking Business Grants
If you have decided to apply for a grant to begin trucking operations, you would like to know how to do so effectively. You need to be fully prepared, as the application process can be competitive. We’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help you apply.
- Identify the grant. Research various grants for opening trucking. Define the ones that match your business profile, whether it’s a veteran-owned company, based in rural areas, or a start-up.
- Launch a business plan. A well-prepared and developed plan is often required in order to receive a grant. This document should detail your mission, target market, services, and financial projections. It must also show how you intend to use the grant funds.
- Organize the financial documentation. Some grants require gathering detailed financial records, which may include statements about current financial status and business development projections. Be prepared to present a positive picture regarding your finances.
- Write a grant proposal. This is your opportunity to explain why your operations merit funding. Be sure to highlight the potential good your business will bring to the community, such as jobs or much-needed services that will be provided.
- Submit the application. Once you apply the making process, follow the instructions carefully. This includes watching the deadline and providing necessary documents.
- Follow up. As you submit your applications, you should follow up with the grant provider to make sure that they receive your application. This shows initiative and can have your application front and center of your mind throughout the review process.
- Be patient. Grant applications can be time-consuming, and all applications won’t be successful. If you don’t succeed on the first attempt, don’t hang your head down. There are various grants to start a trucking business, and persistence can pay off.
Conclusion
Securing the grant for starting a trucking business can be a suitable way to lessen the initial costs that would be required for starting a new business. In spite of the competitive and requiring application process, they can provide a unique opportunity for access into the world of non-repayable grant funding. Look over available offers to find the best fit for you and be on your way!
In addition to grants, trucking companies, and owner-operators, there are other tools available, such as SBA loans or fuel cards, that can be used to provide extra support to the business. This can aid in the management of day-to-day expenses and optimize the operations.
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