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A Beginner’s Guide to Trucks, Equipment, Licensing & Your First Load

FROM

“I want to get into towing or auto transport, but I don't know where to start.”

Unsure about trucks, trailers, weights, equipment, licensing, insurance, costs and what actually needs to happen before you take your first load.

TO

“I understand the pieces I need to consider and have a clearer path for getting started.”

This guide won't build the business for you—but it can help you stop piecing everything together from scattered information and start making your own decisions with a clearer understanding of the road ahead.

Thinking about starting a towing or auto transport business but not sure where to begin?

What truck do you need?

What equipment should you buy?

What does “non-CDL” actually mean?

What licenses, insurance and paperwork should you look into?

And how do all the pieces fit together before you ever move your first vehicle?

We created this guide to help make that beginning a little clearer.

Wayne and I have spent years in towing and auto transport, and Durrett Recovery now moves thousands of vehicles each year. But everybody starts somewhere—and I still remember being the beginner who didn't know how to back a truck and trailer.

There is a lot to learn. And one of the hardest parts in the beginning is simply figuring out what you need to know and in what order.

🚚 Inside the Guide

We'll walk you through the basics of getting started, including:

• Understanding non-CDL towing and weight considerations
• Choosing a truck and trailer
• Basic towing and transport equipment
• Licensing, registration and insurance considerations
• DOT and business setup basics
• Startup costs and expenses to think about
• Preparing yourself and your equipment for the work
• What to consider before accepting your first load
• Lessons we've learned from actually doing the work

This isn't a promise of easy money or a shortcut around doing your homework.

It's practical guidance from people who have spent years doing this work—created to help you understand the pieces, ask better questions and avoid some of the confusion that comes with starting from scratch.

Who Is This Guide For?

This is a good place to start if you're:

Exploring towing or auto transport as a business and want to understand what may be involved before investing heavily.

Trying to stay non-CDL and need a clearer understanding of the truck, trailer, weight and equipment decisions you'll need to consider.

Already beginning your setup but feel like you're piecing information together from dozens of different places.

Looking for practical experience, not another get-rich-quick version of the towing business.

Built From Real Experience

Durrett Recovery is our family-owned towing and auto transport business in Virginia.

Wayne brings decades of experience from the road, trucks and equipment side of the business. I bring the behind-the-scenes side—customers, scheduling, paperwork, bills, systems and the everyday decisions that keep a small operation running.

Because we've learned something important over the years:

The truck has to move. But the business behind the truck has to work too.

This guide brings those two sides together to help you get a clearer picture of what you're actually building.

Not ready for the full guide yet?

Start with our Free Towing & Auto Transport Starter Resources and begin learning the basics.

And when you're ready to move from “I'm thinking about this” to “How do I actually get started?”—this guide is your next step.

You don't have to figure out the whole road today. Just figure out the next step.

Important Note

This guide is based on our own experience and is provided for educational purposes. It does not guarantee loads, customers, income, business success, legal compliance or any particular result. Licensing, insurance, DOT, weight and other requirements can vary by vehicle, operation and location and can change over time. Always verify current requirements with the appropriate agencies and qualified professionals for your particular business.