How much does a Livestock Hauling cost to buy?

A typical Livestock Hauling sells for 1.5x to 3x annual revenue. With average revenue of $520K, expect to pay $780K to $1.6M.

How much does it cost to start a Livestock Hauling?

Startup costs range from $75K to $200K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Service

Livestock Hauling

Q: What are the profit margins for a Livestock Hauling?

The average profit margin for a Livestock Hauling is around 28%. At $520K revenue: fuel 28–32%, driver wages (multi-truck) 25–30%, insurance 4–5%, equipment maintenance 8–10%, permits and compliance 2–3%. Owner-operators net 35–40% running solo.

Every head of cattle that moves between a farm, sale barn, and feedlot needs a truck — you own the truck

Livestock hauling operators transport cattle, hogs, horses, sheep, and other animals between farms, sale barns, feedlots, and processing facilities using semi-trucks with livestock trailers. The business generates revenue per loaded mile ($3.50–$7.00/mile depending on animal type, distance, and market) plus minimum load fees and deadhead surcharges. A single-truck owner-operator running 100,000 loaded miles per year at $5.00/mile produces $500,000 in gross revenue. Established operators grow by adding drivers and trailers, building direct relationships with large cattle operations that need reliable weekly hauls. The business is relationship-intensive: large feedlots and commercial cow-calf operations give repeat contracts to operators who show up on time, handle animals properly, and keep mortality rates near zero. Entry requires a CDL with the appropriate endorsements, a DOT number, and a livestock trailer ($40,000–$120,000 used).

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Avg Revenue

$520K

Profit Margin

28%

Acquisition Multiple

1.5x - 3x

Startup Cost

$75K - $200K

Difficulty

3/5

How It Works

The operator maintains a CDL-A license with combination vehicle endorsements and registers as an interstate motor carrier with the FMCSA. Revenue comes from per-mile or per-load contracts negotiated directly with cattle operations, sale barns, and feedlots. Sale barn hauls are spot market — the operator is available on auction days (typically Monday-Wednesday) to haul whatever sells. Direct farm contracts provide predictable weekly revenue: a feedlot receiving 500 head per week at $4.50/loaded mile ($200–$400 per haul) generates $10,000–$20,000/month from one client relationship. The operator handles DOT compliance, animal welfare protocols (proper trailer density, watering, rest stops), and insurance ($15,000–$25,000/year for commercial livestock cargo). Rates are set by distance, species, and seasonal demand — spring cattle movement and fall weaning generates significant rate spikes.

Revenue Range

Low End

$180K

Typical

$520K

High End

$1.8M

Real Acquisitions in This Category

SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 484220 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local

Deals tracked

5 in last 24 mo

Median loan

$850K

$424K–$1.7M p25/p75

Implied deal size

$1.0M

median · ~85% LTV

Charge-off rate

—

not enough resolved loans

Deal Size Distribution

<$150K

$150K–500K

$500K–1M

$1M–2M

>$2M

Deal Flow Over Time

Deals per year · median loan

$893K

2020

$860K

2021

$781K

2022

$525K

2023

$719K

2024

$1.6M

2025

12-month momentum

-75.0%

deal volume vs prior 12 mo

Median loan Δ

+76.7%

1 recent · 4 prior

Financing Profile

Median rate

9.75%

0% fixed · last 24 mo

Median term

120 mo

standard 10-yr

Collateralized

100%

of loans secured

Median jobs

supported per deal

Top lenders in this space

Live Oak Banking Company6

Celtic Bank Corporation3

First Internet Bank of Indiana2

The Huntington National Bank2

Cadence Bank2

Where deals happen

NY2

TX2

WV2

NH2

NC2

WI2

CA2

FL1

CO1

MO1

Recent Comparable Deals

Closed	State	Loan	Implied deal	Jobs	Franchise
Apr 2025	GA	$1.6M	$1.9M	11	—
Sep 2024	NC	$2.5M	$3.0M	13	—
Sep 2024	NC	$150K	$177K	13	—
Aug 2024	NY	$100K	$118K	12	—
Aug 2024	NY	$1.7M	$2.0M	12	—
Dec 2023	UT	$719K	$846K	8	—
Nov 2023	WV	$2.1M	$2.5M	1	—
Nov 2023	WV	$350K	$412K	1	—
Mar 2023	WI	$525K	$618K	28	—
Aug 2022	FL	$781K	$919K	4	—

Volume rank #207/534Deal-size rank #195/534Momentum rank #328p90 loan: $2.2MData as of Dec 2025

Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.

Pros

+Direct relationships with large cattle operations create consistent, multi-year haul contracts
+Livestock transport is non-discretionary — animals move regardless of economic conditions
+CDL requirement and industry relationships create a meaningful barrier to new entrants
+Multi-truck operators can scale linearly: one truck = one revenue stream, ten trucks = ten revenue streams

Cons

-High physical and regulatory demands: DOT compliance, hours-of-service rules, and animal welfare standards require diligence
-Fuel and insurance costs can compress margins sharply when diesel prices spike
-Animal mortality or injury claims carry significant liability — proper insurance and handling are non-negotiable

Best For

CDL holders with agricultural backgrounds or existing trucking operators looking to add a specialized route with strong direct-client relationships in the livestock industry

Operating Costs

At $520K revenue: fuel 28–32%, driver wages (multi-truck) 25–30%, insurance 4–5%, equipment maintenance 8–10%, permits and compliance 2–3%. Owner-operators net 35–40% running solo.