I started Kovalchuk Transport in Germany with one used truck and zero connections in the industry. Today we run a growing fleet. Here's what nobody tells you:

1. Licensing is the easy part. Everyone obsesses over getting their transport license. The real challenge? Finding your first 3 paying clients. I'll tell you how I landed mine in under 30 days.

2. You don't need a fleet to start. I ran one truck profitably for 8 months before scaling. One truck, done right, can net you €3,000-5,000/month after all costs.

3. Most transport companies fail because of cash flow, not lack of work. Payment terms in logistics are 30-60 days. If you don't plan for that, you're dead in the water.

4. Relationships beat price every time. I lost deals to cheaper competitors early on. Then I learned: reliability and communication win long-term contracts. The cheapest hauler is always replaceable.

5. The EU market is wide open for small operators. Big logistics companies leave gaps everywhere — cross-border routes, last-mile delivery, specialized cargo. That's where the money is.

I built a full course teaching everything I learned the hard way. If you're serious about starting a transport business, this is the shortcut I wish I had.