What’s the Real Cost of Running Deliveries In-House?

Posted on 2/6/2026, 2:42:42 PM

Depending on the size of your business, it sounds smart to try to do what you can in-house. After all, bleeding profits into small things, well, bleeding profits in general, is one of those dangers in business that can easily kill a business. So, from a small business perspective, it makes a lot of sense to do your own in-house deliveries. Honestly, a lot of businesses already do this, so it makes sense. 

Besides, running deliveries in-house sounds like such a power move at first. Like, it means no more juggling random third parties, no more guessing where the package is, no more customers getting mad at the business because tracking hasn’t updated in two days (yeah thats way too common). Plus, it looks cleaner, it sounds more “legit,” and it feels like it should make everything smoother for everyone involved.

But yeah, that’s the part people picture. The part that’s easy to imagine. But there’s seriously so much more than you might actually account for. 

The Truck Payment is Only the Beginning

The truck itself gets all the attention because it’s the obvious expense. Like, you’ve got the monthly payment, down payment, registration, maybe a wrap if branding matters. Sure, that’s fine. But the running costs are what keep tapping on the shoulder. Plus, maintenance isn’t just oil changes. Well, if you already own a personal car, then you already know all about this. Honestly, it’s not like commercial vehicles are that much different. 

So, it’s tires that wear faster than expected because the truck is carrying real weight. It’s brakes, alignments, wiper blades, fluids, and the random little repairs that pop up because delivery vehicles don’t live a gentle life. Well, you get the idea, and yes, even if you’rejust doing this in your town or county, or whatever, well, it’s still going to need lots of maintenance. 

Coverage and Risk Planning is Part of the Math

So, all those expenses above have been mentioned when it comes to general maintenance and general payments, but there’s insurance you have to think about, too. While yes, it feels like a boring checkbox and starts being part of the real delivery budget too, and it can really eat into things (again, if you own a personal car, then you probably know how it all is). Besides, stuff happens on the road, and business use is its own category, which is why commercial box truck insurance exists in the first place. And insurance can vary based on the vehicle, too, so you absolutely need to keep that in mind (and what’s it hauling).

Don’t Forget About Damage and Claims

While this might be last, this is absolutely far from least. You absolutely have to understand here that deliveries come with damage risk, even when everything is packed carefully. Like, you can absolutely count on boxes shifting sometimes during transport. Well, that, but corners get bumped. Items get scratched. Sometimes customers claim damage that happened who knows when, and then it becomes a whole situation. Clearly, a situation that you don’t want.

So now the business needs processes. Meaning photos, signatures, clear delivery policies, packing standards, and someone who can handle complaints without turning them into a tense front-door argument. You see the problem, though? Because every claim also costs time, because it’s emails, phone calls, documentation, decision-making, and either a replacement, repair, or refund.