Should You Scale in 2026? The Questions That Matter More Than Truck Counts

Core Insights - The temptation to grow during favorable market conditions can lead to fragile business models if not approached with readiness and a solid foundation [1] - Companies must assess their true profitability before considering expansion, as adding capacity without a profitable base can exacerbate existing issues [3][4] - Successful scaling requires delegating responsibilities and implementing systems rather than relying solely on owner-operators [5][6] Profitability Assessment - Companies should focus on true, repeatable profitability rather than just revenue or gross margins [3] - A clear understanding of costs and the ability to absorb bad months is essential before scaling [7][8] Scaling Considerations - Growth should be driven by customer demand rather than short-term market fluctuations [9] - Companies must evaluate their operational capacity and ensure they have written processes in place to handle increased complexity [5][8]