Power Only

Power only means you provide just the "power" — your truck/tractor — to pull a trailer that belongs to someone else, usually the shipper, broker, or a trailer pool company. The trailer is already loaded and waiting at the pickup location. You hook up, haul it to the destination, drop it, and move on. You do not own or maintain the trailer.

Power only is an attractive option for owner-operators who want to avoid the capital cost of buying a trailer ($25,000-$80,000) or who want the flexibility to haul different trailer types. Many major shippers (Walmart, Amazon, Costco) and trailer pool companies have power only programs. The carrier simply needs a tractor with the appropriate hitch (fifth wheel for standard trailers, gooseneck for certain specialized equipment).

Power only rates average $2.50/mile with professional dispatch. While this is lower than hauling with your own trailer, you eliminate trailer costs including purchase/lease payments, maintenance, registration, and insurance on the trailer. For many owner-operators, the net profit per mile is comparable to or better than owning their own trailer.