Power only
Power only dispatch services that show you the net before you hook
Power only means pulling a trailer you don't own: preloaded at the shipper, waiting in a drop yard, or part of a broker's trailer pool. The rates can look lower than van freight, and the time savings can make up for it, or not. We send each power only load with the net worked out, you confirm or pass, and the rate con comes straight to you. 5% of gross with 6+ months of authority.
Load offer · Example
1 of 2
Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN
Power only · Preloaded trailer, drop and hook
- Loaded
- 176 mi
- Deadhead
- 6 mi
- Rate
- $2.73/mi
All-in with deadhead: $2.64/mi
- Gross
- $480
- Dispatch fee 5%
- -$24
- You keep
- +$456
Every load comes to you like this. You confirm or pass, and the rate con goes straight to you.
Power only dispatch: what one load really leaves you
Enter the linehaul, the loaded and empty miles, your fuel numbers and any program split. You'll get the net per load and per mile after our fee and fuel.
One power only load
Example- Linehaul
- $1,100
- Program split
- -$0
- Dispatch fee 5%
- -$55
- Fuel
- -$273
- Net per load
- $772
- Net per mile, all-in
- $1.58/mi
The defaults are EXAMPLE numbers: a 450-mile preloaded run with 40 miles of deadhead. Raise the program split to see what a percentage cut does to your net. Want insurance, payment and maintenance in the math too? Use the load profitability calculator.
How power only works, from yard to delivery
The details vary by broker and program, so we confirm them on every load. These are the common setups.
- 01
Preloaded trailers
The shipper loads the trailer ahead of time. You arrive, hook, check the seal and roll. Waits drop from hours to minutes.
- 02
Drop yards
Trailers wait at a yard near the shipper or receiver. You drop the empty, hook the loaded one and go.
- 03
Trailer pools
Some brokers and carriers keep pools of trailers at shippers for power only partners. Steady freight once you're approved.
- 04
Trailer interchange
You sign an interchange agreement for the trailer you pull. It spells out who's responsible for damage while it's in your care.
- 05
Empty repositioning
Moving empty trailers to where they're needed. Usually paid less per mile, sometimes the right fill between loads.
- 06
Reloads
The best power only weeks chain drop and hooks together. We plan the next hook before you drop the first one.
Power only dispatcher checklist: what brokers ask for
Requirements vary by broker and program. These are the ones that come up on almost every setup.
Usually required
- A tractor with a fifth wheel and your own authority
- Insurance that meets broker limits
- Trailer interchange coverage for non-owned trailers
- A signed interchange agreement for each program
- ELD and a clean inspection record
- Seal and pre-trip habits, with photos
Ask before you hook
- Who pays if the trailer has a flat or a bad light
- Whether the trailer was inspected before you got it
- Detention if the trailer isn't ready
- Where the empty goes after delivery
Power only dispatcher: freight that moves this way
Power only works best where trailers sit ready and timing is predictable. These are the loads we look for.
Retail DC replenishment
Preloaded trailers from distribution centers to stores and other DCs, often on repeat schedules.
Manufacturing to warehouse
Plants that load trailers through the night and need them moved first thing.
Cross-dock shuttles
Short runs between facilities, sometimes several in a day.
Seasonal surge
Extra trailers moved in peak season, when shippers have more freight than trucks.
Rail ramp moves
Trailers to and from intermodal ramps, where timing and yard rules matter.
Empty repositioning
Lower-paying fills that can connect two good loads in the same day.
“Power only pays less than dry van.”
Per mile, it often does. Per hour, it can pay more, because you're not sitting at a dock while someone loads. That's the whole reason to run it. Compare a $2.10 drop and hook with a $2.40 live load that takes six hours at each end, and the lower rate can win. The calculator above shows it with your numbers.
Power only programs or brokered loads?
Some large carriers and brokers run power only programs with their own trailers and freight. They can offer steady volume, but some take a percentage of the linehaul or require you to run their freight a certain way. Read the terms: the split, the payment schedule and what happens if you leave.
Brokered power only loads come one at a time, without a long-term arrangement. Less steady, more freedom. Many owners mix both. We work with whatever you're set up for, and we'll tell you honestly when a program's split eats more than our fee. For context on how it compares, see dry van dispatch.
Power only dispatch questions
How does power only dispatch work?
We find power only loads on boards, from broker trailer pools and through programs you're approved for, negotiate the rate, and send each one to you with the pickup yard, trailer details and the net. You confirm or pass. When you confirm, the broker sends the rate con to you and we handle check calls.
Does power only pay less than dry van?
Often per mile, sometimes not per hour. Preloaded and drop trailers cut waiting time, so a lower rate can earn more over your day. Compare loads on net per hour and net per mile after fuel, not on the posted rate alone.
Can a new MC run power only?
Yes, though some programs want an authority-age minimum or a clean safety record first. Brokered power only loads are often easier to start with. The fee is 7% until your authority turns 6 months old, then 5%.
What insurance do I need for power only?
The liability and cargo limits brokers ask for, plus trailer interchange coverage, which covers damage to a trailer you don't own while it's in your care under an interchange agreement. Ask your agent specifically about trailer interchange limits, since programs set their own minimums.
How much do power only dispatchers charge?
Many charge a percentage of the linehaul, commonly in the 8% to 12% range. We charge 5% of gross on loads you haul with 6+ months of authority, 7% before that, and 4% per truck for fleets. No setup fee. See the fee schedule.
Do I need my own trailer to run power only?
No, that's the point of it. You bring the tractor, the authority and the insurance. The trailer belongs to the shipper, broker or program. Some owners run power only while they save for a trailer, and some run it on purpose to skip trailer payments altogether.
Who's responsible if the trailer is damaged?
Usually the carrier pulling it, under the interchange agreement, which is why trailer interchange insurance matters. Do a walkaround, photograph the trailer and note damage on the paperwork before you hook. It takes five minutes and can save a claim.
Hook, roll, and know the net before you do
No setup fee. No contract. Cancel with 30 days notice.