14 Smart Ways To Make Money With A Truck And Trailer

If you want to make extra cash, having a vehicle certainly opens a lot of doors.

From delivering groceries with Instacart to using ridesharing apps like Uber, the gig economy makes it possible to boost your income by delivering goods to others.

However, while these side hustles are lucrative, there’s even more money to be made if you have a truck and trailer.

The Best Ways to Make Money With a Truck and Trailer

Using Your Pick Up To Make Money

make money with a truck and trailer

If you have a pickup truck or box truck and a trailer, you’re sitting on a money making opportunity.

The simple fact is that, without these vehicles, tasks like hauling heavy items or moving large amounts of goods in a single trip aren’t possible.

Therefore, you can make money with your pick up truck by helping people and businesses in your community with a variety of these heavy lifting jobs.

Here are the best ways to earn a side income with your pick-up truck.

#1. Help People Move

No one enjoys moving.

However, the average cost of a moving company is over $1,000 for local moves and can easily surpass that for larger moves.

Considering this price tag, many people turn to the gig economy for moving help.

If you want to make money with your truck and trailer, a moving service is the job for you.

Plus, there’s two reliable apps where you can list your services as a truck owner:

  • Lugg: Earn approximately $35 per hour
  • Bellhop: Earn up to $21 per hour

Both platforms let you set your own schedule.

Plus, as long as you’re 18 or older and can lift around 100 pounds, you can apply.

Bellhop and Lugg both advertise that top moves earn over $1,000 per week.

Ultimately, this is one of the best ways to make money with a truck and trailer, but don’t expect an easy work day!

It is a lot of hard work and you will be moving large items, like furniture and beds.

But it’s a great way to earn extra money.

And since you can make a good amount of money, you might even ask a friend to join you.

You can split the income and get more work done than if you try to do it all by yourself.

#2. Junk Removal Business

Another option to make money for pickup truck owners is to haul junk for people.

Like moving, junk removal companies can get pricey.

This is why people with trucks regularly post their junk hauling services on websites like Craigslist and the Facebook Marketplace.

Start by researching local junk yards in your area and make note of items they might not accept, such as batteries.

Also note the prices of the scrap metal so you can do the math to see if an item is worth your time picking up and scrapping.

Once you understand the regulations and fees for junk removal in your city, post your job on a classified website or Facebook to start generating business.

Or just be on the lookout for when people post free unwanted items online.

Many times these items will be listed as curb alerts, since the items are placed at the end of their driveway and the first person to come take it, gets it.

The trick with these is you have to be fast.

A lot of people are looking for these same posts, so there is a good amount of competition.

Unless the item is near you, chances are it won’t be worth your time to drive out to get the item.

In some cases people will hold the item if you tell them you are on your way.

Unfortunately however, most people simply note that the items are first come, first serve.

You could consider asking the person to hold the item and you will pay them a small fee of $20 to do so.

#3. Complete Odd Jobs With TaskRabbit

Like Lugg and Bellhops, TaskRabbit is another gig economy app where you can make money with your truck.

Now, TaskRabbit isn’t exclusively for truck owners.

In fact, popular TaskRabbit gigs include things like furniture assembly and yard work.

However, TaskRabbit has several jobs that are perfect for trucks, including:

  • Furniture removal and pickup
  • Helping people move
  • Picking up appliances for people

You set your own schedule and rate, so flexibility is a bonus.

If you find enough work in your city, you can definitely make extra cash with TaskRabbit.

#4. Rent It Out

If you’re looking for a passive income source rather than a side job, renting out your truck is your good idea.

For starters, Turo lets you rent out your vehicle to people in your city to make extra money.

Turo also covers vehicles with up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance and 100% damage coverage.

Plus, pickup trucks are eligible for renting!

As you can see, truck owners in Los Angeles are charging over $100 per day, meaning a handful of rentals would earn a few hundred dollars per month!

Turo takes approximately 20% of rental income for platform fees and vehicle protection, but that’s still a decent chunk of extra income per month.

Alternatively, you can rent your truck out on Fetch, which is like Turo except exclusively for truck rentals.

#5. Make Deliveries With Dolly

Dolly is an on-demand moving and furniture delivery platform that’s similar to Lugg and Bellhops.

As a Dolly helper, you assist individuals and local businesses with moving, package delivery, and furniture delivery.

You can apply to two different roles on Dolly:

  • Helper: Earn $30 per hour or more if you provide a pickup truck, box truck, or cargo van
  • Hand: Assist helpers in moving and deliveries and earn $15 per hour or more

You have to be 18 or older and be capable of lifting over 75 pounds.

If you’re accepted, you use Dolly’s app to view and claim local gig opportunities.

Once you complete a gig, you get paid.

Payments process weekly through PayPal, and Dolly ultimately gives you the flexibility to make money on your own schedule.

#6. Snow Plowing

For most people, winter isn’t cause for celebration if it means months of cold and snow.

However, if you want to make money with your truck, living in an area with regular snowfall is a blessing in disguise.

Many municipalities contract snowplow drivers each winter.

Additionally, you can skip the municipality and reach out to small business owners and residential customers.

Plowing their private parking lots and driveways is a great way to earn income.

Plus with driveways, you typically won’t plow through the night, which is what many municipalities do.

If your truck is capable of plowing, this is a high-paying side job worth considering.

All you need is a snow plow attachment and you can start working.

Of course, buying the plow will put you in the hole, but after a season of snow, you should come out ahead.

According to ZipRecruiter, snowplow drivers earn $25 per hour on average.

Even a few nights a month of snow plowing could help you pay off bills or significantly boost your income.

#7. Salvage Junk Day Finds

Another good way to make money with your truck is to find and flip junk day items.

People throw out appliances and furniture all the time.

However, these aren’t necessarily broken, worthless finds.

In fact, people often throw away functional appliances and decent furniture because they’ve gotten an upgrade.

Plus, even broken down washers, fridges, and various appliances can sometimes be sold for scrap.

If you’re handy, you can also refurbish furniture finds and flip them for a profit in your free time.

#8. Landscaping Services

While this isn’t a direct way to make money with a truck, owning a truck is a prerequisite for landscaping work.

The amount of equipment and yard waste you have to haul is hefty, which is why landscaping companies rely on pickup trucks.

If you don’t mind manual labor jobs, offering landscaping work in your city is another viable side hustle.

This could be something simple like mowing.

Alternatively, you can offer higher-end services like landscape design or planting if you have the skills.

Post your services on classifieds to get started.

You can also apply to Lawn Love and work as an independent lawn care contractor across dozens of U.S. cities.

To work for Lawn Love, you need a truck, lawn mower, leaf blower, weed whacker, and smartphone.

#9. Help Small Businesses

Dolly is an effective way to help small and medium-sized businesses with their delivery needs.

However, Dolly isn’t available in every city, and you can also apply the same concept but cut out the middleman entirely.

If you have a pickup truck or box truck, don’t be afraid to approach local business owners and to offer delivery services.

Furniture and appliance stores are excellent candidates.

Depending on the store size and volume of orders, this could mean some pretty serious side cash or a very casual, occasional delivery.

You could even reach out to a local restaurant or printing company.

They typically have one of their workers make deliveries or pick up larger items.

By having you do it for them, their employee can stay on site and keep working.

Whatever the case, decide if you prefer the freelance route over using gig apps to make money with your truck.

#10. Help People

There are lots of people who want to do things around their house but don’t the means to transport the items they need.

This could include mulch and other items related to yard work.

Or it could even mean doors, bathroom vanities, insulation or more.

Don’t think this is a viable way to earn good money?

Then why do the large home centers now offer to rent trucks to customers who are buying large items and building supplies?

You can undercut the big box stores by offering your services for less.

Just advertise in your local area so people know they can use you.

You could even advertise on your truck so you can reach more potential customers.

This way, when you are helping someone at a home center, other people will see the advertisement on your truck and keep you in mind.

You can even help out people with special events.

Maybe they are having special events like a backyard wedding and need help transporting the tents or tables and chairs they rented out.

#11. Make Deliveries With GoShare

GoShare is another delivery service that’s similar to Dolly.

The platform connects drivers with businesses and individuals who need logistical help or deliveries.

However, what I like about GoShare is that your hourly earnings depend on the type of truck you have:

  • Pickup Truck: Earn $46 to $52 per hour
  • Cargo Van: Earn $63 to $71 per hour
  • Box Truck: Earn $85 per hour
  • Couriers (Cars, SUVs, & Minivans): Earn $36 to $42 per hour

These are just averages, but GoShare’s earning potential is the highest I’ve found in the world of driving gig apps.

Plus, you also set your own schedule and get paid within 4 days of completing a job.

Ultimately, GoShare is one of the best ways to make money with a pickup truck or box truck, and top drivers supposedly earn over $1,200 per week.

#12. Towing Services

People love outdoor recreation.

But a big stumbling block is getting to and from the places to enjoy it.

For example, someone might have an ATV or a boat, but not a truck to tow or haul these items.

You could offer to transport them for a small fee.

Or you could just rent out your truck and have the person tow the items themselves.

#13. Amazon Flex Deliveries

Another option is to deliver packages with Amazon Flex.

Here you load your pick up truck with packages and go around your local area delivering them.

Amazon states most drivers make between $18- $25 an hour, but this does not include the cost of gas.

The only catch is you need a cap on the bed of your pickup truck to qualify or you need an enclosed trailer.

Not only will this keep the packages dry from the weather, but harder for anyone to steal.

#14. Deliver Food

A final option is to deliver food.

This could be in the form of Uber Eats or Doordash, or could even be for a service like Instacart.

In either case, you will be picking up orders and delivering them to customers.

The amount you earn will vary, but isn’t as much as some of the options initially listed.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re still wondering how to make money with a truck and trailer, consider the following questions and tips for making the most out of this side hustle.

Can I really make money with a truck?

The sheer utility of a pickup truck or box truck means you can easily provide value to non-truck owners.

The true challenge of making money with a truck isn’t finding an idea, it’s finding enough clients.

Thankfully, posting on local classifieds and using various gig economy apps can help you find business.

Realistically, you can earn several hundred dollars per month or even $1,000 or more with your truck if you put in the hours.

Can this side hustle replace my day job?

Once again, this really comes down to how many clients you find and your income goal.

However, it’s certainly possible to make enough money with a truck to replace your primary income.

Don’t believe me?

Check out this Reddit thread where one user explains how he’s turning his grocery delivery side hustle into his full-time business 

I wouldn’t expect this amount of money at the start and quit your day job anytime soon.

However, it’s clear making deliveries with a box truck or truck and trailer is lucrative.

What tips should I know?

There are two important tips to know when it comes to making money with a truck and trailer.

The first is to factor in fuel costs and depreciation into your earnings.

Truck-related side hustles are lucrative, but these costs are still a reality and should be considered.

Secondly, as an independent contractor, you’re responsible for filing your taxes correctly.

This means accurately tracking your side hustle income.

It also means tracking your vehicle expenses and mileage since you can likely claim these as deductions.

This might sound unimportant, but claiming expenses like mileage can add up.

After all, the IRS standard mileage rate is currently $0.56 per mile.

How Much Money Can I Make With A Truck And Trailer?

The amount of money you can make varies greatly.

First it depends on what type of pickup truck jobs you are interested in doing.

Next comes the amount of time you want to work.

Do you just want to work in your spare time, like nights and weekends, or do you want to spend more time with this job?

And finally, where you are located matters.

If you are in a suburban area, you will have more opportunities when it comes to moving things and landscaping than if you live in the country.

Likewise, if you live a warmer climate, snow plowing probably isn’t an option for you.

All in, you can expect to make a few hundred dollars to around $1,000 a month.

But remember, you will be doing a lot of work and it will be hard work.

You will be doing a lot of lifting and physical labor, so if that isn’t for you, you might consider looking at other ways to make money.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to making money through side hustles, excess supply can often drive down hourly earnings.

For example, since almost anyone with a vehicle can drive for companies like Uber, rideshare drivers often struggle to make more than minimum wage in competitive markets.

Ultimately, the fact that pick-up trucks offer immense utility and aren’t something everyone owns makes this side hustle more lucrative.

There are plenty of ways to make money with a truck, and while they sound simple on paper, they work.

As long as you can find enough clients and are willing to put in the work, there’s no reason why you can’t use your truck to boost your income today.

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