Power only dispatch services that count the miles to the trailer
Power only looks simple. No trailer payment, no trailer repairs, just hook and go. But every load starts with a drive to wherever the trailer is sitting, and a lot of power only rates assume you're closer than you are. Add empty miles to the pool, a trailer that isn't ready, and a drop yard that won't take it back after hours, and a good rate turns ordinary.
Our power only dispatch services weigh all of that before a load reaches you, starting with where the trailer actually is. We look at the deadhead to each trailer, mix program loads with board loads to keep you moving, check the broker and counter above your floor. You approve every load, and the rate con comes straight to you.
- 5% of gross, 1 truck
- 7% new MC
- 4% fleets
- No setup fee
Carrier A's month: program loads and board loads, side by side
Meet Carrier A, a hypothetical power only carrier with one tractor, home base in Indianapolis. Every load and number below is an EXAMPLE to show how the desk compares loads, not a real result. Watch the empty-miles column: that's where power only money leaks.
| Load | Source | Empty to trailer | Loaded | Posted | Countered to | All-in $/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND > CMH | Program | 35 mi | 175 mi | $520 | $560 | $2.67 |
| CMH > PIT | Board | 10 mi | 185 mi | $480 | $540 | $2.77 |
| PIT > CHI | Program | 60 mi | 460 mi | $1,150 | $1,150 | $2.21 |
| CHI > IND | Board | 15 mi | 180 mi | $450 | $500 | $2.56 |
| IND > MEM | Program | 120 mi | 465 mi | $1,250 | $1,300 | $2.22 |
| MEM > IND | Board | 20 mi | 465 mi | $1,050 | $1,150 | $2.37 |
Two things stand out. First, the countered column. Program loads often come at a set rate with little room, while board loads can usually be negotiated, so the mix matters. Second, the IND to MEM program load: a decent rate, but 120 empty miles to the trailer pool pull it down to one of the weaker loads of the month. We'd bring it to Carrier A with that number on it, and suggest a closer option if one existed.
Run any load's empty miles through the deadhead miles cost calculator to see what the drive to the trailer actually costs you.
Program boards, broker trailers and drop yards
Power only freight comes from a few places, and each works a little differently.
- Carrier programs. Some large brokers and shippers run power only programs with their own trailer pools and load boards for approved carriers. Each program has its own sign-up rules, insurance requirements and rate style. We check each one's own current terms rather than assuming.
- Public load boards. Many brokers post power only loads on the regular boards, usually with a trailer at a shipper or drop yard. These tend to be more negotiable.
- Drop yards and trailer pools. Shippers with steady freight often keep preloaded trailers waiting. Being near those pools is a big part of power only economics.
- Direct relationships. A broker or shipper who likes your service may offer recurring power only freight, which cuts the searching and often the deadhead.
Pulling someone else's trailer also means checking your insurance. Most programs and brokers require trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage, because your liability policy alone may not cover damage to a trailer you don't own. Confirm it with your agent before your first power only load.
What decides whether a power only load pays
Power only has its own set of traps. These are the ones we check before a load comes to you.
- Distance to the trailer. The empty miles from where you are to the pool or shipper. On short loads, a long drive to the trailer can erase the profit.
- Trailer readiness. Is it loaded and sealed, or will you wait for loading? A live load turns a quick hook into an afternoon.
- Trailer condition. Tires, lights, brakes and doors. You're responsible for a safe trailer once you hook it, so inspect it and refuse one that isn't roadworthy.
- Drop rules. Where the trailer goes after delivery, the yard's hours, and whether you need an appointment to drop.
- Reload nearby. Power only works best as a chain of hooks close together. We plan the next trailer before you drop the current one.
Our guide to what deadhead means in trucking explains why the empty miles matter so much and how to price them into any load.
What our power only dispatcher handles
- Searching program boards you're approved on and public boards for power only freight on your lanes.
- Comparing each load on all-in rate per mile, with the drive to the trailer counted.
- Countering board loads above your floor, and flagging program loads that don't clear it.
- Confirming trailer readiness, drop rules and appointment times before you roll.
- Checking every broker on FMCSA's public records and their payment terms.
- Planning the next hook before you drop, plus check calls, detention claims and a weekly report.
Every load comes to you before it's booked. You say yes or no, and the broker or program sends the confirmation to you. Program accounts stay in your name; we work within their rules rather than signing up for anything on your behalf.
Power only vs pulling your own trailer
Power only trades some rate for a lot less equipment. You don't buy, insure, tire or repair a trailer, and you can switch between van, reefer and sometimes flatbed freight depending on what the program or broker has. In return, the rate usually reflects that you're bringing only the tractor, and you're tied to where the trailers are.
For some carriers that trade is clearly worth it: a new authority without the cash for a trailer, a driver who wants flexibility, a fleet testing a new region. For others, owning a trailer pays more over time because it opens up every load on the board, not only the ones with a trailer waiting.
We'll run both on your numbers if you're deciding. EXAMPLE: if a trailer costs you about $1,000 a month all-in and you run 9,000 loaded miles, it costs about 11 cents a mile. If power only rates on your lanes run more than 11 cents below comparable van rates, owning the trailer starts to make sense, as long as the drive to pool trailers isn't eating the difference.
Insurance, inspections and paperwork for power only
Pulling a trailer you don't own changes your insurance needs. Most programs and brokers ask for trailer interchange coverage or non-owned trailer physical damage coverage, because your auto liability won't pay for damage to their trailer. Check the limit each program requires, since they differ.
Inspect every trailer before you hook it: tires, lights, brakes, doors, mud flaps and the registration. You're the one driving it on public roads, and a roadside inspection doesn't care whose trailer it is. Photograph any damage before you leave the yard, and report it to the trailer owner so you're not blamed for it at the drop.
Keep the seal number, the bill of lading and any trailer interchange paperwork together. Programs and brokers will ask for them at billing, and missing paperwork is the most common reason power only payments get held up.
Every hook comes to you first
Program load or board load, it works the same on our desk. We find it, check the broker or program terms, count the drive to the trailer and counter where we can. Then it comes to you with the pickup location, trailer details, drop rules and rate. You decide.
Say yes and the confirmation comes straight to you. Say no and you owe nothing. Try the flow on the card to see the order of things.
Loading the calculator...
What power only dispatch costs
5% of the gross on loads you haul for one tractor with authority 6 months or older. 7% while your MC is under 6 months. 4% for two or more trucks while the fleet rate lasts.
No setup fee, no minimum, month-to-month, 30 days notice to cancel and no fee in a week you don't haul. The fee breakdown shows the math in cents per mile.
Loading the calculator...
Power only dispatcher questions
How does power only dispatch work?
Where do power only loads come from?
Does power only pay less per mile than dry van?
How much deadhead is normal to pick up a pool trailer?
Can a new MC run power only?
How much do power only dispatchers charge?
See what a power only week keeps.
Example week at 5% of gross. Your tier may differ.
Start power only dispatch| Gross (EXAMPLE) | $4,000 |
|---|---|
| Fee 5% | $200 |
| You keep | $3,800 |
| No haul | $0 fee |