Short answer
Power only is a trucking arrangement where the carrier supplies the tractor and driver, and the trailer belongs to someone else: the shipper, a broker’s trailer pool, or a leasing company. The driver picks up a loaded or empty trailer, pulls it to the destination, and drops it. Rates cover the power and driver, not the trailer.
Why power only matters
Power only lets freight move without tying capacity to trailers. A shipper with its own trailers can preload them on its schedule, and a carrier with trucks but few trailers can still haul.
- Shippers preload trailers in the yard, so drivers hook and go instead of waiting at the dock.
- Brokers with a trailer pool can offer drop-trailer service to shippers and book any carrier with a tractor.
- Small carriers and owner-operators without trailers can take loads they couldn’t otherwise haul.
- Repositioning. Empty trailers get moved between yards, plants and lease depots.
How a power only load works
- The broker or shipper books a carrier with a compatible tractor and the right hitch.
- The driver goes to the yard, gets the trailer and seal numbers, and inspects the trailer.
- The driver hooks, pulls the trailer to the receiver, and drops it or waits to be unloaded.
- If the trailer is empty after delivery, the driver may return it to the pool or bobtail to the next load.
Power only vs standard truckload
| Standard truckload | Power only | |
|---|---|---|
| Who supplies the trailer | Carrier | Shipper, broker pool or leasing company |
| Loading | Often live load at the dock | Usually preloaded, drop and hook |
| Trailer damage exposure | Carrier’s own equipment | Carrier is responsible for someone else’s trailer |
| Insurance to confirm | Auto liability, cargo | Auto liability, cargo, trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage |
| Typical carrier | Any carrier with the right equipment | Carriers with tractors, including those with few or no trailers |
Example and common mistakes
Example (illustrative): a shipper preloads 53-foot trailers overnight. A broker books an owner-operator at $1.90 a mile for a 400-mile power only move, $760 total. The driver arrives at 6:00 AM, hooks the loaded trailer and is rolling by 6:20, instead of waiting two hours at the dock.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the trailer inspection. The driver is still responsible for the rig. Under 49 CFR 396.13, a driver must be satisfied the vehicle is in safe operating condition before driving. Photograph tires, lights and damage before leaving the yard.
- Not confirming trailer coverage. FMCSA’s minimum liability of $750,000 for general freight carriers covers damage to others, not the trailer being pulled. Ask for trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage on the certificate.
- Missing seal and trailer numbers on the paperwork. Without them, a dropped trailer is hard to trace and a seal dispute is hard to settle.
- Forgetting the return leg. Who pays for the empty trailer to go back, and when? Put it on the rate confirmation.
Power only loads still need the same carrier vetting as any other load. See our carrier packet entry and carrier onboarding guide.