Power Only Truck Driver Jobs
Power Only driving positions with O Trucking. Competitive pay at $2.55/mile, 24/7 support, choose your loads.
O TruckingPower Only Market Snapshot
Spot Rate
$2.55/mi
Contract Rate
$2.95/mi
Avg Weekly Gross
$4,200
What It's Like to Drive Power Only
Power only is trucking's lowest-cost entry point. You bring the tractor, the shipper provides the trailer. No $30,000-60,000 trailer investment. No trailer insurance. No trailer maintenance budget. You hook up to a shipper's trailer (or a container chassis at a port), haul it to the destination, drop it, and grab the next one. The drop-and-hook workflow means you spend more time driving and less time waiting at docks. Port drayage is the premium play — pulling containers from ports like LA/Long Beach, Newark, Houston, or Savannah at $3.44/mile average on short 78-mile runs. Away from ports, power only drivers pull intermodal containers from rail yards, reposition Amazon trailers between fulfillment centers, and run trailer-pool loads for major shippers. The downside is you don't control trailer condition — sometimes a shipper's trailer has bald tires or broken lights, costing you time while they swap it out.
What You'll Haul
Top Power Only Lanes
Power Only Requirements
- CDL-A license
- Tractor only — no trailer purchase required
- TWIC card recommended for port drayage ($125, 60-day processing)
- Clean MVR and CSA record
- Insurance COI with $1M minimum liability
- Drop-and-hook operational experience
Why Drive Power Only With O Trucking?
Zero Trailer Investment
Pull shipper trailers or broker-owned equipment. No $30,000-60,000 trailer to buy, no trailer insurance, no trailer maintenance budget.
Faster Turnarounds
Drop-and-hook is the default for power only. Hook up, haul, drop, grab the next one. More loads per day, more revenue per week.
Intermodal Premium
Intermodal spot rates at $3.44/mile. Port drayage and rail hub work pay premium rates if you have the TWIC card and patience for port logistics.
Lowest Entry Barrier
Power only is the most affordable way to start as an owner-operator. Bring your tractor, we bring the loads.
Power Only Jobs by State
Find power only driving jobs in your state.
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Power Only Driver Jobs FAQ
Common questions about power only driving jobs with O Trucking.
What is power only driving?
You bring the tractor, the shipper provides the trailer. No $30,000-60,000 trailer investment, no trailer insurance, no trailer maintenance. Hook up, haul, drop, grab the next one. It's the lowest-cost way to get into trucking.
How much do power only drivers earn?
Intermodal power only at ports pays $3.44/mile on average. Standard power only runs $2.20-2.80/mile. Port drayage trips are short (78 miles average) but the per-mile rates are premium.
Do I need a TWIC card for power only?
Only for port work. Pulling trailers from Amazon fulfillment centers or shipper yards? No TWIC needed. Port drayage at LA/Long Beach, Houston, Savannah, or Newark requires a TWIC card ($125, about 60 days to process).
What are the downsides of power only?
You don't control trailer condition — sometimes shippers' trailers have issues (bad tires, broken lights). You can refuse, but it costs time. Some carriers also require additional liability insurance for pulling their equipment.
Where are the best markets for power only driving?
Port cities dominate: LA/Long Beach, Newark/Elizabeth, Houston, Savannah, and Charleston. Rail hubs like Chicago, Memphis, and Kansas City also have strong intermodal power only demand. Any city with a major Amazon fulfillment center has trailer relay opportunities.
How many loads per day can power only drivers run?
Port drayage drivers average 2-3 loads per day on short runs (50-100 miles round trip). Intermodal relay drivers typically run 1-2 loads. Amazon trailer repositioning can hit 3-4 short moves per day. More loads per day = higher daily gross, even at lower per-load rates.
Do I need my own chassis for power only?
For container drayage, you use port or steamship line chassis (pool chassis). For dry van and reefer trailer pulls, the shipper or broker provides the trailer. The only equipment you need is your tractor. That's the whole appeal of power only — zero trailer investment.
Apply in 60 Seconds
Most power only drivers start within 48 hours. No long forms — just the basics.