Best Drop and Hook Trucking Companies (2026)
The companies below run the largest drop and hook operations in the U.S. — from Amazon's massive fulfillment network to LTL terminal systems at ABF and XPO. If you want no-touch freight with minimal dock time, these are the companies to target.
O Trucking Editorial Team
Trucking Industry Experts
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years dispatching carriers to major drop and hook shippers including Amazon, FedEx, Walmart, and LTL terminals
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This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingBest Drop and Hook Trucking Companies for Drivers (2026)
Amazon / Amazon Relay
Amazon operates one of the largest drop and hook networks in the world through its Amazon Relay program. Most Amazon fulfillment center (FC) loads are drop and hook — drivers drop an empty or loaded trailer and pick up a pre-loaded one. Turnaround times at Amazon FCs average 30 to 60 minutes.
Pay Range
$2.00-$3.00/mile (varies by lane)
Requirements
MC authority, insurance, Amazon Relay account
D&H %
~80% of FC loads are drop and hook
FedEx Ground and UPS Freight
Both FedEx Ground and UPS Freight use drop and hook almost exclusively at their hub and terminal networks. Linehaul drivers run between terminals, dropping one trailer and hooking another at each end. These are highly efficient operations with minimal dock time.
Pay Range
$2.50-$3.50/mile (linehaul premium)
Requirements
Contracted carrier or ISP (FedEx), authority (UPS)
D&H %
~95% at terminals are drop and hook
LTL Carriers: ABF, XPO, ODFL, Saia
The LTL (Less Than Truckload) sector is built around drop and hook. Linehaul drivers move loaded trailers between service center terminals across the country. At each terminal, the driver drops one trailer and hooks to the next one in the relay — it is the most systematized form of drop and hook in the industry.
| LTL Carrier | D&H Usage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABF Freight | Near 100% | Extensive terminal network. Strong linehaul pay. |
| XPO Logistics | Near 100% | Major LTL player. Drop and hook at all service centers. |
| Old Dominion (ODFL) | Near 100% | Premium LTL carrier. Well-maintained trailers. |
| Saia | Near 100% | Expanding terminal network. Good D&H opportunities. |
Retail Distribution Centers
Major retailers use drop trailers at their distribution centers to manage high-volume inbound freight. Walmart, Target, Costco, Home Depot, and Kroger all maintain large trailer pools at their DCs. Drivers drop a loaded trailer and hook an empty one for the backhaul.
The key difference from LTL is that retail drop and hook usually involves dropping a loaded trailer and hooking an empty one, rather than hooking another loaded trailer. You still benefit from the time savings, but you may need to find a backhaul load separately.
Walmart Is One of the Strictest on Drop and Hook Compliance
Mega-Carriers: Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Knight-Swift
The largest truckload carriers in the U.S. run significant drop and hook programs, especially on their dedicated accounts with large shippers. Schneider's Intermodal division is almost entirely drop and hook. Werner and JB Hunt run drop and hook on their dedicated retail and manufacturing accounts.
For company drivers, these carriers offer drop and hook as part of dedicated positions — you run the same lanes, the same facilities, and the process becomes routine. For owner-operators leasing on, many of these carriers offer drop and hook freight as part of their O/O programs.
How to Get Drop and Hook Freight
Sign up for Amazon Relay — One of the easiest entry points for independent carriers. Requirements are straightforward and freight volume is massive.
Filter load boards for “drop and hook” or “no-touch” — Both DAT and Truckstop allow you to filter by loading type.
Build broker relationships on D&H lanes — When you find a broker with consistent drop and hook freight, build that relationship. Consistent lanes are gold.
Use a dispatch service that prioritizes D&H — A good dispatch team knows which shippers and brokers run drop and hook and will build your weekly plan around them.
The Best Drop and Hook Freight Often Is Not on Load Boards
How Our Team Helps
At O Trucking LLC, we have relationships with shippers and brokers who run drop and hook freight:
Access to D&H lanes
We book freight with shippers who run drop and hook at their facilities — including retail DCs, Amazon FCs, and LTL terminals. Our carriers get priority access to these lanes.
Weekly plan optimization
We build weekly load plans that chain drop and hook stops together to maximize miles and minimize deadhead. More D&H stops = more miles = more money.
Need Drop and Hook Freight for Your Truck?
Our dispatch team prioritizes drop and hook loads from Amazon, retail DCs, and LTL terminals. More miles, no dock wait, no-touch freight.