Power Only Freight: What It Is and When to Use It

Power only is one of the most misunderstood freight options — but for the right shipper, it's a significant operational and cost advantage.

What Is Power Only Freight?

Power only means the carrier provides only the tractor (the "power") — not the trailer. The shipper or receiver owns or leases the trailer, and the carrier's job is to move it from point A to point B.

This is common in drop-and-hook operations where a shipper has a yard full of pre-loaded trailers waiting to move. The carrier drops an empty, hooks a loaded trailer, and departs — no wait time for loading.

Drop and Hook vs Live Load

Relay Moves

A relay is a power only move where multiple drivers hand off the same trailer along the route. Driver 1 pulls the trailer from Chicago to St. Louis, Driver 2 takes it from St. Louis to Nashville, Driver 3 delivers in Atlanta.

Relay moves are used to cover long distances quickly while keeping drivers within their Hours of Service limits. They're common for time-sensitive loads and dedicated lane networks.

Who Uses Power Only?

• Retailers with trailer pools — large shippers with 50+ trailers in rotation
• Manufacturers with dedicated lanes — same route, same trailer, multiple times per week
• Logistics companies — managing trailer assets across multiple locations
• Cross-dock operations — trailers being repositioned between distribution centers

Power Only Rates (May 2026)

Power only rates run approximately 15–25% below standard FTL dry van rates since the carrier has no trailer cost. National average is around $2.10–$2.40/mile for drop-and-hook power only moves. Relay moves are priced per leg.