poweronly

Power-only is a trucking term for a service in which a motor carrier provides only the power unit (a tractor) to move a trailer or shipping container that is owned by another party, such as a shipper, trailer pool, or a third-party logistics provider. The driver couples the tractor to the trailer, pulls it to the destination, and returns the power unit after delivery. The arrangement is common in asset-light logistics and intermodal operations.

During power-only moves, the trailer or container remains under the ownership of the shipper, trailer pool, or logistics provider, while the carrier bears the labor and fuel costs to reposition or move it. This model is used for trailer repositioning, line-haul between facilities, rail-yard drayage, or when a customer has a trailer but lacks a suitable tractor or driver. It enables flexibility without requiring the customer to deploy full-truckload capacity.

Rates for power-only work are typically based on miles and time, with additional accessorials for detention, waiting time, or other charges. Many programs rely on dedicated networks or lanes to optimize utilization. Drivers must be qualified and operate under standard compliance requirements, including hours of service, vehicle inspections, insurance, and any applicable cross-border credentials.

Benefits include higher asset utilization, flexibility for shippers with trailer fleets, and reduced need for full-truckload capacity. Limitations include dependency on trailer availability, variability in turnaround times, and potential coordination complexity between trailer owners and the carrier. Power-only arrangements are commonly used to improve asset efficiency and respond to fluctuating demand in freight networks.