Equipment
Power only vs owning a trailer: dry van, reefer, flatbed
Updated October 2026By PowerOnlyDispatch Dispatch Desk
The decision in one line
Owning a trailer buys you access: any load that fits your trailer is yours to book. Power only buys you lower fixed costs: no trailer payment, but you only haul when someone else has a trailer for you. Everything else follows from that trade.
Cost of owning a trailer
A trailer costs money every month whether it moves or not. The lines to budget:
Monthly trailer costs (made-up numbers)
| Cost | Dry van | Reefer | Flatbed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment or lease | $650 | $1,300 | $600 |
| Physical damage insurance | $90 | $160 | $80 |
| Tires, brakes, repairs | $150 | $200 | $140 |
| Reefer unit fuel and service | n/a | $450 | n/a |
| Plates, inspection, straps and tarps | $25 | $25 | $90 |
| Monthly total | $915 | $2,135 | $910 |
EXAMPLE numbers only. Get real quotes: trailer prices, interest rates and insurance vary widely by year, credit and state.
Power only replaces those lines with two smaller ones: trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage, and the extra empty miles you drive to reach other people's trailers. The interactive comparison on our owner-operator page lets you put in your own numbers.
Freight access and rates
Owning a dry van means the whole van market is open. Any broker load, any shipper, any lane. DAT reported a national dry van spot average of $3.01 per mile all-in for September 2026; that is a market average, not what any one truck earns.
Power only van freight is a subset: loads where the trailer owner wants just a tractor. It is concentrated around trailer pools, retail and manufacturing drop yards and program lanes. Where those pools are dense, there is plenty of freight. Where they are thin, you deadhead to find it. Power only rates on the same lane are often a bit lower than van rates because you are not bringing the trailer.
Power only reefer loads exist where shippers and programs own refrigerated trailers. They pay for the extra responsibility: temperature logs, pre-cooling and reefer fuel arrangements. Ask who fuels the unit and who is responsible if it fails.
Flatbed power only (or power only flatbed) loads are less common. They are mostly tow away moves of new flatbeds and loaded flatbeds from plants. Because federal rules (49 CFR 392.9) make the driver responsible for checking cargo securement and rechecking it on the road, carry and know how to use straps, chains and edge protection before you take one.
Insurance differences
| Coverage | Owning a trailer | Power only |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | Required ($750,000 federal minimum for general freight, 49 CFR 387.9; often $1M by customers) | Same |
| Cargo | Required by most brokers | Same |
| Physical damage on the trailer | On your own trailer, usually required by the lender | Not on a trailer you own, because you don't |
| Trailer interchange / non-owned trailer | Only if you also pull others' trailers | Usually required (for example, Amazon Relay asks semi carriers for $50,000) |
| Reefer breakdown | Common add-on for reefer owners | Check what the trailer owner covers |
Exact limits vary by insurer and customer. This is general information, not insurance advice; confirm with your agent.
Which setup fits whom
Power only tends to fit you if:
- You live within reach of busy trailer pools or retail and manufacturing drop yards.
- You want the lowest fixed costs while your authority is new.
- You like drop and hook freight and less dock time.
Owning a trailer tends to fit you if:
- You have direct shipper customers who need your trailer.
- Your base is in an area where power only freight is thin.
- You want to haul reefer or flatbed freight on your own terms.
Doing both is common: one trailer for steady customers, power only loads to fill gaps and reposition. Many of the loads covered in tow away vs load out fit between your own trailer's runs.
Next steps
If power only is new to you, read what is power only trucking. Compare real loads in the power only load profit calculator before you decide, and see where trailer-pool freight comes from in power only carrier programs.
If you choose power only, our power only dispatch desk finds and books those trailers for you; the freight types are on the power only loads page. We dispatch the power only side only, not trailers you own.
FAQ
Is power only better than owning a dry van?
Neither is better for everyone. Power only suits carriers who want low fixed costs and live near trailer pools. Owning a dry van suits carriers with direct customers or lanes where power only freight is thin. Run your own numbers before buying a trailer.
Can I pull reefer trailers on power only loads?
Yes. Power only reefer loads put you behind someone else's refrigerated trailer. Ask who fuels and monitors the reefer unit, what temperature and pre-cool rules apply, and what your interchange agreement says about unit failures.
Do I need my own straps and chains for power only flatbed loads?
Often, yes. Federal rules (49 CFR 392.9) make the driver responsible for checking that cargo is secured and rechecking it on the road, so flatbed power only loads usually expect you to carry and use securement gear. Confirm before you accept.
Can I own a trailer and still run power only?
Yes. Many carriers keep one trailer for steady customers and pull power only loads between those runs. Note the trailer you own needs its own physical damage coverage, while power only loads need trailer interchange coverage.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Official pages first; company facts only from each company's own site.
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