Power-Only Freight:

Power-only trucking has exploded in popularity, and for good reason. Instead of managing their own trailers, thousands of carriers are choosing to run power-only to stay lean, flexible, and focused on what they do best: hauling freight.

But there's one major challenge power-only carriers still face: finding consistent access to trailers. This is where trailer sharing, and specifically on-demand trailer rentals, dramatically change what's possible.

Why Power-Only Is Growing Fast

Power-only operations allow carriers to reduce capital expenses, eliminate trailer maintenance and storage costs, switch freight types easily, and run lighter, more adaptable businesses. It's a model that makes sense for owner-operators and small fleets looking to maximize efficiency without the burden of asset ownership.

Surveys show around 8 % of carriers identify as power-only, and industry observers note the power-only load type remains a smaller portion of total postings. That means carriers are fighting over too few posted opportunities, limiting growth and reducing stability.

Trailer sharing solves this mismatch.

The Biggest Challenge: Access to Trailers

Traditionally, running power-only meant relying on a shipper's trailer pool, a broker's assets, a dedicated carrier with drop trailers, or simply luck. If trailers weren't available, you couldn't take the load. Even worse, carriers often couldn't switch freight types, from dry van to reefer to flatbed, without securing new equipment, which limited their ability to capitalize on market opportunities.

How Trailer Sharing Changes the Game

Trailer sharing platforms give power-only carriers direct, on-demand access to trailers of various types across the country. This fundamentally changes how carriers operate and compete.

More Load Options, Instantly

Instead of waiting on shippers or brokers to provide a trailer, carriers can rent a trailer on the spot, pick it up the same day, and move freight immediately. This opens access to nine times more loads because carriers aren't limited to "power-only posted" freight. They can accept any load that fits their truck and route.

Choose Your Trailer Type As Needed

Power-only carriers can now pivot based on the market. Run dry van in one season, switch to reefer in the next, or grab a flatbed if opportunity spikes. You can even use storage trailers when repositioning. This flexibility used to be impossible without owning all the trailers yourself or locking into expensive long-term leases.

No Long-Term Contracts

On-demand trailer sharing is charged by the day, not by multi-year leasing terms. This lets power-only carriers stay versatile, take high-paying spot loads, and avoid the risk of unused equipment sitting idle. No subscriptions, no penalties, no commitments.

Better Route Planning and Fewer Empty Miles

Trailer sharing networks allow pick-up in one city and drop-off in another. This reduces deadhead, idle time, and unproductive repositioning. You can run more efficiently and more profitably by matching your trailer needs to your actual loads rather than working around equipment you're stuck with.

Real Use Case Examples

Consider these scenarios where power-only carriers benefit from trailer sharing:

Last-Minute Load Comes In: A carrier sees a high-paying load in Dallas that requires a dry van. They book an on-demand trailer, pick it up the same day, and haul the load without missing the opportunity.

Reefer Opportunity Pops Up: The market shifts and hot-paying reefer freight becomes available. Instead of saying no, the carrier rents a reefer trailer for 72 hours and capitalizes on the premium rates.

Multi-Stop or Project Freight: A carrier lands a 20-day construction project that requires dedicated equipment. They rent a trailer for the full project window and return it when complete, avoiding the cost of ownership for a temporary need.

Repositioning Made Easy: A carrier needs a trailer in a different market next week. Using flexible pickup and drop-off locations, they can move as needed without deadheading their own equipment.

How REPOWR Supports Power-Only Fleets

REPOWR was built to give power-only carriers the flexibility they've always needed. With the nation's largest trailer-sharing network, carriers get access to over 300,000 pickup locations, same-day trailer availability for 72% of reservations, and daily pricing with no long-term commitment.

The platform provides instant certificate of insurance verification and optional protection plans for peace of mind. Carriers can choose from multiple trailer types, including dry van, reefer, flatbed, and storage trailers. GPS and telematics visibility ensure you always know where your rented equipment is located.

Many carriers have built their entire business model around this approach, running trucks power-only while relying on the marketplace for their trailer needs. It's a sustainable way to scale without taking on the debt and overhead of trailer ownership.

Power-only trucking offers unmatched flexibility, but only when you have the right tools. Trailer sharing finally solves the access problem, giving drivers and small fleets the ability to take more loads, enter new freight verticals, reduce downtime, and stay agile in volatile markets.

With on-demand trailer sharing, power-only isn't just a niche. It's the future of flexible freight operations.

Ready to expand your power-only opportunities? Explore REPOWR's on-demand trailer marketplace and unlock more loads with the flexibility you deserve.

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