Got a pickup truck sitting in your driveway? Cool. You might not realize it, but that thing is basically a mobile ATM waiting to happen. Trucks are everywhere right now—super popular, crazy useful—but they aren’t cheap. Between the price tag, gas, insurance, and fixing stuff when it breaks (because it always does), they can suck up money fast.
So instead of letting it collect dust or just using it for weekend Home Depot runs, let’s talk about turning your truck into something that actually earns cash. And no, you don’t need to be a mechanic or have a business degree. If you’ve got a truck and even a little bit of hustle in your system, you’re already off to a good start.
Making Money with Mattress and Furniture Returns
Alright, let’s kick this off with one of the weirdest but most genius ways to make money with your truck: mattress returns. Yeah, you heard that right. See, when people buy a mattress online, they usually get some ridiculous trial like “sleep on this for 100 nights.” A lot of those get sent back—about 7% of them, actually. That might not sound like much, but that’s thousands of mattresses that companies have to deal with.
And here’s the thing: those companies don’t want them back. Shipping a giant mattress cross-country is expensive and annoying. So what do they do? They look for local folks who can pick them up. That’s where your truck comes in.
There are companies out there (they fall under what’s called “reverse logistics”) that will pay you to pick up returns. You don’t even have to buy the mattress up front. You just grab it, list it online or take it to a flea market, and you give the company a slice of the sale. People doing this part-time are making around $150–$250 per item. Full-timers? They’re pulling in over four grand a month.
If this style of hustle clicks with you, check out this list of other low-key truck hustles. Some of them are just as easy to start and surprisingly profitable.
Moving Stuff for Cash
Let’s be real—if you’ve got a truck, someone has probably asked you to help them move. But instead of doing it for pizza and “thanks bro,” there are apps that will actually pay you. We’re talking legit side hustle money here.
Dolly is one of the most well-known platforms. You sign up, list your truck, and you can get matched with people who need help moving stuff. You could earn up to $40 an hour. Bellhop is another one—it pays a little less (around $21 an hour), but still, not bad if you’re just dipping your toes into the gig world.
These jobs aren’t 9-to-5. You can work when you want, say no to stuff that doesn’t fit your schedule, and yeah, you’ll definitely get a workout.
Delivery Driving
This one’s a game-changer for truck owners who like hitting the road. There’s a whole world of delivery gigs out there—furniture, big packages, pets (yes, pets), you name it.
CitizenShipper is one of the big players in this space. Some drivers make $6K to $10K a month doing this full-time. It’s flexible, and you get to pick the types of deliveries that work for you. If you like animals, you can do pet transport. If you’d rather move bulky stuff, you can do that too.
You’ve also got options like uShip, where you actually bid on delivery gigs. We used uShip for a big move once after U-Haul flaked, and it saved the day. You can also list your services to attract new customers.
Another one to peek at is Roadie. It’s like carpooling for packages. If you’re already headed somewhere, you can pick up stuff along the way and make money just for taking the scenic route.
Then there’s Bungii, which is all about same-day deliveries. You can pull in up to $45 an hour with them, depending on what you’re delivering and how often you work.
Rent Your Truck
Here’s a lazy (but effective) option: rent your truck out when you’re not using it. Turo is the go-to app for this. It’s like Airbnb but for vehicles. You can rent out your truck for $100–$140 a day. Do that a few days a month, and you’ve covered insurance and maybe even your monthly payment.
Getaround is another one to check out. They’ve got keyless entry, automatic pricing, and even parking spots. It’s made for folks who want the income but don’t want to deal with meeting renters or worrying about logistics.
Now if you actually want to drive, GoShare is a hybrid setup. People hire both your truck and your time, and you can make somewhere between $52 and $68 an hour doing small moves or deliveries.
Drive Around, Get Paid
Ever see trucks with big ads wrapped around them? That could be you. Some companies will pay you to slap a branded wrap on your vehicle and just drive like you normally do. If you’re doing regular commutes already, this one’s kind of a no-brainer. Some folks earn around $100 a month just from driving with ads.
Junk Removal
This one’s for the people who aren’t scared to get their hands dirty. Junk hauling is always in demand. Whether it’s someone clearing out a garage or ditching an old couch, they need someone with a truck to get rid of the stuff.
You can charge per load or per item, depending on what makes sense. Most folks doing this earn about $200 a load. It’s easy to get started—just tell your friends, post in local groups, maybe make a basic social page for your “junk business.”
Need help staying organized with all these side hustle options? This simple checklist setup might save your sanity.
Snow Plowing
If you live somewhere that gets slammed by snow, this one’s kind of perfect. Add a plow to your truck, get some solid tires and lights, and you’re ready to go. People pay good money for snow clearing—sometimes $100 a driveway. Hit a few houses back-to-back and you’re looking at a solid chunk of cash, fast.
Towing
Your pickup’s towing power is a goldmine if you use it right. A lot of trucks can tow over 13,000 pounds, which opens up jobs moving cars, boats, RVs—you name it. You’ll want to get licensed, and make sure your truck’s actually up for the job, but once you’re good to go, the pay is solid and steady.
Flipping Big Stuff Like Appliances or Pallets
This one’s for the side hustlers who like the treasure hunt vibe. You can grab cheap or free appliances—washers, fridges, dryers—clean them up, maybe do some minor repairs, and sell them for profit. Your truck makes pickup and delivery super easy, and you can charge extra to drop it off.
Then there’s pallet flipping. You can buy return pallets from big retailers and resell the stuff inside. Or go even more basic—just sell the pallets themselves to businesses that need cheap ones. Some folks are making hundreds—or even $1,000 a day—just flipping wood platforms.
One of our readers started out just flipping furniture and now runs a full-time side hustle doing it. Here’s their story if you want some inspo: This simple furniture side hustle can turn junk into cash.
How Do You Get Customers for This Stuff?
This is where a lot of people get stuck. They’ve got the truck, they’re ready to work, but… no one’s calling. The good news? You’ve got options.
Craigslist is still going strong for local services. Make a clean, catchy post with your rates and what you offer.
Nextdoor is great for community gigs. Just let your neighbors know what you do, and they’ll usually come through, especially if you’re reliable.
If you want something more structured, Thumbtack connects you with people who need help and want to hire local pros.
And if you’re diving into something a little more niche—like photography, video work, or anything creative—check out platforms like Behance to show off your skills.
There’s more in this full guide on how to find customers and build up your side hustle if you want to take it to the next level.
There you go. Your truck’s not just a ride anymore—it’s a tool. Maybe even your next source of steady income. Whether you’re flipping junk, delivering goats (yes, that’s a real thing), or renting it out while you nap, there’s money on the table. You just gotta grab it.
