Trucks are pricey, no doubt about it. In 2023, the average cost of a new pickup truck was over $60,000, and that’s just the start. Gas, insurance, and upkeep can quickly add up, making truck ownership a real financial commitment. But here’s the good news: your truck doesn’t just have to drain your wallet—it can actually put money back into it. Let’s talk about some simple ways to make your truck pay for itself or even turn a profit.
Renting Out Your Truck
If you’re not using your truck every day, renting it out could be an easy way to earn some extra cash. Platforms like Turo let you list your truck for rent. With full-size pickups fetching $100–$140 a day, even renting it out a few days each month could cover some of your costs.
Another option is Getaround, a service that helps connect car owners with drivers who need vehicles on short notice. It’s a popular choice, with over two million users in the U.S. looking to rent vehicles like yours.
For those willing to get involved in moving or delivery, GoShare is a solid choice. Here, you can rent out your truck and even offer your services as a driver, earning between $52 and $68 an hour.
Driving Your Truck for Cash
If you’re okay with hitting the road yourself, there are plenty of ways to make money by driving your truck.
- Moving Services: Startups like Dolly pay up to $40 an hour if you can handle heavy lifting (75+ pounds). Other platforms like Bellhop pay around $21 an hour, and Lugg claims you can make as much as $2,500 a week.
- Delivery Services: Platforms like CitizenShipper let you transport all sorts of goods, from pets to machinery, with drivers earning $6,000–$10,000 per month on average. uShip allows you to bid on transportation jobs, often for larger items. For smaller or same-direction deliveries, Roadie pays an average of $13 per trip, with higher payouts for longer hauls. Then there’s Bungii, which focuses on same-day deliveries, offering up to $45 an hour.
- Retail Deliveries: Stores often need help delivering large items. With PICKUP, you can earn about $45 per delivery run.
Hauling Services
If you prefer working for yourself, starting a hauling business could be the way to go.
- Junk Hauling: People always need help getting rid of junk. You can charge $200 or more per load on your own or join LoadUp, where contractors earn $55–$200 per trip and up to $2,000 per week.
- Scrap Metal Recycling: If you have access to scrap metal, recycling it could bring in $400 or more a month. This is a great side gig for folks in construction or similar industries.
- Pallet Flipping: Many businesses need to offload pallets, and others are happy to buy them. Acting as the middleman in this process can be surprisingly profitable—some people report making $1,000 a day flipping pallets.
Other Money-Making Ideas
There are plenty of other creative ways to earn with your truck.
- Advertise: Companies will pay you to put ads on your truck. You can make $100 or more each month just driving around as usual.
- Snow Plowing: If you live in a snowy area, plowing can be a good seasonal side hustle. Rates usually run between $20 and $100 per job.
- Towing: Many trucks can tow up to 13,000 pounds, making them perfect for towing RVs, boats, or other vehicles.
- Furniture Flipping: Buy cheap furniture, refinish it, and sell it for a profit. Furniture flipping can bring in $150–$250 per piece.
- Appliance Flipping: Large items like washers, dryers, and lawn equipment can also be flipped for a decent profit.
Wrapping It Up
Trucks may be expensive, but they’re also full of money-making potential. Whether you rent yours out, drive for a service, or start your own business, there are plenty of ways to offset the cost of ownership—or even turn your truck into a solid side hustle. With so many low-risk options to choose from, there’s no reason not to give it a shot. Your truck might just be your next best money-making tool.
