Power-only trucking is one of the various methods that businesses use to get goods to their consumers. Shipping goods anywhere in the world requires multiple experts to pool their abilities and resources together. Overlooking the benefits of power-only trucking can hinder the efficiency of an entire shipment. A company that needs to move goods internationally or domestically requires the right shipping container. Plus, moving that shipping container requires the right truck and CDL license.

Understanding your role in the bigger picture of shipping logistics ensures you can do your job with ease. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about power-only trucking.

What Is Power-Only Trucking?

Power-only trucking involves a third-party logistics provider (3PL) that will lease trailers for carriers that need to move goods somewhere. In some cases, the shipment carrier will contact a power-only trucking company directly. The trucking company may not always work with a 3PL, but it’s the most common application of power-only trucking.

Hauling cargo on a truck is one of the most efficient forms of transporting shipments, but not all trucking solutions are the same. A 3PL will find a power-only trucking provider when their carrier requires a power unit. In this context, a power unit refers to a truck tractor and the driver operating it. If you’re working on a power-only trucking shipment, you start with a truck that has no cargo attached, including an empty shipping container. The 3PL will provide you with a location to find a drop trailer.

Drop Trailers and Drop Pools

In the shipping industry, a drop trailer is a truck trailer left unattended for the driver to hook up to. Once you arrive at the drop trailer location, you can grab the goods and move to your next destination. Drop pools ensure that you can quickly get your cargo and get moving, keeping the shipping process productive. Power-only trucking will help you transport a versatile range of trailers, too. Drivers frequently use power-only trucking to haul trailers that include dry vans, shipping containers, refrigerated trailers, and open-deck trailers.

Maintaining Focus and Organization

Proper organization is critical to any shipping operation. One of the biggest benefits of power-only trucking is that the owner of the fleet and the owner of the trailer can focus on what they excel at. For example, partnering with a power-only trucking provider means that the company doesn’t have to purchase a massive fleet of trucks for themselves. These trucks require consistent maintenance to ensure the best shipping experience.

Plus, buying the trucks means you must hire drivers to operate them. It’s easier for power-only trucking experts to focus on this because they don’t have to worry about the storage and transportation of the shipment beforehand. Instead, the driver arrives at the trailer pool and picks up their cargo.

As mentioned above, shipping goods requires many professionals to come together to do what they do best. This creates a more efficient, focused workflow that helps each step move smoothly. It also helps that if a carrier doesn’t own the trucks, they don’t have to worry about the long-term costs of fueling, hiring drivers, making repairs, and more.

Boosting Fleets and Accommodating Peaks

The titular trucking method helps companies accommodate their own fleet. A company may already have trucks, but peak dates or holidays can put extra stress on their processes. If a carrier needs extra help moving cargo, they can pass off some of their trailers to power-only trucking experts. That way, the carrier won’t have to invest in new trucks that they only need temporarily. Sometimes, a carrier may not expect the surge in shipping demand that they see, so they quickly need to find assistance. In such cases, they will reach out to their 3PL and discuss power-only trucking opportunities.

Keeping the Truck Ready

As a power-only truck driver, you can focus more on your vehicle to ensure it meets the needs of any cargo you haul. For example, we carry commercial truck seats for sale designed to provide professional truckers with the best support system during hauls. A seat that keeps you comfortable and functional will help you worry less about back pain and focus more on safely hauling cargo.

Ensuring that power-only trucking is effective for any company requires choosing and upgrading trucks carefully. These companies should oversee the operation of their trucks and maintain them to keep them running for a long time. A major benefit of maintaining trucks and having them ready to go is that drivers can quickly access drop pools. This helps drivers keep shipments moving quickly upon arrival.

Truck owners must prevent unnecessary downtime from hindering that process whenever they can. If you don’t stay up-to-date with your truck’s upkeep, it will become inefficient, or it may break down entirely. Suffice it to say that this will be a frustrating hindrance to the delivery process.

Properly hooking up the cargo to your truck is also critical, so don’t rush through this process. Although power-only trucking prioritizes efficiency, you shouldn’t rush through these basic steps. Securely hooking the trailer up to your tractor ensures that you can easily haul it to the next facility whenever you’re ready.

Using Power-Only Trucking

As you can see, there are various reasons for 3PLs to use power-only trucking. This shipping method keeps shipments productive and carriers flexible. A 3PL can worry more about the technical details of their trailers instead of the tractor and driver when they work with power-only trucking companies. The driver will oversee the truck so that it’s ready to go when a 3PL or carrier reaches out for assistance.

Understanding everything you need to know about power-only trucking ensures you can play your role in this shipping process accurately. Drivers who responsibly operate their trucks help many shipments reach their destinations safely and efficiently. The more you know about the many shipping methods and truck driving jobs available, the easier it is to understand what makes each solution so effective. Use your new understanding of power-only trucking to maintain productive practices today.