Power Only vs. Dry Van: Which Pays More for Owner-Operators?

Power only means you provide just the tractor and pull a trailer supplied by the shipper or broker, while dry van means you own (or lease) your own trailer and pull your own freight. Neither universally pays more — power only can mean lower equipment costs and steady drop-and-hook work, while dry van gives you more control and access to a wider range of freight. Which pays better depends on your costs, your lanes, and how you like to operate.

What is power only?

In power only, you own the tractor but not the trailer. You hook to a pre-loaded trailer the shipper or broker provides, move it, and drop it. Because you don't own a trailer, you skip trailer payments, maintenance, and storage — a real cost saving. The trade-off is that you depend on trailer availability and often run drop-and-hook lanes.

Learn more on our power only dispatch page.

What is dry van?

In dry van, you own or lease a 53-foot box trailer and pull general freight. You have more independence — you can take a wider variety of loads and aren't tied to a trailer pool — but you carry the cost and upkeep of the trailer yourself.

Learn more on our dry van dispatch page.

Comparing the two

Equipment cost: Power only wins — no trailer to buy or maintain.

Freight access: Dry van is broader — you can take most general-freight loads, while power only depends on available trailers to pull.

Consistency: Power only often offers steady drop-and-hook and repositioning work, especially near big distribution hubs.

Control: Dry van gives you more say over what and where you haul.

Rates: Both vary by lane and market. Power only rates hinge on trailer availability and repositioning needs; dry van is highly competitive because it's the most common equipment.

Which should you choose?

If keeping equipment costs low and running steady drop-and-hook freight appeals to you, power only is worth a serious look. If you want maximum control and the widest freight access, dry van fits better. Many carriers weigh it purely on the math: total revenue minus total costs, including that trailer.

Not sure which nets you more? Call a Dexent dispatcher — we dispatch both and can talk through your numbers.