Power only dispatch
Power only dispatch services
Your tractor, their trailer: we find power only loads where a broker or shipper supplies the trailer, negotiate the rate and look for the next hook before you drop. You approve every load.
- A flat 5–12% per load
- You approve every load
- In business since 2017
At a glance
Power only dispatch means a dispatcher finds loads where you pull a trailer someone else owns, often already loaded: trailers from broker and shipper pools, drop-and-hook freight and trailer moves between yards. Digital Storming dispatches power only tractors for a flat 5–12% of each load’s gross. You approve every load, and there is no long-term contract.
- Equipment
- Your tractor; the trailer is supplied
- Loads
- Preloaded trailers, drop-and-hook, trailer moves
- Dispatch fee
- A flat 5–12% of each load’s gross
- You decide
- Every load is booked only with your OK
Who it is for
Power only carriers we work with
Owner-operators without a trailer
Run under your own authority without buying, insuring or maintaining a trailer.
Carriers between trailers
Your trailer is in the shop or sold, and the tractor still needs to earn.
Fleets adding tractors
Grow with tractors first and keep them loaded with power only freight.
What is included
What we handle for your power only tractor
Power only load search
Preloaded trailers and drop-and-hook freight on your lanes, picked up at a yard, a drop lot or the shipper.
Rate negotiation
We negotiate every load and count the unloaded miles to reach the trailer before we call a rate good.
Trailer details before you roll
Trailer number, location, seal, appointment and any yard or gate instructions, confirmed before you set off.
Broker calls and paperwork
Carrier packets, any trailer agreement the owner asks for, rate confirmations and load documents, kept in order.
Freight and rates
Power only freight, and what moves the rate
Power only pays for your tractor and your time; the trailer’s owner carries the rest.
What power only covers
- Preloaded dry van and reefer trailers from broker and shipper trailer pools
- Drop-and-hook freight between plants and distribution centers
- Empty trailer moves between yards, shops and customers
- New or leased trailers delivered to their owners
What makes loads hard to find or price
- Unloaded miles to the trailer. Driving to the trailer without one isn’t paid, so the distance to the pickup matters as much as the loaded miles.
- Sign-up rules. Brokers and shippers that run trailer pools set their own requirements, such as insurance limits and safety history, before they book you.
- You inspect what you didn’t load. A trailer with a problem means a delay at the pickup, so we flag issues with the broker fast.
- Empty moves pay less. Repositioning an empty trailer usually pays less than loaded freight, so we weigh it against the next loaded run.
How it works
How power only dispatch works
Step 1: Free consultation
Tell us about your tractor, the trailer types you can pull, your trailer coverage, your lanes, home time and how far you’ll go to a pickup.
Step 2: Send your documents
Your MC authority, certificate of insurance (with any trailer coverage) and W-9.
Step 3: Approve your loads
Each load comes to you with the trailer location, appointment, miles and rate. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
Step 4: Hook, haul, drop
You haul; we handle broker updates and documents, and look for the next trailer near your drop.
Pricing
Simple dispatch pricing
One pricing model for every operation, whether you drive solo or manage a growing fleet.
Dispatch fee
5–12%of each load’s gross
One flat percentage per load, negotiated by truck type and carrier profile. For owner-operators and fleets alike.
- No retainer and no weekly fee
- You approve every load
- No long-term contract
- Load search, rate negotiation and paperwork
- A dedicated dispatcher and load updates
- Multi-truck coordination for fleets
Tell us about your truck and we’ll tell you what we’d charge. To estimate it yourself, try the dispatch fee calculator or read our truck dispatcher cost guide.
Getting started
What you need to start
Documents to send
- Your operating authority (MC) letter and USDOT number
- Certificate of insurance
- W-9
- Your factoring company’s notice of assignment, if you factor
Rules for pulling someone else’s trailer
Before driving, the driver must be satisfied the vehicle, trailer included, is in safe operating condition, and each trailer needs proof of an inspection within the last 12 months on it.
A tractor and loaded semitrailer is a Group A combination (Class A CDL). For-hire general freight needs at least $750,000 in liability insurance; trailer coverage is separate.
Sources (checked October 2026): 49 CFR 396.13 (driver inspection) · 49 CFR 396.17 (annual inspection) · 49 CFR 383.91 (CDL vehicle groups) · 49 CFR 387.9 (minimum insurance)
Questions
Power only dispatch questions
What is power only trucking?
You supply the tractor and the driver; a broker, shipper or trailer pool supplies the trailer, often already loaded. You hook, deliver and drop, and the trailer stays with its owner.
What insurance do I need for power only?
At least the federal minimum for for-hire general freight: $750,000 in liability insurance (49 CFR 387.9). Because you pull trailers you don’t own, brokers usually also ask for trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage. We compare each broker’s requirements with your certificate before you book.
Do I need a Class A CDL for power only?
In practice, yes. A tractor pulling a loaded semitrailer is a combination rated at 26,001 lbs or more with a trailer rated over 10,000 lbs, which is a Group A vehicle and needs a Class A CDL (49 CFR 383.91).
What should I check on a trailer I don’t own?
The same as on your own: before driving, you must be satisfied the vehicle, trailer included, is in safe operating condition (49 CFR 396.13), and a trailer needs proof of an inspection within the last 12 months on it (49 CFR 396.17). If a trailer isn’t safe, tell us and we take it up with the broker.
How much does power only dispatch cost?
The same as all our dispatch: a flat 5–12% of each load’s gross, set by your truck type and carrier profile, with no retainer and no weekly fee. Tell us about your tractor and we’ll tell you what we’d charge.
Ready to keep your tractor hooked?
Tell us about your tractor, the trailers you can pull and your lanes.
Mon–Sat, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET · We reply within one business day
Related services
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