Your truck can do more than haul gear and supplies. It can help you earn extra income, too. As living costs climb and gig opportunities expand, more truck owners are finding smart ways to make their vehicles work for them.
We surveyed 1,021 truck owners to learn how they're using their pickups to make money, how much they're earning, and what challenges they face along the way. Whether you're delivering, hauling, or running your own small business, your truck can be the key to new earning potential.
Key Takeaways
- 7 in 10 truck owners used their truck for a paid side hustle in the last 12 months, earning an average of $13,648.
- 13% of truck side-hustlers bought their truck for a specific earning opportunity, and 38% chose theirs with extra income in mind.
- Truck owners think Ford (44%), Toyota (38%), and Chevrolet (29%) have the best ROI for side hustles.
- 66% of side-hustlers recommended using a truck to make money, with 62% saying it's financially worth it.
- Over a third of truck side-hustlers (35%) are likely to expand their truck-based work into a full-time business within the next year.
Parking Problems Solved?
There's no shortage of work for those willing to put their pickup truck to use. From local deliveries to hauling and landscaping, truck owners are finding new ways to turn their rigs into reliable income streams.
Seven in ten truck owners said they've used their truck for paid work in the past year, and Gen Z led at 81%. Truck owners who bought their rides in 2021 or later were the most likely to monetize them (73%). Among states with 15 or more respondents, Alabama, South Carolina, and Maryland had the most side-hustling truck owners.
On average, truck owners juggled 2.6 side hustles at once, with top gigs including moving or furniture delivery (33%), junk hauling (29%), and landscaping or yard waste removal (22%). Time-wise, 38% of truck side-hustlers dedicated more than 10 hours each week to these gigs, with Gen X and Gen Z (42%) being the most likely to do so.
The payoff is strong. Average monthly earnings reached $1,360, climbing to $2,115 for Gen Z (the highest of all generations). Annual earnings averaged $13,648 overall, with Gen Z reporting the most money earned ($19,941). On average, money from these side hustles accounted for 20% of truck owners' total income.
Motivation Under the Hood
Why are so many truck owners turning their vehicles into moneymakers? It's all about financial freedom and flexibility.
More than 1 in 10 truck owners (13%) said they bought or leased their truck for a specific job, while another 38% said potential side income factored into their decision. The most valued truck features for making money were durability, total cost of ownership, and fuel efficiency.
Nearly half of truck side-hustlers (47%) said supplemental income was their main motivation, especially millennials (50%). For Gen Z, the appeal lies in being their own boss (36%). Most truck side-hustlers (61%) viewed their work as temporary, although some saw it as more permanent: 21% called it a backup plan, and 9% said it was the start of a long-term business.
When asked which brands deliver the best return on investment, Ford (44%), Toyota (38%), and Chevrolet (29%) came out on top. And more than half of truck side-hustlers (52%) invested in new equipment or upgrades over the past year to boost their earning potential.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
For many, side-hustling with a truck isn't all smooth roads. Rising fuel prices and maintenance costs are taking a toll, but most drivers still say it's worth it.
Fuel prices were the top challenge for 38% of truck side-hustlers, followed by maintenance costs at 35%. Even so, 62% said the effort was financially worth it, and 66% would encourage other truck owners to do the same.
Looking ahead, 35% plan to turn their truck work into a full-time business next year. For a lot of people, a pickup truck isn't just how they get to work anymore. It's how they make a living.
Conclusion
If you own a truck, you're already halfway to a side hustle. Whether it's hauling junk, delivering furniture, or towing on weekends, there's real money to be made with the right plan. Start by focusing on reliable, local work that matches your schedule and your truck's strengths.
Keep track of your expenses so you know what jobs actually pay off, and invest in small upgrades that make your truck more efficient and durable. The road to extra income is wide open. You just have to decide where to drive next.
Methodology
For this study, we surveyed 1,021 truck owners about their experiences monetizing their trucks as a side hustle. Respondents shared information on income, motivations, challenges, and brand perceptions related to truck-based work. Among the respondents, 16% reported as Gen Z, 53% reported as millennials, 25% reported as Gen X, and 6% reported as baby boomers.
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