How to Make Money with a Pickup Truck

Do you have a pickup truck that you would like to use to earn some money? Maybe you’re thinking about doing it as a side hustle in addition to your regular job. Or perhaps you would like to use your truck to start a business to earn a full-time living.

Trucks are among the most versatile vehicles there is, and many people use them to make money all the time. There’s no reason why you can’t do the same as long as you pick the right strategy, do a good job of advertising your services, and work hard.

If you are wondering how to make money with a pickup truck, the following are 15 ideas for turning your truck into a money-making machine.

1. Flip Used Items for Profit

I’m going to start with one of my favorite ways to make money with a truck – flipping used items for profit. This is an opportunity that can be either a side hustle or a full-time business.

Buying and flipping used items is a great business opportunity for several reasons. First, many people don’t know what their stuff is worth when they list it for sale. Some people even give away perfectly good stuff that they think is worthless.

If you can learn to identify good opportunities, you may be able to source used items from people in your community that you can resell for a good profit on eBay. The idea with this opportunity is to look for big-ticket items that you can resell with a good profit margin.

This is where your truck comes in.

Since you will be targeting more expensive items, you’ll most likely need a truck to haul them around in. This isn’t always the case, but many of the more profitable items tend to be larger items, thus requiring you to transport them by truck.

It’s easier than you might think to find used items to flip. They can be found at flea markets, auctions, garage and yard sales, thrift stores, and online at Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other online buy and sell platforms.

Rob and Melissa Stephenson are a couple who make their living flipping used items. It’s their primary source of income for their family. They also teach others how to start and run their own flipping businesses in their online course, Flipper University.

Flipper University teaches you everything you need to know to build a business you’ll be proud of. Just a few things the course covers include:

• Sourcing products
• Finding free items to resell
• Listing products on eBay
• Getting items ready to sell
• Shipping products
• Keeping your eBay account in good standing

The Pro Plus version of the course also teaches you how to ship large items by freight truck. It’s not as hard as you may think. In this section of the course you’ll learn:

• How to determine whether to ship by UPS/FedEx or by freight truck
• Boxing and palleting large items
• Getting freight quotes
• Freight pick up or drop off at a terminal

Check out Flipper University to see how you can use your truck to earn money flipping used items.

2. Flip Used Appliances

If you have ever wondered, “I have a pickup truck and need to make money,” starting a business flipping used appliances is another great way to make money with your truck.

This opportunity is similar to flipping used things you find in your community except that you focus your efforts on used appliances.

Why appliances?

When many people’s stove, refrigerator, or clothes washer or dryer goes out, they don’t always have money to go to their local home improvement store and buy a new one. Because of this, many turn to the classifieds when the need arises to see if they can find a quality used appliance instead.

The idea behind flipping used appliances is to source broken appliances, fix them, and then resell them for a profit.

One of the great things about flipping used appliances is that many of the repairs they need are not complicated. And as long as the appliance isn’t too old, many replacement parts aren’t expensive, either.

Another great benefit of this business is that you can essentially obtain a free (or nearly free) supply of broken appliances. When an appliance breaks, many people will give them away just to get rid of them. Not everyone has a truck to haul their old appliance off, and many just want someone to take their old units off of their hands.

To get started in this business, you will need to obtain some broken appliances to repair and fix. You can put an ad in Craigslist offering to take off people’s old appliances with your truck for free. This is a great way to source free appliances.

Not all of the appliances you pick up this way will be worth repairing. Some will, but with others you will be better off taking them straight to the junkyard. It all just depends on the age and condition.

Once you have a few appliances, you can then repair them in your garage. Repair information for many units can be found on the internet or YouTube.

You then list the repaired units for sale on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other online buy and sell platforms.

And, here’s a really slick way to get a continual source of free appliances to repair. When you drop off an appliance that someone bought from you, just ask them if they would like for you to take their old one off with your truck.

Many people will agree to this just to get rid of an appliance they think is worthless. You can then repair the unit and flip it.

Rinse and repeat.

3. Handyman Services

Another great opportunity for those who are looking for jobs with a pickup truck is to be a handyman.

A handyman is someone who does odd jobs for people. There are many things you could do as a handyman.

One day you could be painting someone’s living room and the next you could be hauling off some junk in your truck that has been accumulating for years in someone’s backyard. You could even do some light repair work in and around people’s homes.

A few ways to find work as a handyman is to check Craigslist. If you go to Craigslist and search for “truck” in your local community, you may be able to find people who are looking for someone to help them haul things and do other things that require a truck.

4. Lawn Care Services

This is an opportunity that you might want to consider combining with handyman services.

Lawn care is big business. Many people work long hours, and the last thing they want to do on their days off is mow the lawn, trim bushes, and pull weeds.

That’s where you and your truck come in.

As a proud truck owner, you could load a push mower in the back of your truck along with a weed eater and some other tools (shovels, rakes, etc.) to maintain people’s lawns. If you have a riding mower, you could also invest in a trailer to haul your mower and equipment around.

Many people pay good money to have someone take care of their lawns for them. If you line up enough clients, earning $1,000 a week mowing lawns during the warm weather months is definitely possible.

In addition to cutting grass, you may also be able to make money with your truck by doing landscaping for people. Many people need someone to transport mulch, trees, bushes, and other things they want to plant around their homes from nurseries, farm stores, and other places.

5. Odd Jobs

There are many opportunities for making money with your truck. Similar to offering handyman services, you can also do odd jobs for people. This is different from being a handyman because the focus is more broad.

This is a great side job for those with a pickup truck. One day you may be hauling some junk off for someone, the next you could be delivering something. No two days will ever be exactly the same, making this an interesting way to earn money.

A great way to find people who are looking for someone with a truck is to check TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit is a website that connects those who are looking for someone to do odd jobs with those who want to do the work.

TaskRabbit is only available in select cities. Check the company’s website to see if your city is listed.

6. Moving Services

Moving is hard work – just ask anyone who has ever done it. Another way to make money with a truck is to offer moving services.

If you are considering offering moving services with your truck, it’s best to do this locally. If you have a regular pickup truck and not a moving truck, you may have to make multiple trips back and forth to move furniture, boxes, and other items. For long-distance moves, it’s best to use a moving truck.

In addition to helping people move from one home to another, you can also offer your services to help people move other things. It doesn’t always have to be about moving furniture and boxes.

Sometimes people need help moving one or two things. There are many possibilities but just a few include hauling off junk, taking large items off to be recycled, helping a business move large items, and others.

If you are wondering how to advertise your moving services, there are five great apps and websites you can go through to connect with those who are looking for help. They include Dolly, GoShare, Bungii, Burro, and Buddytruk.

Before I go over each company, it’s important to point out that the requirements to work for each company and how much you can earn with each company may change over time. Be sure to check each company’s website to review their current requirements to see if you qualify.

Dolly

Dolly is a service you can join if you have a truck and you can lift over 75 pounds. Dolly’s website states that “Helpers” (those with their own trucks) can earn $30 or more per hour.

It’s also possible to join Dolly if you don’t have a truck and can lift over 75 pounds. These people are called “Hands,” and the company’s website states they can make $15 per hour or more.

Dolly’s website states that top Helpers “can routinely earn over $1,000 per week,” and you can work on your own schedule. And if you are a Helper and need a Hand to assist you with a job, Dolly will match you with someone.

The way Dolly works is simple. You will be notified on your smartphone with the Dolly app when an opportunity is available. You can then schedule the work and get a Helper if needed. You then do the work and get paid.

Dolly pays weekly via PayPal.

The following are the requirements to become a Dolly Helper:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
• Have a pickup truck in good condition
• Have a smartphone that can operate the Dolly app
• Pass a background check
• Be able to lift over 75 pounds
• Have a PayPal account

Dolly is only available in select cities. Be sure to check the Dolly website to see if your city is included.

GoShare

GoShare is another website/app where you can haul stuff for money. In many ways, it’s very similar to Dolly.

If you have a truck, you may be able to sign up with GoShare and help people who are moving, hauling, or delivering large items. The GoShare website states that those with standard pickup trucks earn $47 per hour on average. Those with large pickup trucks earn $61 per hour on average.

This is great money! Depending on the demand for your services, it would make a great side hustle, or it may even be possible to earn a full-time living this way.

GoShare works very similar to Dolly:

1. Receive a project alert on your smartphone with the GoShare app
2. Only accept the jobs you are interested in
3. Do the work according to the schedule
4. Get paid

To qualify for GoShare, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a truck that is less than 15 years old
• Your truck must be able to pass a vehicle inspection
• Your truck must not have a salvage title
• Pass a background check and driving history check
• Have a smartphone that can run the GoShare app
• Have a checking account for direct deposit
• Speak English
• Have a valid license, registration, and insurance in your state
• Comply with all local laws

GoShare is only available in select cities. Be sure to check the company’s website to see if your city is listed.

Bungii

Bungii is another company you may be able to partner with if you are looking for delivery jobs for pickup trucks.

Bungii operates in a similar way to Dolly and GoShare. An interesting difference in Bungii, however, is that businesses can partner with it to offer delivery services. According to the company’s website, it currently partners with several big-name retail companies.

This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Not everyone owns a truck, and many people need to buy things and transport them home that are too big for their vehicles. Bungii’s partnerships with companies help to increase the opportunities that will be available to you.

To qualify to drive your truck for Bungii, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be able to lift and carry up to 100 pounds
• Know how to strap and secure items in your truck
• Truck must be no older than 15 years and in good condition
• Have a valid truck registration and insurance
• Have an open truck bed (no bed covers, toolboxes, etc.)
• Have tarps, ratchet straps, blankets, and other moving equipment
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record
• Pass a background check

Bungii is only available in select cities. Be sure to check the Bungii website to see if your city is listed.

Burro

Burro is another service you may be able to use to earn money with your truck. It is very similar to Dolly, GoShare, and Bungii.

Burrro states on its website that you can earn $40 minimum per delivery. You can also keep all of the tips you earn. How much you can earn through Burro varies depending on a lot of different factors, but the company states that some of their independent contractors earn $1,600 a week.

To qualify to drive your truck for Burro, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be able to lift 100 pound
• Pass a DMV and criminal background check
• Agree to the Burro terms of service and contract
• Own a full-size pickup truck in good condition
• Have a smartphone that can run the Burro app
• Have straps, moving blankets, shrink wrap, and other moving equipment

Burro uses a rating system to make sure deliveries are handled in a professional manner and customers are satisfied. After each delivery, customers rate their Burro driver. If you drive for Burro, you must maintain a certain rating to continue with the company.

Like the other services mentioned, Burro is only available in select cities. Be sure to check Burro’s website to see if your city is included.

Buddytruk

The last company I want to mention that you may be able to go through to earn money with your pickup truck (did you realize there were so many of them?) is Buddytruk.

Buddytruk is another app-based service that lets you use your truck to help people move things to earn money. The company states that drivers can make their own schedules and earn up to $40 per hour.

Buddytruk is a relatively new company (as this article is being written) and is currently only available in a few cities. Be sure to check the company’s website to see if your city is listed.

7. Snow Plowing Services

This is an opportunity that you may be able to combine with lawn care or handyman services. In fact, when the weather gets cold, the demand for lawn care services usually declines. Most people don’t need their lawns, mowed, for example, during the winter months.

When demand for one seasonal service declines, you can pick a service that is often needed during the winter months – snow removal.

To offer snow plowing services with your truck, you will need to invest in a good snowplow that you can attach to the front of your truck. Snowplows aren’t cheap. You can expect to spend $1k – $2k for a decent model. It may be possible to save money by buying a used snow plow when the demand for plowing is low, like during the summer months.

The main negative thing about offering snow plowing services is that you do need to make yourself available when it snows. This means you won’t be able to schedule jobs if the weather is bad. You’ll need to be on standby in case someone contacts you to have their snow plowed.

8. Turn Your Truck into a Mobile Billboard

Advertising is big business. Each year, companies spend billions to advertise their products and services in the United States alone. And if you have a pickup truck, you may be able to turn your ride into a mobile billboard to earn some money.

Wrapify is a company that connects companies that are looking for vehicles to advertising on with people who want to earn money with their cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

To earn money through Wrapify, there must be an advertiser that wants to promote its brand in the area you live in. Because of this, not all areas will qualify. It depends on the demand for your area.

According to Wrapify’s website, the following are the basic steps to earn advertising money with your vehicle:

• Download the Wrapify app to your smartphone
• Drive 50 qualifying miles in your daily commute
• Accept campaign offers
• Agree to Wrapify’s terms and conditions
• Go through a background check
• Submit pictures of your vehicle
• Schedule to have the advertising wrap applied to your vehicle
• Have the wrap installed
• Earn money for your daily commute

How much you can earn per month depends on a variety of factors including the type of wrap you choose (full, partial, etc.), how many miles you drive, and others.

9. Residential Trash Services

While many communities offer trash pick up services, not all do. In many communities, people still have to take their bags of trash to a transfer station or landfill themselves.

If there is no residential trash pick up service where you live, you may be able to offer your services to those in your community. Taking off the trash is a chore that many people don’t have the time for and would gladly pay someone to do for them. There are many would pay $50 a month (or more) to have someone pick up their trash once a week.

At $50 a month per customer, you don’t need too many customers to earn a full-time income doing this. Just 100 clients will give you a full-time income:

$50 per month x 100 clients = $5,000 per month

Of course, this figure doesn’t account for any expenses you may have like fuel, insurance, transfer station or landfill fees, permits, etc. But it should be good enough to give you a general idea of what’s possible with this business idea.

Even if you made $4,000 per month with 100 clients (after deducting expenses), that still comes to $48,000 a year. There are millions of people with college degrees who earn this much or less.

Can you imagine the possibilities if you increased the number of clients you serve to 200? Or 300?

If you are on a budget when you are first starting this business, you could collect people’s garbage in the bed of your truck. As you expand your clientele and earn more money, you might want to consider investing in a trailer you tow behind you to put the trash in. A trailer will make it easier to haul more trash before you have to unload everything at your local transfer station or landfill.

An additional service you could offer is to pick up large objects by special request for an extra fee. Many people need a way to throw away old furniture, appliances, and other large objects and don’t have a truck. This is just another way you could earn money with this business.

10. Rent Your Truck

Sometimes people need to use a truck to haul or tow something. They just need a truck for a day or two. You may be able to earn money with your truck by renting it out to people who need one.

Turo

Turo is a company that lets you list your truck for rent. People can find your vehicle by using the Turo app and can reserve your truck on the app, too.

Turo lets you control your own schedule. You can list your truck for rent for just a few days of the month, for example, or more. It all depends on how much free time you have, how much you would like to earn, and market demand.

Turo automatically prices your vehicle for you to maximize your income, but you also have the option to set your own price if you prefer. Turo pays via direct deposit within five days. You’ll earn a percentage of the trip price.

It’s completely free to list your truck on Turo. Be sure to check out the company’s website to see if your city or location is listed.

Getaround

Similar to Turo, Getaround is another option for those who want to make money with their trucks by renting them out.

By using the Getaround app, renters can select, rent, and even unlock the doors of the vehicle they are renting. Getaround’s website states that it is available in 300 cities in seven countries. Check the Getaround website to see if your city is listed.

11. Outdoor Maintenance and Cleaning Services

This is another opportunity that you could combine with yard maintenance or landscaping services.

If you have a truck, specializing in outdoor cleaning services is another great opportunity to consider. Outdoor cleaning services include cleaning gutters, windows, driveways, and other things.

You could, for instance, haul a pressure washer in your truck and clean people’s brick siding, walkways, driveways, and other things. You could keep a small portable unit that you connect to people’s outdoor spigots, or you could tow a larger unit that has its own water reservoir.

12. Construction Cleanup Services

Construction is a messy business.

There’s a lot of waste that builds up on construction sites when a new home or commercial building is built. If you have a pickup truck, you may be able to earn money by offering your services to haul off the waste materials to a dump.

You could contract with construction companies in your area and contractors to see if they would be interested in using your services to clean up during and after construction. If a new commercial building is being built, for example, you could arrange to come by once a week and remove and dispose of the waste that may have accumulated.

13. Mobile Auto Detailing Services

After working long hours at their jobs all week long, the last thing many people want to do on their days off is work some more. Days off are for relaxing and recharging, not washing and waxing vehicles.

If you have a truck, you may be able to earn money by operating a mobile auto detailing service. You can use your truck to transport all of your equipment to where your clients’ vehicles are located. Some customers may not have an outdoor spigot for you to connect a hose to wash their vehicles with. It may be necessary to tow a water storage tank with a gas-powered pump to operate it.

Mobile auto detailing can be lucrative. Many services charge $100 or more to wash, wax, and clean a vehicle’s interior. The reason it pays so well is because it’s hard work. It requires a lot of elbow grease to clean a vehicle.

How much you can make with a mobile auto detailing business depends on the area you live in and how much competition there is. Also, this tends to be a seasonal business. While some do have their vehicles cleaned during the cold season, most prefer to do this when it’s warm outside.

Another thing to consider if you are thinking about a mobile auto detailing service is to expand your offerings to other types of vehicles. Many people, for instance, need someone to clean and wax their boats and jet skis. If there are any large houseboats in your area, these could keep you very busy. Be sure to check with your local marinas to inquire about opportunities.

Don’t forget about aircraft!

Many airplane owners need someone to wash, wax, and detail the interiors of their airplanes and helicopters. Large business jets will require a lot of time and effort to clean and will be more lucrative than smaller aircraft. Be sure to check with your local airports to inquire about opportunities.

14. Mobile Windshield Repair

Yet another way to make money with a truck is to offer mobile windshield repair services.

Windshields on cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles get cracked all the time. And when this happens, people need a way to have their windows repaired or replaced before they can drive again.

In some states, it’s illegal to drive if your windshield is cracked. Because of this, instead of you going to someone to have it repaired, the repair has to come to you.

Mobile windshield repair is a relatively low-cost business to start. If you are going to offer windshield replacement, you will need a truck bed cover to protect windshields from blowing out as you drive down the road.

15. Local Business Delivery

Another way you may be able to make money with your truck is to deliver things for local businesses.

Not all local businesses have delivery vehicles and drivers on staff. Some farm supply stores, for example, sell large objects that need to be transported by truck. If both the store and the customer don’t have a truck, it may be difficult to transport an item someone bought to that person’s home, farm, or business.

That’s where you and your truck come in.

You may be able to contract with businesses in your area to deliver items for them on an as-needed basis. Customers could pay you directly for your services, or the company could add an additional fee to the final price of the product for the delivery.

Earn a Living with Your Truck

A pickup truck can be a money-making machine if you select the right opportunity, do a good job of marketing your services, and work hard.

It’s important to point out that you don’t necessarily have to choose just one option on this list. You can combine opportunities to stay busy and maximize your earnings potential. For example, you could go through one of the companies previously mentioned to offer your moving services. When you aren’t busy moving things, you could do lawn care and landscaping.

A truck is much more than something to ride around in – it’s a tool you can use to earn a living with. A good quality truck can be an investment in your future. It’s something that can be used for both work and play.