Are you looking for unique truck business ideas? Do you own a truck or plan to buy or lease one to make decent money? If yes this is the place to find the right business ideas that will inspire you.

The trucking industry has so many ways to make a good income. You can decide on which one to start after reading the article and also the facts and figures of the trucking industry, they will help in deciding the right business for you in the trucking industry. Let’s dive into the important trucking industry statistics.

General Statistics of the Trucking Industry (U.S.)
Freight moved by the trucking industry (2022)	11.46 tons (worth $940.8 billion in revenues)
Trucking industry revenue in nation’s freight bill (2022)	80.7%
Transported freight that is hauled by the trucks	72%
Moving & storage industry contribution	$32 billion in direct output to the U.S economy
Expected growth of the trucking industry by 2031	21%
People employed in truck-related jobs (2022)	8.4 million
Professional truck drivers employed truck related jobs	3.54 million
Percentage of women employed in truck-related jobs	8.1 %
The average age of trucking industry driver	46 years
The average annual wage for heavy & tractor-trailer truck driver	$46,370
The average annual wage for a light or delivery service truck driver	$41,960
Most of the carrier companies in the U.S. are small businesses
That work with less than 20 trucks	97.4%
That work with less than 6 trucks	91%

17 Profitable Truck Business Ideas

These 17 business ideas related to trucks will surely get you thinking and arriving at a decision.

1. Moving Company

The major reasons why people move to the U.S. are people better neighbourhoods and better homes, wanting to own rather than rent, rising home prices, and less pleasant reasons like being evicted.

Moving industry is a lucrative business in the U.S. The market size of moving Services in the U.S. was $22.5bn in 2022 with an increase of 10.5%.

Moving business provides a great opportuning in a thriving market wherein you assist families to relocate.

Before you start out do the market research well including the level of competition, major competitors in the market and their strategies, licensing and insurance requirements, etc. Decide on the scope of the services like packing, cleaning, handyman options, and more.

Start your business with one truck in the beginning and once it grows you can think of expansion by hiring staff and investing in marketing. You also need to have a strong online presence and build partnerships with people or businesses associated with the moving industry like real estate managers, community centers, architects, and more.

2. Trucking Company

Trucking is an evergreen business because people or businesses will always need trucks for some or other tasks like moving goods, transporting, hauling, junk removal, and many more.

The trucking industry is an essential part of the U.S. economy and is responsible for providing transportation and logistics services for most of the industries around.

This is one of the oldest and most reliable industries.

Initially, you can start super small, just with a few trucks, and can expand further when the business grows. It’s a wise idea to start with used trucks initially, rather than going for new trucks. By starting small you will not take too much risk or pay upfront costs, and also will be able to maximize profits.

You can access different customers from government contracts to long-term vs. single-haul contracts. This will make it possible to diversify income streams and reduce dependence on any single customer or shipper.

You need to get a commercial driver’s license, insurance, and any relevant permits for shipping goods. Though the trucking market is known as lucrative, it can take some time to get started as a new company or even grow an existing business.

3. Food Truck

A food truck is a motorized vehicle such as a van, or trailer from which food is sold, it also contains cooking facilities where the food is prepared. You often come across food trucks these days, at parks and street fairs, beaches, music festivals, private parties and community events, and more.

In 2021, the U.S. food truck services market size was valued at $1.16 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2022 to 2030.

The rapid rise in food trucks is because of many factors. Youth prefer novel dining experiences over traditional dining in brick-and-mortar restaurants. Secondly, the rising popularity of the mobile lifestyle is also adding to the growth. The rise of social media has contributed immensely to the food trucks’ growth.

The food truck is one of the fastest-growing concepts and one of the most in-demand restaurants in the U.S. because of its versatility, affordability, and accessibility. In American culture meals on wheels are quite popular.

The cost of starting a food truck is significantly low than setting up a brick-and-mortar restaurant. You should first decide on your menu. There are a number of food items you can offer to the food lovers like pizza, burgers, sausages, smoothies, milkshakes, and many more.

You must acquire the necessary licenses and permits, which are absolutely crucial for any food-related business.

As the business is highly dependent on the young population, you must strategically leverage Instagram, Tik Tok, and Snapchat to advertise your menu, locations, and operating times as well as keep in touch with your customers.

4. Truck Rental

Truck rental is another lucrative business in this segment. There are many small and big businesses that need trucks on occasional basis, so you can rent your truck to them by the day, week, or month.

As per the Ibis World the U.S. market size, measured by revenue, of the Truck Rental industry was $31.6 billion in 2022 with an increase of 5.7% in 2022.

Truck rental companies cater to people, businesses, and government agencies. Logistics, manufacturing, and construction industries are important elements in the growth of the truck rental market. Secondly fleet owners are using cost-cutting techniques to provide cost-effective rental trucks.

Renting a truck has a numerous advantage for the businesses such as it reduces operating hazards, deals with contract uncertainty, cost effective than truck purchase, avoids servicing costs, maintenance and vehicle replacement, etc.

Another major source of demand for rental vehicles comes from house shifting operations. Truck booking apps makes it easier to hire trucks. Furthermore, low operational costs further drive the demand for truck rental services.

Make sure you have all licenses and permits and do thorough market research before you venture into truck rental business.

5. Dump Truck

Dump truck is a promising business idea that hold good earning potential.

A dump truck is a heavy-duty vehicle meant to transport and unload bulk materials, such as dirt, gravel, sand, gravel, construction debris, etc. It is equipped with a “dump box” that can be raised at the front end, and thus contents can be deposited on the ground behind the truck.

The U.S. dump truck service market is expected to reach $20.64 billion by 2025, due to the rise in the construction and mining activities in the country.

The demand and need for dump truck services in construction and mining activities is high.

Dump trucks are an important element of the construction and mining industry and play a major role in handling and delivering large loads of material during construction and mining activities.

Generally, small dump trucks are used for residential and local deliveries, and larger ones for construction and mining activities.

You can diversify your business by offering more than one service for residential and commercial customers

• Construction waste removal

• Yard waste removal

• Industrial waste

• Sand and gravel delivery

• Rock and stone delivery

• Hauling agricultural products

• Topsoil and mulch delivery

• Excess dirt removal

• Snow removal

6. Courier Service

A courier service serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, e-commerce stores, banks, hospitals, law offices, banks, and more.

A courier company charges a rate for the package based upon the weight of the package and urgency of delivery of the package. Courier services are recognized for their security, swift delivery, speed, and tracking features.

A courier service is a high-quality solution that collects and delivers shipments within the shortest possible time, very efficiently.

If you plan to start a courier service, you can commence by working as a delivery driver and collaborate with self-employed drivers to handle customer orders. As the business expands, you can invest in delivery vans to accommodate larger or bulkier shipments.

You should have excellent time management skills. If you are thinking of a business in box truck space this is an excellent low-cost opportunity with good earning potential.

The market size of the Couriers & Local Delivery Services industry in the US in 2022 was $151.6 billion with a growth rate of 4.6%.

7. Hot Shot Trucking Business

Hot shot trucking means delivering time-sensitive less-than-truckload (LTL) loads to easily accessible locations in short time. Hot shot trucking is like a downsized version of semi trucking with less overhead.

The demand for hot shot trucking comes from industries that need things to be delivered quickly such as the oil, agricultural, and construction industries, etc., With quick delivery of equipment companies can avoid drops in productivity, delays, and revenue losses.

For example, a company that is in the construction industry may need a concrete saw to be transported from one site to another by means of a hot shot trucking to deliver the equipment as fast as possible and prevent downtime.

Before you decide of starting a hot shot trucking business make sure you possess all permits and licenses. Do thorough market research and know all who are your competitors and what they are doing differently.

8. Tow Truck

If you are looking for a unique and new business opportunity in trucking industry then this business may fit the bill.

A tow truck is a vehicle used to move disabled, illegally parked, impounded vehicles, involved in an accident, need transportation from one place to another, and more.

 Majorly tow trucks are operated by private businesses but there are also some police departments and municipalities that operate their tow trucks. The rising no of aging vehicles and roadside assistance is also adding to the growth of tow truck business.

The major factors for growing tow truck services are the rapid growth of vehicles on the road and expanding share of the e-commerce and logistics industry. The U.S. market size, measured by revenue, of the Automobile Towing industry was $9.3 billion in 2022.

If you are keen to enter the trucking industry this is a business you should surely think of.

9. Junk Removal

Junk removal is a billion-dollar industry and growing each passing day as people spend more and more time in their homes than ever before. This surge has increased the need for junk removal services in the U.S.

As online shopping from companies like Amazon has become a routine affair, we will continue to see more garbage cans and dumpsters. There will always be a need for waste removal as long as people continue to purchase goods.

The U.S. waste collection services market size, measured by revenue, was $73.7billion in 2022 and had a growth of 1.5%.

Junk removal services makes the customer get rid of the unwanted items from a customer’s home or business. This stress-free solution has turned the junk hauling business into a billion-dollar industry.

Latest trends suggest that the demand is expected to continue to grow because of eco-friendliness, the rise in work-from-home, and trends in home decluttering and remodeling.

Junk removal helps in many ways- some people declutter their homes, while others use donated items to refurnish their homes or create their next DIY project. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, be it a customer, business, local community, families starting over, and the environment.

To start this business, you’ll need a truck and the right tools and equipment. You will also need licenses and should reach out to developers, property managers, contractors, construction firms, etc. to build your business.

10. Box Truck

In the trucking industry box truck related business is one of the lucrative businesses.

A box truck is a commercial vehicle that has a box-like or rectangular cargo area at its back which is separate from the driver’s cab and provides a secure and weatherproof space for transporting goods. It comes with a rear cargo door or multiple doors on the back, that allows for easy loading and unloading of items.

A box truck protects goods from weather conditions, enhances security due to the enclosed cargo area, and can accommodate a wide range of cargo sizes and types. They can transport significant volumes of goods.

To start you will need a box truck, it could be a costly affair with the new box truck, it’s a wise idea to begin your business with a used one. You can scout for a better deal online; else you can also explore leasing options. Get a commercial driver’s license and learn the rules and regulations related to the shipment of freight and relevant safety issues.

11. Snow Plow

Hunting for an idea of making money in the winter months? Look no further – snow plow business is the right opportunity. It’s a lucrative industry to be in.

In the U.S. the Snow plowing services industry was worth $25.4 billion in 2022 and had a growth rate of 1.1%.

Snow removal service includes clearing snow from roadways, runways, residential driveways, and other similar locations throughout the winter to keep the roads open to the public. The rising requirement for road maintenance in snow-prone areas has been the key driver for snow removal services.

Accident often take place because of adverse weather conditions and snow is one of the factors that contributes to the accidents in snow prone areas. Government is quite serious about road safety and hence the need of snow clearing trucks is in demand from government too.

12. Ice Cream truck

Who doesn’t love ice creams? Ice cream truck business is a cool business idea like food truck. The ice cream trucks are in good demand on occasions such as concerts, festivals, and other large-scale events in the U.S. They are quite popular at public and private events.

Ice cream trucks have been popular in the U.S. for a while now, and they are mostly parked near parks, beaches, and public areas where people often gather or pass by.

The U.S. ice cream trucks market size was valued at $1,480.0 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2023 to 2030.

You have to be quite creative in ice cream truck business, the consumer demand for ice creams is constantly evolving, you have to expand your offerings with products that include exotic, organic, herbal, and functional ingredients.

Nowadays people are quite health conscious and many prefer reduced or no-fat dairy-based desserts and ice creams. Of late rolled ice creams have become quite popular. You can surely capitalize on this trend. Customers can customize rolled ice creams as per their choice of flavours and ingredients.

13. Start a Food Delivery Business

Food delivery is a big business. Through your business you can business facilitate the delivery of restaurant meals to customers’ doorsteps. Many individuals prefer convenience over cooking and frequently order food from local restaurants and enjoy meals at home, in today’s world.

You can provide retail food delivery services to well-known restaurants in your local area. Customers place orders through the website or the app and the restaurant owners contact you to handle the delivery. In this business model, you act as a bridge between restaurants and their customers making it sure that the food is delivered safely and on time.

In 2022, the United States online food delivery market size was valued at $22.59 billion. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% between 2023 and 2028 to reach a value of almost $ 41.15 billion by 2028.

14.Advertise with your truck

If you have a box truck, you can make extra money by utilizing box trucks as moving canvases to nice advertisements, promotional messages, and logos.

Box trucks offer a effective way for companies because they have a large surface area and visibility on the roads. The business involves leasing advertising space to companies that want innovative marketing solutions.

You can do this business simultaneously along with other businesses related to box truck businesses like transportation, hauling, and renting.

15. Fedex Routes

This is a cool business idea in trucking industry. The best part is you need not find contracts for your box truck.

FedEx partners with local trucking businesses for delivery solutions. You can buy a FedEx route make all deliveries in your area and thus make decent money. The profit margins range from 10% to 45% at different levels

16. Truck Driving School

This is another lucrative option for a truck owner. Many people who want to enter the trucking industry are eager to learn to drive a truck. This idea gives rise to a potential business idea of driving school.

17. Truck washing and Detailing

This is a cool and easy-to-start truck business idea. Who doesn’t like their truck to look clean and attractive?If you have a truck, you can start a sole proprietorship truck washing and detailing business.