A 26-foot box truck on a new authority can gross around $4,000 a week, usually from 2 to 4 loads. Once the authority is established, that can climb to about $8,000 a week.
I'm Paul Clark. Before I set carriers up with factoring, I was the freight broker deciding which box truck got the load and what it paid. Here's what actually moves the number.
What a box truck makes in a week
| 1 Truck Business | New authority | Established authority |
|---|---|---|
| Loads per week | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4+ |
| Weekly Income | About $4,000 | About $8,000 |
| Monthly Income | About $17,333 | About $34,667 |
| Annual Income | About $200,000+ | About $400,000+ |
Those are gross numbers for one 26-foot truck running consistently. Want to plug in your own equipment and truck count? Try the Revenue Calculator or track real weeks with the Weekly Trucking Calculator.
What one big load can pay
When I was brokering, one of my customers was Apple. We moved 15 to 20 box truck loads a day for them, multi-pick and multi-stop, and a 26-foot box truck got about $6,000 to $8,000 Per One (1) Load.
Not every load looks like that. But it shows the range: the right freight, with the right truck, pays a lot more than most new carriers expect.
What box truck loads pay per mile
Short local loads and long runs pay very differently, and rates move with the market every week. Here are the ranges published 2026 industry rate guides report for box truck freight:
| Type of load | Typical rate per mile |
|---|---|
| Local | About $1.40–$2.25 |
| Regional / standard broker freight | About $1.60–$2.50 |
| Expedited | About $2.00–$3.50+ |
Watch out for one thing: a high rate per mile on a long run can shrink fast once you count the empty miles to get to it. A $2.60 load that needs 300 miles of driving empty to pick up pays a lot less per mile than it looks.
What makes a box truck load pay more
When I was brokering with two carriers on the phone at once, these are the questions that decided who got the load, and who I'd pay more:
- Is your truck dock-high? A dock-high box truck sits about chest-high, level with a warehouse loading dock. A U-Haul-style truck that sits down at your knees can't back up to most docks.
- Do you have a liftgate? If the shipper or receiver doesn't have a loading dock, a liftgate is the only way the freight gets on or off. I'd always rather have a truck show up that's dock-high and has a liftgate. It's my insurance policy.
- Do you run as a team? Team drivers keep the truck moving around the clock, and team runs pay more.
- Can you take expedited freight? Speed costs money. Loads that need to get there fast pay a premium.
- Is it a 26-footer? The bigger truck wins ties, because shippers add freight at the last minute. More on that in How To Make Money With A Box Truck.
Is there a rate you should never go below?
Not one number for everybody. Every carrier's costs are different. If you paid cash for your truck, your break-even is low. If you have a big truck payment, or you're paying a driver, it's much higher.
What matters is knowing your own cost to run per mile and per day. Any load above that number makes you money, and any load below it costs you. The Weekly Trucking Calculator helps you figure out yours.
How far should you drive empty for a load?
It depends on where the freight is. Say you're empty in Denver and can't find anything, and you live in Atlanta. If there's a load in Oklahoma City going back to Atlanta, driving empty to Oklahoma City to grab it beats driving empty all the way home.
My rule: it's better to have a load than not. If you can get into a market with more freight, go grab it and make a little money along the way, instead of deadheading all the way home.
Are Amazon Relay loads worth it for box trucks?
Try it. I encourage every carrier to get set up with Amazon Relay, and money can be made there. But go in with your eyes open, because there are more cons than pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Steady freight while your score is good | Lots of checklists and requirements |
| Real money can be made | Your scorecard starts at A Grade, and slips with every late pickup or delivery |
| Traffic, weather, accidents and construction happen, so almost everyone eventually drops to a C and gets cut off |
So try it, but keep your backup plan ready. When Amazon cuts you off, you need to be able to pivot back to the load board quickly. It never lasts forever.
One tip: if you factor with me, I can process your Amazon loads too. Amazon has its own payment system, but sending me those Rate Cons, BOLs and PODs keeps all your paperwork in one place, which makes tax season a lot easier.
Quick answers
How much do box truck loads pay?
A 26-foot box truck on a new authority can gross around $4,000 a week from 2 to 4 loads, and about $8,000 a week once the authority is established.
What is the average box truck rate per mile in 2026?
Published 2026 rate guides put most box truck freight around $1.60 to $2.50 per mile, with local loads lower and expedited loads up to $3.50 or more.
Do box truck owners make good money?
They can. A new authority running consistently can gross anywhere from $17,000 to $35,000+ a month with One (1) Truck. What you keep depends on your truck payment, insurance, fuel and other costs.
What box truck loads pay the most?
Team runs and expedited loads pay the most. Brokers also pay more for a dock-high 26-foot truck with a liftgate.
How much does Amazon pay for box truck loads?
It varies by load. Amazon Relay is worth trying, but most carriers eventually get cut off as their scorecard slips.
Should new carriers take weekend loads?
I'd avoid them at first. They come with tricky situations, especially multi-stop loads, that new carriers can get taken advantage of on.
Want Help Finding Better-Paying Loads?
Call me, let's talk. I answer my own phone, after 5 and on weekends too.