How do you get box truck contracts?
Most box truck contracts grow out of a track record: on-time spot loads that turn into repeat lanes with brokers, then dedicated or contract work with brokers, shippers and local businesses. Have your authority, insurance and paperwork ready, approach shippers whose freight fits a box truck, and protect your service record. Amazon Relay is another option for carriers with their own authority who meet its current requirements.
Many box truck owner-operators want the same thing: steady, predictable freight instead of hunting for a new load every day. That is what people usually mean by "box truck contracts". They exist, but they rarely come first. They tend to come after you have shown brokers and shippers that you can be counted on.
This post covers the main sources of contract-style box truck work, what it takes to win it, where Amazon Relay fits, and how a box truck dispatch company can help along the way.
What "box truck contracts" usually means
The phrase covers a few different arrangements:
- Dedicated lanes with a broker. A broker offers you the same lane on a set schedule, often at an agreed rate.
- Repeat spot freight. No formal contract, but a broker or shipper calls you first whenever they have a load that fits.
- Direct shipper agreements. A business hires your company directly for regular runs, sometimes with a written agreement.
- Delivery and final-mile work. Routes for companies that handle local or regional deliveries.
- Load programs run by large shippers. Amazon Relay is the best-known example.
The difference between spot and contract freight is covered in more detail in our post on broker setup, rate confirmations and spot vs contract.
Step 1: Be ready before you ask
Brokers and shippers look for carriers who are easy to set up and low risk. Have these ready:
- Active USDOT number and operating authority.
- Certificate of insurance with the limits your target customers ask for.
- W-9 and a carrier packet you can send within minutes.
- A clean inspection and safety record.
- A clear description of your truck: box length, door type, liftgate, payload, pallet capacity and any equipment like pallet jacks or blankets.
If you need help with any of this, Texas Solutions prepares broker packets and handles DOT compliance help and MC authority setup through our back office services.
Step 2: Build a service record with spot loads
Very few shippers hand a dedicated lane to a carrier they have never worked with. Spot loads are how you prove yourself. On every load:
- Arrive on time, or call well before you will be late.
- Send updates at pickup, in transit and at delivery without being asked.
- Get clean, signed paperwork and send it promptly.
- Handle freight carefully and report any issues right away.
Keep notes on which brokers you worked with, which lanes and what they paid. That list becomes your contract pipeline. For finding spot freight, see the best load boards for box trucks.
Step 3: Ask for repeat lanes
After a few clean loads with the same broker, ask directly:
- Do you have this lane every week?
- Do you have any freight going back the other way?
- Is there a dedicated or committed carrier program I can apply for?
Brokers often have shippers who need a reliable small truck on a regular schedule. If you have already delivered for them, you are an easy choice.
Step 4: Approach shippers directly
Some box truck freight never reaches a load board. Businesses that commonly ship box truck sized loads include:
- Furniture, mattress and appliance sellers.
- Wholesale distributors and suppliers.
- Building supply and flooring stores.
- Printers, displays and trade show companies.
- Regional manufacturers shipping smaller orders.
Keep the pitch short: your equipment, service area, insurance limits and how to reach you. Be honest about capacity. Promising more than one truck can deliver is a fast way to lose the account.
Direct shippers often pay on their own terms. Understand payment timing before you start, and consider whether factoring makes sense for your cash flow.
Step 5: Price contracts carefully
A steady lane at a bad rate is a steady loss. Before agreeing to any recurring work, run the full round trip.
Example with assumed figures:
- Lane: 250 miles out, 250 miles back, five times a week
- Rate offered: $650 each way, with freight both directions
- Your all-in cost per mile (assumption): $1.55
- Weekly miles: 500 x 5 = 2,500
- Weekly revenue: $650 x 2 x 5 = $6,500
- Weekly cost: 2,500 x $1.55 = $3,875
- Weekly profit before fees: $6,500 - $3,875 = $2,625
Now suppose freight only goes one way and you run back empty. Revenue drops to $650 x 5 = $3,250, while costs stay at $3,875, a $625 weekly loss. The return leg decides whether a contract works. Check your break-even with the cost per mile calculator and each leg with the load profitability calculator.
How to get Amazon Relay loads
Amazon Relay is Amazon's own load board, where carriers with their own operating authority can book freight that moves through Amazon's network. A few facts to keep in mind:
- You need your own authority. Relay is for carriers, not for drivers without their own USDOT and MC numbers.
- You apply through Amazon Relay's website. The application checks things like authority, insurance and safety information.
- Requirements change. Insurance limits, equipment types and eligibility rules are set by Amazon and can change at any time. Historically much Relay freight has been built around tractor-trailer equipment, so check what is currently available for box trucks before you count on it.
- Treat it like any other source. Compare Relay loads against your cost per mile just as you would any load board offer.
Texas Solutions has no partnership or affiliation with Amazon. For current details, go directly to the Amazon Relay website.
How a box truck dispatch company fits in
A dispatcher does not hand you a contract, and you should be cautious of anyone who promises one. What a good box truck dispatch company can do is help you build the track record that leads to repeat work:
- Find and negotiate spot loads so the truck stays busy.
- Handle broker setup packets and rate confirmations.
- Track which brokers and lanes pay well and on time.
- Keep you in front of brokers who have repeat freight.
- Collect detention and lumper charges and handle invoicing.
Read how to choose a truck dispatcher and avoid scams before you sign with anyone. If you are still setting up, start with how to start a box truck business.
Box truck dispatch with Texas Solutions
Texas Solutions is a truck dispatch service, not a broker or carrier. Our 24/7 remote dispatchers work with box truck and straight truck owner-operators nationwide, including brand-new MC authority from day one, and you approve every load before it is booked.
Box truck dispatch is 10% of weekly gross for OTR, with no flat rate, no setup fee and no long-term contract, and your first load is dispatched free. See our box truck dispatch service, dispatch for new authority, or get a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Where do box truck contracts come from?
Common sources include brokers that offer dedicated or repeat lanes, local and regional shippers such as distributors and retailers, final-mile and delivery companies, and public load programs such as Amazon Relay for carriers who qualify.
How do I get Amazon Relay loads?
Amazon Relay is Amazon's own load board for carriers with their own operating authority. You apply through the Amazon Relay website and must meet its current requirements for authority, insurance, safety and equipment. Requirements change, so check the Relay site directly.
Can a new box truck company get contracts?
It is harder at first, because many shippers and brokers want to see some history. New carriers usually start with spot loads, build an on-time record and then ask for repeat lanes.
What does a box truck dispatch company do?
A box truck dispatch company finds and negotiates loads, handles broker setup packets and rate confirmations, and helps with paperwork so the driver can focus on driving. Texas Solutions charges 10% of weekly gross for OTR box truck dispatch, and the carrier approves every load.
