If you own a pickup truck, cargo or Sprinter van, or box truck, the work that pays best for it is usually moving and delivery, because it combines heavy lifting, vehicle access and urgency in one job. Pickup truck drivers on Lugg average $28 an hour plus 100% of their tips, which works out to roughly $560 a week at 20 hours or $1,120 a week at 40. Lugg is an on-demand moving and delivery service that pays drivers per job to move furniture, appliances and other large items in their own vehicle, with same-day payout and no CDL required.
With the rise of the gig economy and the booming resale market (hello, Facebook Marketplace!), the demand for "a friend with a truck" has never been higher. People constantly need help moving apartments, hauling away junk, or getting that Craigslist couch across town.
Owning a truck is expensive. Insurance, maintenance and fuel add up whether you drive it or not, and putting it to work on weekends is how a lot of owners cover those costs.
How to make extra money with your truck
Here is your guide to the best ways to make extra money with your truck this year.
1: Join on-demand moving and delivery platforms
The easiest way to start earning is to sign up for apps that connect you directly with people who need your truck. Unlike food delivery, where you might make a few dollars per trip, on-demand moving and delivery pays more because it combines physical labor, large vehicle access, and urgency in a single job.
Lugg connects truck owners with people who need help moving, hauling and delivering. You work when you want, pick up the slots that fit your week, and you're paid per job. Averages run $28 an hour for pickup drivers, $32 for cargo vans, $37 for XL and Sprinter vans, $42 for box trucks and $47 for Box+, plus 100% of tips, split evenly across the crew and paid the same day you work. That $28 is a starting rate rather than a ceiling.
Lugg is built specifically for moving and delivery rather than general gig work, so jobs are matched to your vehicle size. The Lugg Mover app handles dispatch, routing and payment, so the work itself is showing up, loading, driving and getting paid. Requirements differ by vehicle class, and each one has its own page: pickup truck driver, cargo van driver and box truck driver. If you're not sure yours makes the bar, check whether your truck or van qualifies for Lugg.
2: Furniture delivery for Facebook Marketplace
The secondhand furniture market is exploding. Every day, thousands of people in your city buy sofas, dressers, and dining tables on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp, only to realize they have no way to get them home.
You can market yourself locally as a delivery solution, or simply join Lugg. We partner directly with marketplaces and retailers, so when someone buys a couch, they book a Lugg to get it home. You get the gig without having to post your own ads on Craigslist.
3: Junk removal
One person's trash is another person's... paycheck. Junk removal is a high-demand service, especially in the spring and summer. Homeowners often clear out garages or renovate rooms and need someone to haul debris to the dump.
- Pros: High demand, simple work.
- Cons: You need to pay dumping fees (which you should factor into your price) and it can be dirty work.
With Lugg, junk hauling jobs are dispatched with clear details upfront. Disposal costs are passed through to the customer and handled as part of the booking, so drivers don’t have to guess or build dump fees into their own pricing.
4: Retail store delivery
Many local furniture and appliance stores don't have their own delivery fleets, or they are booked weeks out. By driving with Lugg, you become the instant delivery hero for customers shopping at stores like HomeGoods, Pottery Barn, and Costco. You save the customer from renting a U-Haul, and you get paid to drive your own vehicle.
5: Storage unit moves
With self-storage usage at an all-time high, people are constantly moving items in and out of units. These are often small moves, too big for a car and too small to be worth a full moving company. Your pickup truck or van is the perfect size for these jobs.
How to maximize your earnings driving with Lugg
- Bring a helper: Many jobs run with a two-Lugger crew. People without a vehicle can sign up as a Moving Helper and earn money with muscle and a smartphone, and Lugg matches drivers with available local helpers. If you have a strong friend or family member, point them at the sign-up. Drivers earn the larger share because they bring the vehicle and the equipment, and tips are split evenly across the crew.
- Get the right gear: You'll need ratchet straps, moving blankets, stretch wrap, a screwdriver with bits and a dolly, and pickup drivers also need a tarp. Forearm lifting straps make the heaviest pieces manageable. Protecting the customer's items is what earns 5-star ratings and better tips.
- Work peak times: The end of the month (moving time) and weekends are the busiest times. Being available when demand is high maximizes your income.
Lugg rewards consistent, high-quality drivers over time. The more you work and the higher your rating, the more earning potential you unlock. Drivers who hold strong ratings over time can also become eligible for Lugg Lite, which is solo work on smaller jobs with no helper needed.
What you need to start
Requirements are mostly the same whichever vehicle you bring. Drivers need to be 21 or older, able to lift 125 lbs on their own and 250 lbs with a crew, and carrying a recent smartphone on a reliable data plan. The vehicle needs to be 2001 or newer and in sound cosmetic condition, with insurance and registration for the vehicle you'll be driving in your name, or with you listed as an insured driver on it. Pickup beds need to be at least 6 ft long and 4.5 ft wide, and the vehicle pages linked above carry the specs for the other classes. Moving Helpers need a phone and the ability to lift, and can start at 18.
A background check is required, and it is paid for by the Lugger. Lugg fronts the cost and deducts it from your future earnings rather than charging you up front. Sign-up itself is a short form that takes about two minutes, and most people who sign up are working their first slot within the week.
Ready to start earning?
Your truck costs the same whether it's working or sitting in the driveway. If you have weekends open and a vehicle that qualifies, sign up to drive with Lugg. The form takes about two minutes, and most people are activated within the week.
