After the busy holiday rush, the new year often brings a noticeable slowdown for truckers. It’s a welcome chance to spend time with family and friends, but you may find yourself eager to get back into your regular driving rhythm before long.
The slower season is a perfect opportunity to explore additional income streams. Picking up a side hustle during these quieter months can help you stay ahead of bills and ease financial stress. Use this guide to discover practical slow‑season income opportunities for truckers.
Why Factoring Makes Side Hustles for Truckers Possible
Instead of waiting weeks or months for a payment to land in your account, factoring provides immediate cash during the off-peak season so you can pursue profitable temp work.
- Slow demand and living costs: While freight demand slows, your bills remain the same. Brokers may take between 30 and 90 days to pay invoices.
- Invoice duration: Even small freight jobs incur costs such as insurance and fuel. Insufficient cash flow makes covering these expenses challenging.
- Financial pressure and tough choices: High cost-of-living expenses place pressure on you to find cash quickly.
- Less time: Chasing unpaid invoices leaves little time for profitable extra work. In some cases, the frustration of waiting for payment can hinder your motivation to earn extra cash.
- Gain stable cash flow: Factoring relieves the pressure and lets you enter the new year without financial burden. Submitting your unpaid invoices to a factoring company provides you with the cash you have earned without waiting weeks or months. Factoring allows you to achieve a stable cash flow for unpredictable spells.
- Focus on your side hustle: Assistance from trucking factoring companies secures your primary income and frees your schedule to find a temporary job.
How to Make Extra Money as a Trucker
Turning a hobby into part-time work is one fun way to earn extra cash. However, as a trucker, practical side projects using your vehicle and experience are also viable options. Consider these seven options.
1. Independent Freight Dispatching
Dispatching, or helping owner-operators find and book loads, can bring in a healthy paycheck. You can charge either a weekly fee or a commission percentage for every load. Depending on the time you commit, you may earn around $29 an hour, or $1,100 per week. The approximate annual dispatcher salary is $59,900.
2. Training New Drivers
Particularly beneficial during the slow season, training new drivers also lets you share your knowledge and experience with novices. Reach out to commercial driver’s license schools and apply for part-time driving instructor roles. The rising demand for entry-level drivers to fill a current shortage emphasizes the need for instructors to train new staff.
3. Yard Jockey Jobs
Becoming a yard jockey during the off-season allows you to earn a decent side income and still use your vehicle. A yard jockey’s responsibilities include transporting trailers to and from loading docks and yards. Additionally, you’ll likely conduct yard checks, fill out paperwork and inspect containers. A yard jockey side hustle brings extra cash without long hours on the road.
4. Rent Out Your Trailer
Letting other drivers and businesses rent your trailer keeps your vehicle from sitting idle and generates the income you need. Whether your vehicle is a dry van or a refrigerated truck for transporting fresh produce, other owner-operators and small businesses may be willing to pay you for short-term uses.
5. Advertise on Your Truck
Allowing companies to advertise on your truck is an excellent way to earn a few extra dollars. Platforms such as Truck Ads and Carvertise offer opportunities to build relationships with brands. Variables like your location and freight routes may apply. However, securing an advertiser lets you earn extra income with minimal effort.
6. Food and Package Delivery
During quieter periods, dropping off deliveries in your personal vehicle is a flexible way to earn extra cash. Platforms such as Amazon Flex and Uber Eats continually hire drivers to keep up with the rising e-commerce demand. While your daily income will vary, becoming a part-time delivery driver is a convenient option with the earning potential to cover some expenses.
7. Become a Virtual Assistant
Helping small fleets with paperwork, such as invoicing and compliance, uses your knowledge and industry experience. Becoming a virtual assistant allows you to work comfortably from home and provide administrative support for other truckers. This side project offers flexibility and a reliable income, along with cash flow from factoring.
How to Earn Additional Income for Truckers
Here’s how you can bring in extra money during the off-season while protecting your foremost income source.
- Secure your primary income: Working with a reliable factoring company ensures steady cash flow, which makes taking on extra work more manageable. Fast access to the money you’ve already earned helps you cover daily expenses without added stress.
- Choose opportunities that fit your schedule: Before committing to extra work, honestly evaluate how much time and energy you can spare. A part-time gig should complement your driving schedule, not compete with it.
- Stick to short‑term commitments: Seasonal or temporary jobs are ideal because they boost your income without pulling focus from your responsibilities. Taking on something too demanding can interfere with your driving performance and well‑being.
- Run the numbers carefully: A job may look profitable at first glance, but expenses like fuel, travel time or equipment can quickly eat into your earnings. Calculate your true take‑home pay to assess whether the opportunity is worth it.
- Save what you earn: It’s tempting to spend extra income right away, but building a nest egg can help you prepare for future slow periods or unexpected costs. Treat the additional money as a buffer that promotes long‑term financial stability.
Quality Factoring to Support Trucker Side Jobs
Invoice payment delays can significantly impact your finances. If you run a small or medium-sized business that needs a quick influx of cash, FactorLoads helps you thrive and avoid extended payment deadlines. Our knowledgeable team of factoring specialists eases the cash flow pressure and handles the paperwork to ensure you receive the funds you need on time.
We’ll professionally manage all your invoices and transfer funds immediately, without complicated contracts. Confidently retrieve the cash you earn and avoid accumulating debt with high-interest bank loans.
Ready to achieve better financial freedom for your business? Contact our efficient factoring team today.
