Cheap local posts
Short loads at a flat $250 look fine until you add the hour to load, the hour to unload and the drive back. We price by the whole day, not the post.
Box truck dispatch for 26 ft trucks
Liftgate or dock-high, CDL or non-CDL. We find the freight, negotiate the rate and bring each load to you to approve. You keep the wheel and the final say.
26,001 LB GVWR = CLASS B CDL
MILE02QUICK ANSWERS
Six quick answers first
- Do you take box trucks under 26 ft?
- No. We dispatch 26 ft boxes and longer only.
- CDL or non-CDL?
- Both. A GVWR of 26,000 lb or less needs no CDL; above that, a Class B.
- What does it cost?
- 7% of gross on one truck, 4% for 2+ trucks with authority over 6 months.
- Do I pick my loads?
- Yes. Every load is an offer you accept or pass.
- Local or regional?
- Either. Tell us your radius and home time.
- New MC?
- Yes. We work the brokers that book new authorities.
MILE03THE 26 FT NUMBERS
Know your truck's numbers
A 26 ft box truck is the biggest straight truck most people can drive without a CDL, which is why so many are built right at the line. Payload, not floor space, is what usually decides which loads fit, so it's the number we confirm before we search.
| Spec | Typical value | Why it matters for loads |
|---|---|---|
| Box length | 26 ft | Our minimum. Shorter boxes aren't dispatched. |
| Cargo volume | Up to about 1,700 cu ft | Light, bulky freight fills space before weight. |
| Pallet positions | About 12 standard pallets | Brokers post by pallet count; we match it. |
| GVWR | Up to 26,000 lb (non-CDL builds) | 26,001 lb or more needs a Class B CDL. |
| Payload | Up to about 10,000 lb | Heavy freight hits weight before pallets. |
| Liftgate capacity | Up to about 3,000 lb | Sets the heaviest single piece you can lift. |
| Floor height | About 46 to 50 in | Dock-high loading versus liftgate deliveries. |
SOURCE: Penske commercial 22-26 ft box truck specs (checked Oct 2026); CDL threshold: 49 CFR 383.91
MILE04PAYLOAD SCALE
What's left for freight?
Set your plate rating, empty weight and liftgate. The scale shows the payload you can legally haul and how many pallets that covers. This is the first number our dispatchers ask for.
PAYLOAD LEFT FOR FREIGHT
PALLETS YOU CAN LOAD: 11 OF 12 · LIMITED BY WEIGHT
The liftgate costs you about 1,200 lb of payload, but it opens up deliveries to stores, job sites and homes without a dock.
Want the full math for any truck? Use the max payload calculator, or check your license class with the CDL checker.
MILE05WHERE BOX TRUCK MONEY LEAKS
Four leaks we plug
Hours at the dock with no detention
Box trucks wait at busy warehouses as long as semis do. We get detention terms on the rate con before you accept, then claim it when the clock runs past free time.
Empty miles after final mile
Delivering to homes and stores scatters you. We look for the next pickup near your last drop before you finish the route.
Liftgate work at dock prices
Liftgate deliveries take longer and wear the gate. We ask brokers to pay for it, and we pass on posts that won't.
MILE06YOUR CALL ON EVERY LOAD
You approve. You sign.
This is what a load offer looks like when it reaches you. Pallet count, weight, appointment, liftgate needs and the rate are all on it before you decide. Tap yes or pass to see what happens.
Say yes and the broker emails the rate con straight to you; you read it and sign it, and we never sign for you. Pass and we keep looking, with no penalty and no change to your rate.
LOAD OFFER
- EQUIPMENT
- 26 ft box, liftgate
- PICKUP
- Dallas, TX · Tue 08:00
- DELIVERY
- Shreveport, LA · Tue 15:00
- LOADED MI
- 189 (deadhead 22)
- WEIGHT
- 8,400 lb, 10 pallets
- BROKER
- Credit checked, pays in 30 days
- TERMS
- Liftgate delivery, appointment
- RATE
- $650 ($3.44/mi loaded)
YOUR CALL. NOTHING IS BOOKED UNTIL YOU SAY YES.
MILE07FREIGHT WE BOOK
What 26 ft boxes haul
| Freight | Usually needs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Palletized retail and consumer goods | Pallet jack, straps or load bars | Steady between distribution centers and stores |
| Furniture and appliances | Liftgate, blankets, sometimes two people | Often appointment-based home or store delivery |
| Building supplies | Liftgate, straps, E-track | Job-site deliveries, early starts |
| Expedited partials | Fast replies, flexible hours | Short notice, often better pay per mile |
| Trade show and event freight | Liftgate, tight time windows | Seasonal, venue rules apply |
| Final-mile routes | Liftgate, scanner app, multiple stops | Paid per stop or per route, not per mile |
Availability changes with your city and the season. In some markets dock-high freight between warehouses is steady all year; in others most of the work is liftgate delivery. We tell you what we're seeing on your lanes instead of promising a full board. Read more about where box truck loads come from.
MILE08HOW WE PLAN YOUR WEEK
How we plan a box truck week
- Start from your numbers. Payload left after the liftgate, pallet spots, CDL class, and whether you have a pallet jack and straps. Loads that don't fit never reach you.
- Set a floor and a radius. The lowest all-in rate you'll take and how far from home you'll go. We plan inside both.
- Stack short loads into a day. Two or three regional loads that chain together usually beat one long run with an empty drive back. We look for the chain before you accept the first link.
- Line up the next pickup early. Before your last drop, we already have offers near it. You approve the next load while you're still unloading.
More reading for 26 ft box owners is in our trucking guides, including truck dimensions, weight capacity and starting a box truck business.
MILE09FEE
7% of gross, nothing else
One 26 ft box truck runs at 7% of the gross on loads you haul. Box truck loads are smaller, so filling a week takes more calls and more booked loads than a semi; the rate reflects that work. Run two or more trucks with authority older than 6 months and the fleet rate of 4% applies.
No setup fee, no minimums, and no fee on loads you turn down. See every rule on rates and fees.
26 FT BOX WEEKNO. 0026
EXAMPLE
- Dallas to Shreveport
- $650
- Shreveport to Tyler
- $480
- Tyler to Dallas
- $420
- Local route, Thu-Fri
- $1,100
- Gross
- $2,650
- Fee 7%
- $186
Kept before costs$2,465
MILE10OBJECTIONS
What box truck owners ask us
- "Dispatchers just push cheap local loads."
- Some do, because a percentage of anything beats nothing for them. We set your floor rate on the first call and don't bring you loads under it. You can still see why a load paid what it did, because the rate con is in your inbox.
- "My MC is too new."
- New authorities get fewer yeses from brokers at first, not zero. We know which brokers book new MCs and we build your history with them. See dispatch for new authorities.
- "I only want regional work."
- Then that's what we look for. Tell us your radius and home-time days, and we plan loops that start and end near home. If you're short on work right now, read how to find more loads.
MILE11FAQ
Box truck dispatch FAQ
Q01How much does box truck dispatch cost?
7% of the gross on loads you haul with one 26 ft box truck. With two or more trucks and authority older than 6 months it drops to 4%. No setup fee, no minimums, month to month with 30 days notice to cancel.
Q02Do you dispatch box trucks smaller than 26 ft?
No. We only dispatch box trucks with a 26 ft box or longer. Smaller boxes compete with cargo vans for low-paying local work, and we can't book enough freight for them to make it worth your time. We also don't dispatch cargo vans or sprinters.
Q03Can you dispatch a non-CDL 26 ft box truck?
Yes, and also CDL-B rated boxes. Under federal rules a single truck with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or more needs a Class B CDL; at 26,000 lb or less, no CDL is needed unless you haul placarded hazmat. The plate on your door jamb decides, so we ask for it.
Q04Do I need a liftgate to get loads?
Not always. Dock-high trucks get freight between warehouses and distribution centers. A liftgate opens deliveries to stores, job sites and homes without docks, which is a big share of box truck freight. It costs payload, so it's worth knowing which work you want.
Q05How many pallets fit in a 26 ft box truck?
Usually about 12 standard 48 by 40 inch pallets, depending on the body's interior width and wheel wells. Weight often runs out first: with roughly 10,000 lb of payload, 12 pallets averaging over 830 lb won't all fit legally.
Q06What freight do box truck dispatchers book?
Palletized retail and consumer goods, furniture and appliances, building supplies, expedited partials, trade show and event freight, and final-mile deliveries. What's available depends on your area and season, and we tell you honestly when a lane is thin.
Q07Do you work with new MC box trucks?
Yes. Many brokers won't book an authority under 90 days or 6 months old, so we focus on the ones that will and build your history. The rate is 7% either way for a single box truck.
Q08Will you force me to take loads?
No. We present each load with pickup, delivery, miles, weight, pallets, rate and broker. You say yes or pass. On a yes the broker sends the rate con straight to you to sign. A pass costs nothing.
Run other equipment too? See hotshot dispatch and dry van dispatch, or read how we dispatch.