5 Best Side Hustles for Truck Drivers

TL;DR

VendAmerica ranks first among side hustles for truck drivers because each machine takes about 2 hours per week and locations are secured before any equipment ships. Other solid options covered here include hot shot trucking, freight dispatch, mobile truck washing, and trucking safety consulting. Vending earns income between runs without requiring daily presence or a storefront.

Truck drivers often work routes that leave long stretches at home between assignments. Those days are an opportunity to build an income source that does not depend on being behind a wheel. The five side hustles below were selected for how well each fits around a trucking schedule.

Each entry covers what makes the option realistic for truck drivers specifically, what it takes to get started, and where the main effort goes. The comparison table below gives a snapshot before the full breakdowns.

Side Hustle	Best For	Weekly Time	Gets Started With
Turnkey vending (VendAmerica)	Drivers who want income that continues between routes	About 2 hours per machine	A secured workplace location and machine delivery
Hot shot trucking	CDL holders with a pickup or flatbed willing to haul smaller loads independently	Varies by load count and distance	FMCSA Motor Carrier authority, insurance
Freight dispatch	Experienced drivers who know freight lanes and rates	Varies by number of clients managed	Phone, load board access, carrier relationships
Mobile truck washing	Mechanically minded drivers with fleet contacts nearby	Varies by client schedule	Pressure washing equipment, local fleet accounts
Trucking safety consulting	Veteran drivers with strong DOT compliance knowledge	Varies by advisory scope	Industry experience and small-carrier relationships

1. Turnkey vending with VendAmerica: the strongest side hustle for truck drivers

VendAmerica sets up turnkey vending machine routes where each machine takes about 2 hours per week to service, making the business compatible with any driving schedule, including runs that leave an operator away from home for several days at a time.

• Time per machine: About 2 hours per week. A driver home for two or three days per week can service several machines without any conflict with their driving schedule.
• Location secured first: VendAmerica’s in-house outbound team secures a confirmed workplace location before any equipment ships. The operator approves the location before making payment. No machine sits in storage waiting for a spot.
• Brand-new AI-powered machines: All machines placed through VendAmerica are brand-new and include cashless payment capability built in. No refurbished units.
• No royalties or ongoing fees: Operators pay no royalties to a parent company and retain the revenue from their machines.
• Scale on your timeline: A truck driver can start with a small number of machines and add more gradually as home time and income allow. There is no requirement to grow the route faster than the schedule supports.

The income from a vending route continues while the operator is on the road. A machine earning revenue on a Thursday does not know its owner is in St. Louis. For a detailed look at how the weekly time commitment breaks down across different route sizes, see Can Vending Work as a Side Hustle?

According to IBISWorld, the US vending machine operators industry generates approximately $7.9 billion in annual revenue. Machines in consistent-traffic workplace locations outperform those in low-traffic spaces, which is the core reason VendAmerica’s model handles location sourcing before any equipment moves.

For buyers considering whether turnkey setup is worth it versus starting a vending route independently, Starting a Vending Business on Your Own covers the comparison in full.

Want to see if vending fits your schedule? Contact VendAmerica at vendamericallc.com to learn about available routes and placement options.

2. Hot shot trucking: running freight under your own authority

Hot shot trucking means moving smaller, time-sensitive freight loads under a Motor Carrier authority. CDL holders who operate under their own DOT number can haul loads that do not fill a full semi, on a schedule they control.

• FMCSA authority: Hauling for hire requires a Motor Carrier (MC) number and a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The application process is documented on the FMCSA registration page.
• Load sources: Load boards list available freight without requiring a broker relationship upfront. Drivers can search available loads by lane, weight, and rate.
• Best fit: Drivers who already own or have access to a pickup with a gooseneck or bumper-pull trailer, and who want control over their own freight calendar on home days.
• Administrative side: Running under your own authority adds tasks that a company driver does not handle: keeping insurance current, filing IFTA taxes, and maintaining driver qualification files.

Hot shot trucking is an extension of what experienced company drivers already do. The shift is from working under a carrier’s authority to operating independently. Income varies by market, lane, and the rate environment on any given week, so earnings are not predictable in the same way a salaried position would be.

3. Freight dispatch: booking loads from home

Freight dispatchers find and book loads for owner-operators, handling rate negotiation and load confirmation while the driver stays on the road. A truck driver who understands how freight markets work can run a dispatch service from home between assignments.

• No CDL required: Dispatchers do not operate commercial vehicles. The work is logistics coordination by phone, email, and load board software.
• How dispatchers charge: Dispatchers typically structure fees as a flat weekly rate or a percentage of each load’s gross freight charge, paid by the carrier they book for.
• What you need to start: A reliable internet connection, working knowledge of freight lanes and rates, and a small base of owner-operator clients willing to let you book their loads.
• Best fit: Experienced company drivers who understand freight rates and lanes and want to build a desk-based income without leaving the industry entirely.

Freight dispatch is a service that owner-operators pay for consistently because finding and booking loads takes time during active driving hours. A truck driver building a dispatch operation on home days can grow the client base as their contact network expands. The income is variable and tied to how many trucks a dispatcher manages and how actively those trucks run.

4. Mobile truck washing and detailing

Trucking fleets pay for regular cleaning between hauls, and many prefer on-site service that avoids taking a vehicle out of rotation. A driver familiar with commercial equipment can offer mobile washing and detailing to local carriers or owner-operators.

• Startup requirements: A commercial-grade pressure washer, water supply system, cleaning chemicals rated for commercial vehicles, and transport for the equipment. Initial costs vary by equipment quality.
• Client base: Local trucking companies, owner-operators, and construction equipment operators are typical accounts. A small base of recurring clients produces consistent income.
• Schedule fit: A truck driver with flexible home days can schedule washing jobs in half-day or full-day blocks between assignments.
• Licensing and insurance: Most areas require a business license and general liability insurance for mobile service businesses. Requirements vary by state and municipality.

Mobile truck washing runs on recurring client relationships. A driver who already parks near a fleet yard or terminal has natural proximity to prospective clients. The main constraint is outdoor, physical work that is weather-dependent. Consistent quality is what keeps fleet accounts.

5. Trucking safety consulting

Experienced truck drivers with strong DOT compliance knowledge can advise smaller carriers and owner-operators on safety programs, driver qualification requirements, and inspection procedures. Most states do not require a specific license for consulting work, though industry certifications strengthen credibility with fleet managers.

• Who hires safety consultants: Small carriers that cannot afford a full-time safety director often work with experienced drivers on a contract or advisory basis.
• Service scope: Consulting work may include reviewing driver qualification files, conducting mock FMCSA audits, or coaching drivers on hours-of-service rules and pre-trip inspection habits.
• Relevant credentials: The Certified Director of Safety (CDS) designation from the National Safety Council and training programs through FMCSA’s safety proficiency resources are recognized in the carrier community.
• Time commitment: Scope varies. A file review or mock audit is a bounded project; an ongoing advisory arrangement involves a set number of hours per month agreed in advance.

Trucking safety consulting is best suited for veteran drivers who have held safety-adjacent roles or who have a thorough familiarity with carrier compliance requirements from years in the seat. Drivers who have previously worked as safety supervisors, fleet managers, or trainers have the strongest starting position for this type of advisory work.

Which side hustle fits your schedule best?

The most important factor for any truck driver evaluating a side hustle is whether it generates income while they are on the road. Vending is the only option on this list where income keeps flowing whether the operator is home or hauling a load. A machine earns revenue on a Tuesday regardless of where its owner is driving.

Hot shot trucking and freight dispatch both depend on active work time: loading freight or booking loads takes attention on the specific day it happens. Mobile truck washing and safety consulting are project-based, which means income is tied directly to how many clients are booked in any given week.

For truck drivers who want a side hustle that scales with the number of machines and grows alongside available time, turnkey vending is the most structurally different option from a driving career. To compare done-for-you vending packages and understand what is included before committing, see How to Compare Done-for-You Vending Packages.

Ready to explore vending as a side hustle? VendAmerica works with first-time operators on machine sourcing, location placement, and post-setup support. Visit vendamericallc.com to get started.

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver own vending machines while working full-time driving routes?

Yes. VendAmerica sets up turnkey vending routes where each machine requires about 2 hours per week to service. A truck driver home for a few days between assignments can manage several machines without any conflict with their driving schedule. The machines generate income continuously, including on days the operator is on the road.

How many vending machines can a truck driver realistically manage?

At about 2 hours per machine per week, a driver with two full home days each week could manage several machines without significant time pressure, depending on available home time. Operators who add machines do so gradually as income grows and schedule allows.

Does VendAmerica find and secure the vending machine location before delivery?

Yes. VendAmerica’s in-house outbound team identifies and secures a confirmed workplace location before any equipment ships. The operator approves the location first. This structure means buyers are not paying into a machine that has no confirmed placement.

Do the side hustles on this list require a commercial driver’s license?

Hot shot trucking under your own Motor Carrier authority may require a CDL depending on the vehicle combination and gross vehicle weight rating under applicable federal and state rules. Freight dispatch, mobile truck washing, trucking safety consulting, and vending machine ownership do not require a CDL. Check FMCSA weight and classification rules for your specific equipment configuration.

What makes vending a better side hustle for truck drivers than hot shot trucking?

Hot shot trucking is another driving business that competes with a truck driver’s primary work for available time and attention on home days. Vending generates income while the driver is on their route. The two are not mutually exclusive, but vending adds income without requiring the driver to haul freight on days off.

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Jason Joyner is co-founder of VendAmerica, a turnkey vending business setup company. He has more than 30 years of vending industry experience and works directly with first-time operators on machine sourcing, location placement, and post-setup support. Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.