Power Only Shipping

The tractor unit dispatched must be matched to your trailer’s specific requirements. At booking, provide the trailer type (dry van, flatbed, reefer, lowboy, tanker, etc.), trailer length, axle configuration, fifth wheel height, and kingpin setting. For trailers with non-standard configurations – sliding tandems, unusual fifth wheel heights, or specialized coupling equipment – note these details explicitly so the right tractor is confirmed before dispatch.

A tractor that arrives and cannot legally or mechanically connect to your trailer wastes time and triggers a rescheduling delay. Accurate trailer specs at booking eliminate this scenario entirely. If you are uncertain about any trailer specification, have someone measure the key dimensions before the booking call and provide the numbers directly to your SAC coordinator.

The tractor unit dispatched must be appropriate for the gross weight of your loaded trailer. Standard legal gross vehicle weight limits in most states are 80,000 pounds on a standard five-axle combination. Loads approaching or exceeding this limit require a tractor with the appropriate axle configuration and may require overweight permits in some states on the route. Provide the trailer’s loaded gross weight at booking.

For loads where the gross weight is variable or uncertain – for example, a trailer loaded from a production line where the exact output is not finalized at booking time – provide the maximum expected weight and SAC will use that figure for carrier matching and permit assessment. It is always better to dispatch a unit rated for more weight than needed than to discover a weight issue at a weigh station mid-route.

The trailer must be in legal road-ready condition before the driver arrives for a power only pickup. This means all lights are functional (running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and marker lights), all tires are properly inflated and within legal tread depth, the landing gear is fully retracted and in good working condition, and all required safety equipment is present and accessible.

A driver who arrives for a power only pickup and finds a trailer with inoperable lights, a flat tire, or failed landing gear cannot legally haul the trailer and will need to report the issue and wait for repairs before proceeding. If the trailer has known mechanical issues, address them before the pickup date or notify your SAC coordinator so the driver can be briefed and any scheduling impact can be managed in advance.

The pickup location must be accessible by a commercial tractor of the type being dispatched. Before the pickup date, confirm that the entry road, gate width, and maneuvering space at the pickup location can accommodate the tractor’s turning radius and length. Distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and freight terminals are typically designed for commercial vehicles. Private properties, construction sites, and non-commercial locations may have access limitations that need to be communicated to the driver in advance.

For pickup locations with limited access – low overhead clearances, weight-restricted roads, private lanes with tight turns – communicate these details to your SAC coordinator at booking so the driver is briefed before arrival. A driver who cannot access the trailer pickup location due to undisclosed site constraints cannot complete the pickup, and rescheduling a commercial driver on short notice is costly and disruptive to both parties.

For power only moves involving loaded trailers, have the trailer fully loaded, sealed, and staged at the pickup location before the driver’s confirmed arrival window. A driver whose hours-of-service clock is running while waiting for a trailer to be loaded loses legal drive time on the move, which can affect the delivery timeline and in some cases require additional driver rest before the load can continue.

For power only moves involving empty trailers being repositioned, have the trailer confirmed accessible and in the staged position before the driver arrives. An empty trailer that is blocked in by other equipment or inaccessible due to a yard congestion issue creates the same delay impact as a loading wait on a live load. Clear staging of the trailer before the pickup window is a simple operational step that keeps the driver and the move on schedule.

If the trailer contains hazardous materials, the driver must hold the appropriate hazmat endorsement on their CDL and the tractor must meet DOT requirements for hazmat transport. Hazmat loads also require proper placarding on the trailer, and the driver must carry the required shipping papers for the specific hazmat classification on board during transport.

Disclose any hazmat content at booking so SAC can confirm a driver with the appropriate hazmat endorsement is dispatched. Assigning a non-hazmat-endorsed driver to a load containing regulated materials is a serious regulatory violation with significant liability consequences. SAC will not dispatch a driver without the required endorsements for any load that involves regulated hazardous materials.

Before the driver departs on the power only move, confirm that the delivery location is accessible for the tractor-trailer combination being used, and that a receiving contact is available at the destination to accept the trailer during the delivery window. For deliveries to distribution centers and freight terminals with dock appointments, confirm the appointment is booked and communicate the appointment number to the driver before departure.

For deliveries to facilities without a formal appointment system, confirm the receiving hours, any access codes or gate procedures, and the name and phone number of the contact who will receive the trailer. Your SAC coordinator can pass this information to the driver before dispatch so the delivery end of the move is as well-organized as the pickup end. A power only move that executes perfectly on the pickup end and stalls at delivery due to a missing receiving contact or a missed dock appointment is a frustrating outcome that advance coordination prevents entirely.