15 Brilliant Ways To Make Money With A Cargo Van (Or Truck)

By Zach Buchenau

Last Updated: July 1, 2021

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Are you looking for a few great ways to make money with a cargo van or truck? Well, you’re in the right place! 

These days, there are many lucrative business opportunities that you can take advantage of by putting your cargo van or truck to good use. Between delivery services, rental opportunities, and even using your vehicle as a mobile advertisement, the more creative you get, the more money you can make.

In fact, for the rest of this guide, we’re going to cover 15 of the best ways to make money with a cargo van.

So, if you’re ready to turn your vehicle into a money-making machine, keep reading!

15 ways to make money with a cargo van or truck | Be The Budget

1. Make Retail Deliveries

Many retailers are in need of delivery services that can provide prompt, last-minute deliveries to their customers.

Think about small businesses like appliance stores, hardware stores, homeware shops, and thrift shops. All of these businesses could benefit from having a delivery driver to drop off larger items at their customers’ homes.

So, go ahead and reach out to local businesses and ask about making deliveries for them with your cargo van or truck. 

It helps to do some research on these businesses first to determine whether or not they already offer delivery services. If they don’t, think about how deliveries could add value to their business; they’ll likely be much more receptive to your offer if you can explain this to them.

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2. Make Food Deliveries

With the rise of apps like Uber Eats and Doordash, food delivery drivers are in high demand. 

These companies pay you an hourly rate and allow you to receive tips for delivering food from restaurants to people’s homes or businesses.

If you’d rather drive for just one restaurant rather than driving all around town, some restaurants hire their own delivery drivers. 

Pizza chains are an obvious choice, but you can also ask around at successful local restaurants in your area.

Since a cargo van is pretty sizable, you could also consider driving for a grocery delivery service like Instacart. 

Delivering groceries does typically require more effort than restaurant deliveries since you have to go into stores and do the grocery shopping for your customers.

However, making food deliveries can be lucrative, and it also tends to offer a flexible schedule.

3. Mobile Billboard

You can make money with a cargo van by turning it into a mobile advertisement! 

Many companies and advertisers are in need of vehicles to advertise their products and services. And as long as you don’t mind your van being covered in branding, this is a great way for you to earn some extra cash for hardly any effort.

You can partner with local advertisers in your area, or you could partner with a service like Wrapify, an ad wrapping company that pays very well. 

They pay around $450 per month when you allow them to wrap your van with one of their ads, so this is a great way to make some passive income. 

Plus, you probably already drive around town when you commute and run errands, so why not earn some money while you’re at it? 

The best part is that ad wraps won’t affect your car’s paint, so you can go back to having an advertisement-free van anytime you want.

4. Rent It Out

If you’re comfortable allowing other people to drive your van or truck, you can earn money by renting it out. As long as you don’t need the van to get around, renting could be a great option.

People may need a bigger vehicle to transport furniture or large items, or they might want to use a van for a big family road trip. 

This way, you can make money with a cargo van without even having to drive it.

The best way to rent out your cargo van or truck is to go through a reputable website like Getaround or Turo. 

These companies reduce your liability because they provide insurance that covers your car when you rent it out. 

They also tend to provide great customer service if you ever need it.

5. Towing Services

Another great way to make money with a cargo van or truck is to use it to provide towing services. As long as your vehicle is capable of heavy towing and you have a tow hitch, this is a viable option for you. 

After all, people need towing services to move their boats, trailers, or large objects.

To get regular towing work, ask around at various businesses in your area that might need these types of services. For example, apartment complexes may benefit from towing services when cars park in unauthorized areas.

Just make sure you comply with local laws for towing and hauling certain types of equipment. In some cases, you may need special licenses. 

6. Moving Services

Helping people move out of their homes can be a demanding and time-consuming task, but you can make great money if you’re up to it. 

You do need to be careful if you decide to provide moving services because many states have strict regulations around the moving of household goods.

 For instance, you might need commercial insurance, special licenses, and proof that you’re capable of moving household goods.

You’ll also need to make sure you have adequate moving equipment like dollies, moving blankets, canvases or tarps, and cargo straps.

If you’re willing to jump through the legal hoops and purchase the right equipment, your moving services could end up being a great money-maker.

7. Hauling Services

Established businesses often need to get rid of the old items and junk that are cluttering up their office spaces. 

And when they need help clearing out the old, you can provide hauling services to help them out and to earn some extra money.

You can make money with a cargo van by loading up all of the things these companies no longer need, and you can take them to the proper recycling facilities. 

It may not be the most glamorous job, but it’s a useful service that many people need.

Aside from businesses, families may also benefit from hauling services. You could help people in your neighborhood with their spring cleaning efforts by hauling away the items they no longer need, and you could even offer to take them to donation sites.

8. Become An Amazon Delivery Provider

Amazon has a delivery partner program that’s perfect for anyone who wants to make deliveries using their own vehicle and a smartphone. 

This program, called Amazon Flex, allows drivers to make deliveries using their own cars or vans.

Amazon Flex isn’t yet available nationwide, but the program is expanding and could be coming to your city soon if it isn’t there already. 

Most drivers earn between $18 and $25 per hour delivering Amazon packages using their own car, so this could be an awesome opportunity to earn some extra cash!

9. Become A Delivery Driver For GoShare

Making deliveries for GoShare is one of the most lucrative ways to make money with a cargo van. You can maintain your autonomy, work whenever you want, and you’ll earn an average of $42-$67 per hour, plus tips!

GoShare has cargo insurance and liability insurance, so you can drive with the peace of mind that the items you’re transporting are covered. 

And, because the company takes care of the payment and delivery details for you, you don’t have to worry about finding new customers or negotiating rates.

To become a delivery driver for GoShare, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s licence, and have active auto insurance and registration. Your cargo van or truck also needs to be a 2001 model or newer, and it will have to pass an inspection.

 Then, you’ll go through a background check, and you’ll be able to get started.

10. Become An Independent Service Provider With Uship

Another great way to make money with a cargo van is to become a service provider with Uship, a platform that connects carriers with people or businesses who need delivery services. 

Uship handles deliveries for household goods, heavy equipment, vehicles, boats, industrial, horses/livestock, moving, and pets.

It’s easy to sign up as a Uship driver online, and you can select whether you’d like to operate locally, in certain states, or even nation-wide.

Uship has a convenient mobile app that allows you to easily manage your deliveries. The company also pays you as soon as you deliver an order.

11. Start A Mobile Pet Grooming Business

If you like pets and want to earn money with a cargo van or truck, you can start your own mobile pet grooming business!

Your cargo van can be the perfect place to operate a mobile pet grooming business. 

You can drive directly to your clients’ homes, and all they’ll have to do is step outside and bring their pet to you. 

This will save them the hassle of having to get their pets in the car and drive them to a pet store.

With a mobile pet grooming business, it’s easy to get repeat clients and referrals if you do a good job. That said, you’ll need to make sure you have all the proper grooming equipment before you get started. But once you have all the necessary gear, a cargo van is perfect for transporting your equipment and welcoming furry friends.

12. Start A Mobile Florist Business

If your town or city doesn’t already have many florists, a mobile florist business could be the way to go to start making money with your cargo van. 

You can provide beautiful bouquets for every occasion, and people won’t even have to leave the comfort of their homes to get them.

Many people want to send flowers to loved ones to help them celebrate birthdays and holidays, and if your business is already set up to be mobile, you can provide these deliveries for them!

To start a successful florist business, you’ll need a reliable supply of quality flowers, and you’ll also need a suitable climate to keep them fresh before delivery.

13. Start A Pressure Washing Business

Your cargo van or truck could be the perfect springboard to start your own pressure washing business. 

Over time, dirt, dust, and grime builds up on surfaces and buildings. Pressure washing keeps residences and office buildings looking clean and new.

You’ll need a high-quality pressure washer to start this business, and you’ll also need to be comfortable walking on slick surfaces as you clean. 

Seriously, a cargo van is the perfect vehicle for this type of business because it’s big enough to transport all of your equipment, and you won’t have to worry about any water damaging the interior of your car. 

14. Start A Home Improvement Business

Do you love working on home improvement projects? 

If so, you can make money with a cargo van by using it to start your own home improvement business. 

You can keep all of your tools and equipment in your cargo van or truck, and you can travel to people’s homes when they hire you for their renovations.

There are lots of opportunities to specialize in a certain area of home improvement, such as flooring installation, tile, cabinetry, or painting. 

Regardless of the niche you decide to pursue, a cargo van is the perfect vehicle to help you get your home improvement business started.

How to make money with a cargo van or truck | Be The Budget

15. Start A Gardening Business

Residential homes and businesses need gardening services to keep their landscapes looking healthy and beautiful. Therefore, if you love gardening and spending time outdoors, you could earn some money as a gardener with the help of your cargo van or truck. 

You’ll need to stock up on some essential gardening tools and equipment to start your own gardening business. 

However, once you have everything you need, you can store and transport all of your equipment, from lawn mowers to tree trimmers, using your cargo van or truck.

Bottom Line

As you can probably tell, there are plenty of ways to make money with a cargo van or truck. You can choose to start a business that provides more passive income, like mobile advertising, or you can use your vehicle to start a more hands-on business.

All you have to do is decide and get after it!

Zach Buchenau

About The Author:

Zach Buchenau is a self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. When he isn't writing about budgeting, getting out of debt, making extra money, and living a frugal life, you can find him building furniture, fly fishing, or developing websites. He is the co-founder of BeTheBudget, and Chipotle's most loyal customer.

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