If you own a box truck and are interested in on-demand logistics work, Mothership may provide a good way to earn some extra cash.
What is Mothership?
Mothership is a digital platform that pairs shippers with freelance carriers for same-day freight, LTL (less-than-truckload) and final-mile deliveries. The platform focuses on major U.S. metros, operating same-day services in 37 major cities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Dallas. It also offers nationwide LTL options through carrier partners such as Southeastern Freight Lines, Old Dominion and Ward.
Freelance truckers use their own vehicles and equipment to handle the loads.
How it works
Registering as a carrier is free. You simply download the Mothership Carrier app from the Google or the Apple App Store, create an account and upload required documents. These include your active Department of Transportation number, motor carrier permit, driver’s license and proof of insurance.
However, to qualify you must:
Have a box truck, 16-28 feet in length.
Have a functioning lift gate and pallet jack.
Have at least $1,000,000 general liability insurance and a minimum of $100,000 in cargo coverage.
Have a DOT number and proper permits.
Be able to pass a background check.
Applications go through review, including verification of your DOT via a mailed postcard code, which can take up to seven days.
Once approved, job dispatches come automatically based on your location and vehicle type. Each load shows details like payout, distance, stops and freight info (e.g., number of pallets and weight).
You choose which gigs to accept. There’s no bidding. You just tap to commit.
Mothership review
Mothership launched in 2017, aiming to simplify local logistics by automating dispatches and payments for truckers while giving shippers faster options. And by and large, the site has worked well by providing better-than-average income for truckers and value for shipping customers.
Indeed, an analysis of loads in high-density areas confirms the potential for lucrative short-haul rates.
For example, a single load involving one pallet weighing approximately 160 pounds, picked up from a facility and delivered 11 miles to a customer’s home, paid $110 gross, according to The Boxtruck Couple on YouTube. This equates to a Rate Per Freight Mile (RPFM) of $10 to $10.13.
High rates per mile
This potential for high rates per mile validates reports of high earnings in busy metros, with some carriers reporting the ability to earn $1,000 in only a few days when loads are consistently available.
Additionally, after accepting, the app provides optimized routes with turn-by-turn navigation. Pick up the freight, deliver it, collect proof of delivery, signatures in-app, and upload photos or proof of delivery. Payment follows approval. There is real-time matching for nearby loads to minimize deadhead miles.
Challenges
Inaccurate load descriptions: Load descriptions are not always accurate, particularly regarding crucial logistical details like receiver facility operating hours. In one case, a carrier was forced into an uncompensated re-delivery the next day because the receiver facility was closed before the posted closing time, resulting in 120 miles of uncompensated travel and effectively wasting the entire subsequent day.
App glitches: App instability is a common complaint. Users experience issues like the map resetting, requiring them to set up navigation every time they close and reopen the app. The voice guide system can overlap, and the application is often slow.
Support varies: While some drivers report excellent, quick support for simple issues, the system is often inadequate for complex problems. For high-stakes disputes, such as receiver refusals, carriers have reported being left without resolution for several hours and having to wait hours the following day for a new delivery location to be finalized.
No reimbursement: Carriers bear the cost of time and fuel for no-shows or returns caused by shipper/receiver errors, as there is no guaranteed reimbursement for fuel on these types of failed loads.
Sign-up delays: Additionally, even getting set up on the app can take a lot of time. Carriers say that after finally receiving the postcard with their verification code, the app fails and prompts the carrier to restart the process and request a second code.
Pay
Pay depends on the load type, location, distance and stops. While Mothership does not publicly disclose its commission, the platform operates with a transparent payout model. You know what you’re earning for each load, the distance and details about the freight.
You are paid within 24 hours of completing a job by direct deposit. And crucially, the platform confirms that there are no quick-pay fees. However, some carriers have reported disputes over loads, which can lead to payment delays.
Work availability
The amount of work you get depends on your metro area. Major cities in the 37-zone network have steady demand for same-day deliveries. Loads are often during business hours, but flexibility lets you toggle availability.
Real-time tracking and transparency
Shippers get updates on their loads. For carriers, everything is managed in the app: routes, load details, proof-of-delivery signatures and photo uploads.
Instant and flexible payouts
Payments are processed via direct deposit within 24 hours after load approval. Feedback from carriers is mixed; some praise the speed, while others report disputes over load issues leading to holds or adjustments.
Recommendations
Mothership can pull in solid side money if you’re in a busy city and have the right ride. Just don’t lean on it alone. Loads fluctuate and support can test your patience.
Better to pair it with other apps like Frayt, Bungii and GoShare and keep your income mix balanced.
Kristof is the editor of SideHusl.com, an independent website that reviews moneymaking opportunities in the gig economy.