by Turo
posted on August 14, 2024
Starting August 19, hosts will be able to list box trucks on Turo for the first time, unlocking a new vehicle category. Additionally, Turo guests who participate in the gig economy as delivery drivers will be able to book cars on Turo for professional use, opening up brand-new earning opportunities for Turo hosts.
Hosts previously haven’t been able to list box trucks on Turo, but now hosts will be able to tap into the $11.9B truck rental market in the US.* People moving themselves and their families, as well as gig-economy movers, like people who work with TaskRabbit, will be able to book box trucks.
Additionally, guests previously could only book vehicles on Turo for personal use, and professional use wasn’t allowed on the platform. Allowing people who deliver food, groceries, and packages as part of the gig economy to book cars on Turo will bring more demand, resulting in new earning opportunities for hosts. These gig professionals include people who drive with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex, and similar services.**
Updates to our Terms of Service and other changes
The Turo Terms of Service are being updated to welcome certain professional use cases in the United States, like gig delivery drivers. This change goes into effect on August 19 and applies to all US states, except California, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon. Additionally, hosts can list box trucks for guests to book for personal use in the US (except Oregon), and for professional use in every US state except for the four listed above. In New York and South Carolina, box trucks must weigh a maximum of 10,000 lbs and in all other states, they will have a 14,000 lb max weight.
Note that any activities that require the guest to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) will still not be allowed.
How to capitalize on these new opportunities
Hosts in applicable locations can take advantage of these changes by listing the types of vehicles that are likely to appeal to guests who want to book them for these different situations.
Guests who want to move themselves and their families, or who do gig economy moving, are likely to book box trucks. Hosts who are interested in breaking into this market currently have the opportunity to be among the first hosts to offer box trucks on Turo in their area which could work to their advantage. And guests who do gig delivery work usually prefer cheaper, more reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles.
Take advantage of different seasonality
These types of bookings may mean more types of business for hosts since gig delivery and, to a lesser extent, moving, both have different seasonality than the personal use market.
During the colder months and in bad weather when customers don’t want to leave the house, there could be more demand for food delivery. By contrast, in many Turo markets, demand for personal bookings decreases in the winter. Additionally, gig delivery drivers who usually get around via bike or scooter might choose to book a vehicle during colder times of the year. Hosts who are interested in attracting gig delivery drivers could enjoy welcomed business during normally off-peak periods.
As for box truck seasonality, people typically move more during the spring and summer months. That said, there are plenty of other reasons why people rent box trucks besides moving, including businesses delivering larger items to customers, transporting equipment and supplies for events, retail pop-ups and market stalls, etc.
Check if mileage deductions are right for your business
Because professional use might result in higher mileage on some vehicles, it could make good financial sense for hosts to take advantage of mileage deductions on their annual tax returns. The 2024 mileage deduction is 67 cents per mile driven for business use. Talk with your tax advisor to decide if this deduction is right for your business. Feel free to check out these tax resources for Turo hosts.
Potential for more earning opportunities in the future
Moving forward, we’re excited to continue to unlock more earning opportunities for hosts by adding new types of vehicles and other professional uses. While rideshare companies currently have barriers that prevent drivers from booking vehicles on Turo, we’re exploring ways to help remove these barriers to open up this business opportunity for hosts as well. We’ll give you plenty of advance notice if this change happens down the line.
*The US truck and trailer rental segment (generally independent consumer and non-freight businesses) was estimated to grow to ~$11.9B in 2023 according to IBISWorld’s “Truck Rental in the US” report. Of this, light-duty trucks, like the kind that will be allowed on Turo, represent a portion of the market.
**Turo isn’t affiliated with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, or Amazon Flex. Before booking a car to accept work through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, or Amazon Flex, or to use another platform, guests are responsible for reading and understanding that company’s terms and conditions.
