Disclosure: This guide is published by LoadUp. Earnings figures referenced are sourced from LoadUp’s loader-facing resources and reflect real platform data.
Richmond is growing fast. The metro area added more than 12,000 new residents between 2024 and 2025 alone, and the region has gained nearly 60,000 people since 2020. That kind of growth means one thing: a whole lot of moving, upgrading, and clearing out. Furniture gets left behind. Garages fill up. Estates get settled. And someone with a truck needs to haul it all away.
That someone could be you. LoadUp is a home services platform that connects independent contractors across the RVA with pre-paid junk hauling, furniture assembly, and hourly labor jobs, and right now there aren’t enough loaders in the market to keep up with demand.
Be your own boss, work your own hours
This isn’t a job. There’s no manager, no set schedule, and no minimum hours. You decide when you work, which jobs you take, and when you’re done for the week. If you’ve got a truck sitting in the driveway in Henrico, Chesterfield, or anywhere across the Richmond metro, LoadUp is one of the most direct ways to turn it into income on your own terms.
A recent study found that 7 in 10 truck owners are already using their trucks for paid side hustle work, pulling in an extra $1,360 a month on average. LoadUp is built for exactly that, with the structure and the job volume to make it consistent.
How it works
LoadUp connects truck owners with pre-paid jobs in their area. Every job is booked and paid for by the customer before it ever reaches you. You see the details, you see the payout, and you decide whether to take it. No bidding, no negotiating, no surprises when you show up to the job. Just straightforward work with clear pay upfront.
What you can earn
Payouts run $55 to $200 per job depending on the size of the haul. Smaller single-item pickups pay on the lower end and usually wrap up in under an hour. Larger jobs like full garage cleanouts, estate hauls, and multi-item removal can pay into the thousands. Loaders running five to seven jobs a week are earning $2,000 or more. You always see the exact payout before accepting, and LoadUp pays weekly via virtual card, every time.
Richmond’s growth works in your favor. With homes selling in an average of 20 days and 8,125 new rental units anticipated to enter the market, the city is in constant motion. New residents moving in, old ones moving out, and landlords turning over units across the Northside, the Fan, and out into Midlothian and Glen Allen. That’s a steady stream of junk removal and hauling work that doesn’t dry up.
Ready to start earning in Richmond? Become a loader ❯
What kind of work is it
Most jobs are junk removal: furniture, appliances, mattresses, garage and basement cleanouts. You can also pick up furniture assembly jobs like putting together beds, desks, and shelving for customers who just moved in, as well as hourly labor gigs for general lifting and setup. There’s enough variety that no two days feel the same.
Richmond has its own rhythm when it comes to hauling demand. VCU student move-outs every spring and fall, estate cleanouts in the Museum District and Church Hill, apartment turnovers in Scott’s Addition and Manchester, and home upgrades from Midlothian to Short Pump. LoadUp also partners with e-commerce retailers on delivery swaps and returns. Check out vehicle requirements to see which job types your rig qualifies for.
Who it works best for
If you already have a truck and want to make it work for you without answering to anyone else, LoadUp is worth a serious look:
- Landscapers and contractors looking to fill slow days between projects
- Handy and assembly-skilled workers who can take on furniture assembly and hourly labor in addition to hauling
- Delivery drivers who want higher-paying gigs between routes
- Trade workers between projects who need income without committing to a second employer
- College students and recent grads around VCU and Virginia Union who want to earn around a flexible schedule
- Anyone between jobs who needs income fast without a full-time commitment
- Side hustlers who want to turn their truck into a real second income stream without building a business from scratch
Getting started is easy
Here’s what you need:
- A pickup truck, cargo van, box truck, or trailer in good working condition
- A valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
- A smartphone to run the LoadUp Driver App
- A clean background check
No CDL. No experience needed. The application takes five minutes, and most people hear back within a few business days. Once you’re approved, you can start accepting jobs right away.
Every job requires two people, a primary loader and a helper, so have someone in mind before you apply. Most loaders bring a friend, family member, or a part-time hire.
You set your own service radius in the app, so you only see jobs in the area you want to work. See LoadUp in Virginia for a sense of coverage and job density across the state.
Richmond is ready, are you?
Richmond is one of the fastest-growing cities in the South, and the demand for hauling, assembly, and labor jobs is only going up with it. Most side hustles ask a lot and deliver a little. LoadUp is different providing pre-paid jobs, weekly pay, and no one telling you when to show up. If you’ve got a truck and a few hours to spare, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be making you money.
Apply now and start earning Become a loader ❯
Frequently asked questions about becoming a LoadUp loader in Richmond
Yes, and that’s exactly how most loaders use it. There are no minimum hours and no set schedule. Plenty of loaders in Richmond pick up jobs on weekends, fill slow days between contracting gigs, or run a few hauls after their regular shift. You work when it makes sense for you.
Running your own junk removal business means finding your own customers, setting your own prices, handling your own marketing, and chasing payments. With LoadUp, the customer acquisition, pricing, and payment are all handled for you. You show up, do the work, and get paid the following week. It’s the income without the overhead.
LoadUp serves the greater Richmond metro area including Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and surrounding counties. You set your own service radius inside the app, so whether you’re based in Midlothian, Glen Allen, or right in the city, you’ll only see jobs within the area you choose to work.
Earnings vary based on geography, job type, volume, and individual efficiency. Platform statistics current as of May 2026.
