Getting access to sometimes lucrative military freight

Access Part 1 and Part 2 of the original 2014 series in which this primer on getting access to military was included via via those links. This story has been updated with current information as of March 21, 2023.

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For owner-operators, there are three basic avenues to hauling freight for the U.S. military. The first two are the simplest:

Lease to a carrier already doing business with the military. Many major owner-operator-heavy carriers -- Landstar, Mercer and many others -- as well as smaller entities, have long been among the Pentagon's stable for general freight (FAK) and arms, ammunition and explosives (AA&E).

Work through an approved broker. Many brokerages across the nation also are on the list of transportation service providers for FAK approved by the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.

Become an approved FAK carrier. Small fleets and owner-operators with their own authority for at least three consecutive years in good standing have two options for getting approved as an FAK carrier:

The approval process for carriers wishing to haul FAK for the military via this long-established program follows clear guidelines.

Read more in-depth about SDDC's contracting process via this link to its welcome packet.

Most military freight is non-security-sensitive general-type freight like this load of (empty) ammo boxes.

Since 2007, when the original Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative was launched with the goal of outsourcing management of some DOD general freight to save costs to the U.S. government. this parallel program, now called the Defense Freight Transportation Services (DTFS) contract, has put a third party in place of the U.S. government to function as the shipper on a substantial portion of domestic FAK shipments.

The Crowley company is the contract holder, as of 2023. Insurance requirements are as follows

Read more about the DTFS via this pdf stipulating requirements or contact Crowley via their website.

As in general military freight, owner-operators who are part of a team operation can get into AA&E hauling without registering as a carrier by leasing to a carrier approved for AA&E. The drivers have to pass a Defense Security Service background check.

For independent owner-operators or small fleets to become AA&E-approved carriers, they must:**Complete an incident-free year as an approved carrier in general military freight.**Use team drivers cleared by DSS on all AA&E loads. **Carry $5 million in liability insurance.

Overdrive's most-recent, 2020 feature story centered on the AA&E niche delves into plenty in the way of specifics. Access that here.

[Related: High-security munitions hauling: Bigger investment at start-up can mean rich rewards long-term]