How junk removal lead services work and what they cost haulers
Facts checked October 29, 2026 · by JUNKRUN, Melrose MA
Lead sites like Angi and Thumbtack charge the hauler for the lead, and the price changes by job and market. On-demand apps like Dropcurb and LoadUp book the job first and show you a payout. Flat-pay dispatch like JunkRun has no lead fee and shows the pay before you claim. Most lead sites do not post a price list, so ask before you pay.
Pay-per-lead sites
On a lead site, a homeowner asks for a quote and the site sends that request to several pros. The pro pays to get the lead or to reach out. You pay whether or not you win the job.
Angi says its revenue comes from three sources, and one is service professionals who pay to advertise on Angi. The pages we read do not list what a pro pays for a lead. Thumbtack says lead prices change with the type and size of the job, how many pros are available and the market, and that pros choose how much they pay for leads by setting their lead prices.
So the real price is not posted. Treat any dollar figure you read on a blog or forum as one person's report, not the rate you will get.
On-demand hauling apps
On these apps, the customer books and pays first. The hauler then sees a job with a payout and accepts it. This is closer to dispatch than to buying leads.
Dropcurb's operator page says pay is $75 to $200 per pickup, for donation pickups and in-home jobs. It requires a covered vehicle (box truck, cargo van or covered trailer), a crew of two on every job, general liability and auto insurance, and availability seven days a week. The page lists no fees. It does not say when operators are paid.
LoadUp's pages say a hauler sees the exact earnings before accepting a job, and that pay comes weekly. LoadUp requires a helper on every job, a background check that the hauler pays for, and auto insurance. LoadUp's Miami page says average payouts run $55 to $200 per order. That figure is for Miami and may differ in the Boston area.
We did not find pay or fee details on the public driver pages of other apps such as GoShare or Lugg, so we do not list them here.
Flat-pay dispatch like JunkRun
JunkRun is a junk removal company in Melrose. When we get more pickup requests than we can run, we send the extra jobs to independent haulers. Joining is free. There are no lead fees. Each job shows the exact pay before you claim it, and that is the pay you get.
The first hauler to tap Claim gets the job. You can tap Pass with no penalty. You pick your towns. You carry your own insurance and haul as an independent contractor. We pay by Venmo or Zelle within 2 hours after you tap Mark done.
Side-by-side comparison
All of this is from each company's own public pages, read on October 24, 2026. "Not published" means we did not find it on their site.
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- The pro pays
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- No lead fee listed on the pages we read
- JunkRun
- No one. No lead fees.
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- Varies by job and market. Not posted as a price list.
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- A payout per job (LoadUp). A range of $75 to $200 per pickup (Dropcurb).
- JunkRun
- The exact pay on each job
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- Not guaranteed. Leads can go to several pros.
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- Accept the job in the app
- JunkRun
- First to tap Claim gets it
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- Not covered here
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- Dropcurb: crew of two. LoadUp: a helper on every job.
- JunkRun
- No set crew size on our hauler page
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- Not covered here
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- Dropcurb: general liability and auto. LoadUp: auto required, general liability recommended.
- JunkRun
- You carry your own insurance
- Pay-per-lead (Angi, Thumbtack)
- Not covered here
- On-demand apps (Dropcurb, LoadUp)
- LoadUp: weekly. Dropcurb: not published.
- JunkRun
- Venmo or Zelle, within 2 hours after Mark done
What to ask before you sign up
- Do I pay if the customer does not answer or hires someone else?
- Will I see the exact pay before I commit?
- Do I need a helper, and who pays for the background check?
- When do I get paid, and how?
- Am I an independent contractor, and what insurance do I carry?
Quick answers
What is a pay-per-lead service?
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It is a site that sends you a customer's request and charges you for it. You pay to get the lead, and winning the job is up to you.
How much do Angi and Thumbtack charge haulers?
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Neither posts a full price list on the pages we read. Thumbtack says prices change with job size, available pros and market. Ask for the current price in your area before you pay.
Does Dropcurb publish what haulers earn?
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Its operator page says $75 to $200 per pickup for donation pickups and in-home jobs. It does not say when operators are paid.
Does JunkRun charge a fee to see or claim jobs?
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No. There is no sign-up fee and no fee to see or claim jobs.
Sources
- Angi FAQ: how Angi earns revenue: “Our revenue comes from three sources: service professionals, who pay to advertise services on Angi”
- Thumbtack new pro guide: “Prices will vary since a job's value can change based on things like the type and size of the job, how many pros are available, and your market”
- Thumbtack new pro guide: “You choose exactly how much you pay for leads by setting your lead prices”
- Dropcurb operator application: “$75-200 per pickup”
- Dropcurb operator application: “Covered vehicle (box truck, cargo van, or covered trailer)”
- Dropcurb operator application: “2-person crew on every job”
- Dropcurb operator application: “General liability + auto insurance”
- Dropcurb operator application: “Availability 7 days a week”
- LoadUp driver page: “Know your exact earnings before accepting any job and get paid weekly”
- LoadUp loader requirements: “Helper required We require a helper so both our Loaders and customers stay safe”
- LoadUp loader requirements: “Loaders cover the background check fee”
- LoadUp driver page: “Auto insurance is mandatory for all Loaders”
- LoadUp: How to get paid to haul junk in Miami: “Average payouts run $55 to $200 per order”