What Is Hot Shot Trucking?
Hotshot trucking is a new trend and, according to truckstop.com, “involves hauling smaller, more time-sensitive loads within a specific timeframe, and usually to a single customer or location. Hotshot loads are usually delivered using medium-duty trucks that pull flatbed trailers.”~Tim McMahon, editor
Truckers aren’t called “cowboys” for nothing. Trucking has been one of the stable modes of employment for freelance individuals that want to break free of a static life and earn a decent living wage on their own terms. These days, Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers need to be specially trained and licensed and tend to be at the mercy of shipping companies and freight brokers. They are increasingly surveilled at work and find their freedoms eroded by companies that want to save money. One field of trucking with none of these disadvantages is hotshot trucking.
The Trailer
The main expense for truck owners who want to start earning money by taking hotshot loads is the trailer. There are several kinds of hotshot trailers that a regular Ford F450 can pull. Popular types of hotshot trailers include lowboy, bumper, and gooseneck types. Some specialist trailers are available for unusually shaped loads like farm machinery.
The Licensing Requirements
7.65 million people are employed in the trucking industry in the United States. Hotshot truckers do not need to get the same commercial licenses as big-rig drivers in the United States. This is one of the primary reasons for the practice gaining traction. Commercial drivers’ licenses (CDL) for loads over 10,000 lb. are expensive to procure. The only extra paperwork needed to start hotshot trucking is a motor carrier authority number. A permanent carrier number is required for anyone who hauls federally regulated cargo and will cost a prospective hotshot trucker 300 dollars.
The Vehicle
One of the significant advantages of hotshot trucking is that shipping work can be taken on using vehicles readily available on the commercial market. America has an insatiable thirst for diesel-powered high spec pickup trucks. In 2021, 11.6 million pickup trucks were sold in the USA, according to statistics collated by Statista.
Powerful pickup trucks such as the Ford F450 are perfectly suitable for hotshot trucking, making the profession very accessible. However, hotshot trailers are not recommended for use with raised or lowered trucks.
Salaries And Costs
After reading this article, you might be tempted to get into hot shot trucking yourself. It is worth considering the costs, as well as the income.
Costs are relatively high if you don’t already own a pickup truck. A high-powered truck can cost quite a bit of cash and fuel is a significant expense. Your truck will be far less fuel-efficient when hauling a heavy load due to increased weight and drag. Fuel prices are spiking due to the environmental calamity befalling the world and the war in Ukraine.
These costs, however, should be factored into the prices you charge for taking on loads. Because hot shot truckers tend to take on small, one-stop loads, they are highly prized as heavy-duty couriers – able to give each load total attention and the full use of their time. For this, they are paid well.
Image courtesy of Trailers of the East Coast
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