wanna be

There's a couple problems with this scenario. First is you'll have to make enough in the few days you run to pay for your expenses. Fuel and insurance will be the most expensive things, maybe $800+/- for insurance and $100 for every 300 miles roughly. I know I'm forgetting something. And the second part is finding round trip loads. If you get stuck somewhere and have to deadhead home for work you'll end up spending everything you make just on running expenses. I'm not saying it can't be done but that you should check out where the freight in your area is running before jumping in.
Truck wise a 2000-2003 7.3 would be great or a later year cummins pre-def would be perfect. A 40' trailer with a 5' dovetail and ramps is the way to go, you'll have way better flexibility with freight. Stay under 26,000 when you start, makes things easier at the beginning. And yes get your MC# since you'll need as much flexibility with this as you can get.
As far as load boards go you should google some and see what you like. Every board pretty much has the same loads posted, it's just finding the best user interface for you.

 

I would buy a brand new trailer. You can get a brand new Big Tex 40' for about $11k. You wouldn't believe how many times people assume your using some beat up old farm trailer. The newer and better looking your equipment is the more secure the broker, shipper and receiver will feel about loading you. Not sure how much trucks are going for these days but like I said, later year 7.3 is great but the pre-def cummins is perfect. You can start your company for about $300ish. I used legal zoom to start my company but you can also go through your lawyer if you have one. I used onehourauthority.com for my MC#, can't remember how much that was. Straps are about $30 each, I'd get 10 2" straps and 5 4" straps to start. So about $450 for straps, maybe $40 for each 4" strap winch, $50 for a ratchet winch bar to tighten the straps. I'd also get a set of 4 1" straps, they come in handy. I'm also just ball parking these prices, you can find better deals on the internet or trailer parts stores. That's what I would do but I don't know what your future plans are for your business, that would also change the truck I would get.
Almost forgot, get your CDL if you don't have it. It's better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

 

The order of things is the hard part. It should go LLC, truck and trailer then insurance and MC at the same time.need the business for everything to fall into, can't get insurance without have the truck and trailer first and need insurance to get the mc#. Your able to look at load boards without your business being started, just gotta find a better load board. Check out the load board on this site. Should be on the main page.

 

That's one of the harder loads in my opinion for hotshots. It would depend on your running costs, deadhead miles and if your apportioned or under 26k. With my set up and that weighing 10k it would be a full load for me. If I were apportioned I could haul about 16k so all I would need is another partial load for 6k, in that scenario I would take it. But in reality it would need to pay a little more, about $1,200 to make a profit. You can negotiate with brokers but asking for $300 more is a stretch. Personally I'd keep looking.

Another thing to consider is if there isn't much freight moving. If your stuck in a place you'll just about take anything to get in a freight lane. As long as it pays for the gas and would get me to a better area then I'd take it. Lots of things to consider when picking loads.

That sucks about the seed money. When I started I just got out of the Air Force with $3000 and started my business. I absolutely say that is not the best way to start but like they say, when there's a will there's a way. But I will say that I believe anyone starting in this business needs to dive in head first on their own, not leased to someone else. So if this is what you really want to do you'll figure something out.