How hard is it being a hotshot driver?

To a man with 20K in savings.. If possible to get along with and not totally terrible, I would stay on with the way I saved the 20. Next year or 18 months is not the optimum time to "get a class 8 loan truck" and start out. Just my opinion. As the Bible says" Farther along, we'll understand it... Better.

 

If you can do your own wheel bearings you might have a chance. If you can do your own brakes and change a flat like it's no big deal you might have a chance.

The problem guys run into is when things get tough i.e. a breakdown, they pay a "professional" to make the repair and the repairs are often highly expensive and not always effective. Add in today's supply chain issues and you could be 6 weeks out on a Nox sensor. The bills never stop but the income halts the moment the tires quit turning. Many of the nice pieces of equipment you see running up and down the highway are one roadside call and tow away from bankruptcy.

By no means should you be afraid to try out the business, but you should go forward with caution knowing that you can very easily go under financially.

 

Looks are deceiving. Many hotshotters lease their truck from Enterprise and pay per mile. Check Enterprise for used pickups.

 

uh..anytime you lease, YOU pay for the extras, outside of a factory warranty. and using that vehicle for commercial purposes, you ain't gonna get it cheaper than say me for personal use, with mileage limits.

 

You're asking a couple questions that really only you can answer:

What part of the industry do you want to be in? You don't use a class 8 to do hotshot or vice versa.

20 K in the bank...is that for the truck or for you to live on when something happens? A class 8 tractor with any kind of moderate to major malfunction will eat 20K in no time and you haven't taken care of your other obligations what ever they may be.

 

I'll be the mean ##### who ruffles more feathers again.
$20k is nothing to have in savings, try for 5 times that.
Hot shot with a pickup vs Class 8 are two very different topics.

If you really have your heart set on trying it out, why not keep your job, bank some coin, and then buy a pickup and trailer, and give it a whirl.
Between now and buying that pickup, why not try joining a dedicated website for hotshots, and try making a friend there, in hopes of riding along for a week, and seeing the real deal.

 

IDK, I find it difficult enough living out of a rig. But, that rig has important accommodations like a real bed, ways to store and prepare food, the ability to stand up and change clothes, etc.. Can't imagine living out of a pickup truck. I see those guys sleeping in their trucks at truck stops. Doesn't look very doable to me. And, you're limited so much more on how much you can carry in a single load. IDK, just doesn't seem to make sense to me. But, obviously many folks do it. Some must have figured out how to make it work for them. So, what do I know.

 

Go for it man!

“Fortune favors the brave.”