How would you spec a new truck for hotshot?

Kenworth W900 with a Detroit 60 and 18spd

 

They quit making gliders so Im pretty there won’t be any more w900’s with Series 60’s...

Depends what kind of hotshot TBH. 26k and under a SRW Ram 3500 crew cab with the Aisin is all you’d really need. I’m not a 4x4 fan but it’s probably a good idea.

 

What are you going to haul? CDL or Non CDL? Budget?

 

I'm a car hauler but I've heard that a 40 footer would be your best bet as far as a trailer goes.
The DOT crap is not so bad and once in a while you will come across a CDL load that pays very well and you will kick yourself.
If its a new business you will have to have a good down payment and very good credit to cosign for your company. It will be hard finding a loan for used equipment.

If you go non CDL with a 30 ft then a single wheel Ram 3500 (id get a dually though) Aisin transmission is a must. In my personal opinion, I think the HO motors that give a little bit more power will shorten the lifespan of the truck. Full service every 10,000 miles max. Sell it before you hit 200k while its still is worth something. I ran a 19 ram for 2 years and just recently sold it with 150k miles. You could tell that the repairs would start happening regularly after that.

When I started I didn't listen to anyone that told me to get a semi and I deeply regret not listening. I just bought my Cascadia and I'm kicking myself for not going straight to the semi. Even a smaller single axle will outlive that pickup truck twice as long at least, lots of living space and tons of power. Your cost per mile at the end of it will be cheaper for a semi. My new19 ram cost 60k and my 17 Cascadia with 70k miles cost me 80k. The Cascadia should give me a minimum of 400k mostly trouble free miles compared to my ram that felt tired at 150k. Semi tires, brakes suspension ect last much much longer, everything on the Cascadia looks almost new and is still stock just passed 90k miles (Tires, brakes, suspension ect). You will be needing new tires on the ram at 40k miles, shocks at 60k and brakes around 120k miles if you use the exhaust brake religiously. Just some food for thought to get the most bang for your buck.

 

Are you running local or OTR? If local then a day cab would be fine but OTR long term you would want a sleeper.
I got myself a sleeper truck so no hotels. My truck has a DT12 automated manual transmission. I shopped around for over a year looking all over and jumped on the purchase when I saw it. I couldn't find a similar truck for the same price with less than 400k miles. Yes I got it pretty cheap, I mocked the dealer after everything was signed and the truck was mine . I have an extremely long wheelbase (286) but that didn't bother me because I turned it into a straight truck haul and tow. Maybe no one wanted a 286 wb Cascadia.

I don't think a single axle semi could be non cdl. I don't know what they weigh but I'd guess 15k lbs or more. What does your trailer weigh? I'd just go CDL and work comfortably with a very capable truck.

 

The automated manual is not bad once you get used to it. I've only driven it 20k miles and I am not heavy, I'm around 35-36k lbs loaded most of the time. Shifts smooth and will skip gears by itself. After a stop light or two it will decide the best gear to start by itself (usually 3rd or 5th) and then shift up 2 at a time.

Find some guys working local and ask around. I have no experience with anything but auto hauling and that you can do local, regional or OTR.