Why run hotshot than OTR

I've never done it myself, but heard that most hotshot load need to get there in a hurry, for me, at my age, I dont wont to drive 11 hours a day, let alone more, I will drive 11, if i have to, just dont wont to

 

Less miles, more money, more home time if you have a good dispatcher (this could be you), less maintenance cost in comparison to a big truck and a few other things. These are just a few.

 

I've already purchased commercial vehicle insurance next step is business insurance and yes insurance is expensive.

I did get some brief information from the insurance agent on how you get protected in case things go wrong, so that part I understand I'm covered.

I'm still stuck on how to go about on making a contract or some terms of agreement that can be signed to avoid a lawsuit if an incident occurs.

For example if you go buy a used car you sign a contract "as is" so thats were I'm trying to get an understanding on this matter if things go wrong I'm still covered by the terms of agreement/contract.

I think where I'm stuck how do you make an invoice for somebody to sign on what your transporting and at the same time also having a terms of agreement written on the back or bottom.

 

Sorry, haven't been on for a bit... yes, mainly oilfield, but have also hauled windmill parts, motors, truck beds & horse trailers, and just ltl loads of general freight when I needed something that paid on the trailer.

 

I'll take a shot at this one... If I'm reading you right you want as close to a guarantee that you won't get sued as you can get.

If this was keeping me awake nights I'd talk to a lawyer and find out the best route to take. I'd personally ask them about incorporating (I believe in some states this can protect your personal assets if the company gets sued). This might have more weight than a simple statement on the bottom of your BOL in the event that something goes awry...

As far as I know, once that freight is on your trailer, you are responsible for it until it's off loaded and signed for. So much depends on what sort of scenario causes a loss that just guessing at what would or wouldn't protect you is like playing pin the tail on the donkey.

Whatever else I did, I'd definitely plan on never being late or missing an insurance payment.

 

The analogies offered seem to be more about OTR company driver vs ind cont. Ind cont could be hot shot or 80K truck. Just because your investment is smaller with a hot shot set up, does not make failure any less likely. Running your own business is a challenge no matter what your truck payment is.

 

Truer words were never typed in! It is challenging and you have to be ready to adapt to anything that comes along that might affect your bottom line. In my case, my cost for set up was probably about the same as having a big truck (a well used one for sure) but all the other costs are probably fairly comparable. My best break from that is the amount of fuel I burn, which obviously isn't as much as a big truck.

 

True that we have to get our loads there fast... but the runs are usually short enough that we don't have to drive the full 11 to get it done. I'm no spring chicken either and pushing that 11 hour limit is not fun.

My typical run is about 4-6 hours and I don't drive like a bat out of heck, I run steady, but don't speed, and I just don't stop until I get the load there except for absolute necessities.

That's not to say we don't get long runs too. I just run them legal and my customers know up front what my minimum drive time is to do the job, so it's no big deal.

On the shorter runs, if I'm outbound over 5 hours away I just find a motel after I make my delivery and book a room, then get back home the next day.

 

I know the insurance is their to cover the business I'm running, but I've never ran produce which is time sensitive material and the lifespan is just a few days so accurate temperature prolongs the life.

I'm just stuck on the terms of agreement contract since I still haven't met some independent owner who hauls produce for a living to steer me more in the right direction to avoid any potential lawsuit I'm just trying to cover myself as best as possible to avoid using the insurance and yes it's easy to say that is what your paying for, but in the long run I don't want to be running up my insurance bill.

Thanks.

 

How does Landstar load board work? Do you just call the agency listed on the particular load? Is there a set price already and you can take it or leave it?

Anyone feel free to chime in on this. I need to find out how these load boards work. Thanks.