Thinking about being a hotshot driver need some input!

MaDMamaBear · Nov 29, 2015

CTSTransport said: ↑

I've been doing this for about 6 months now. I started by getting jobs anywhere I could find. Didn't take long and now I am covered up in work. My wife is begging me to start hiring help, she said at the very least hire a co-driver. I have only made it home for 2 days in the last 7 weeks now. I won't be home for another week and a half now so that will make two days home in two months. Good news is I stopped taking new jobs several days ago and plan to take off nearly all of March! At this point I've been coast to coast nearly a dozen times, seen 39 of the lower 48 states and have put over 60k miles on my truck.

uShip can be useful at times. I haul a lot of campers and boats so if it's bumper pull I like to use them to get a motorcycle or atv for the truck bed and make a little extra there. Also I rarely have a deadhead using so many methods to find loads. But at the same time I have already met so many people that keep me busy, I am using load boards less and less. The funny thing is I bought a nice 32' gooseneck flatbed and only used it twice now because I get so many boats and campers.

All in all the best advice I can give you is get rewards cards from all the major truck stops. I earn all kinds of free stuff and cash rewards and I never pay for a shower anymore.
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Scott.1971 · Jun 28, 2016

FarmerTransportation said: ↑

I started looking at hotshot around the same time as you, Juan9091. Did a ton of research and got a ton of answers here and went ahead and bit the bullet. Here's a quick summary of what I've found:

1: Don't limit yourself to oil/gas. A load is a load and as long as you can haul it and it pays, go for it.
2: Become a salesperson. You have to go and call directly on companies who ship stuff to let them know you're available. You will probably have to call on them more than once to begin to build a relationship.
3: Load boards, unless you're lucky, will probably be the first place you will find work. I recommend Internet Truckstop highly. You will have to pay to play, but it is not all that expensive and can produce nearly instant results. Be ready to do some selling to any broker you talk to about a load from the board, as they will be a little nervous about you being new.
4. You will need to provide:
a) A certificate of cargo insurance. Your insurance provider will fax this to the broker for you.
b) Your FMCSA permit showing your operating authority.
c) Your W9 information.
d) A signed contract provided by the broker.
5. Figure out how much you need to earn per mile or per hour in order to make ends meet. Be prepared to negotiate rates, and to turn down a load that doesn't pay enough. Brokers may want to pay you a lower rate because you're new. it's up to you whether to accept that or not.
6. Pay close attention to the paperwork required that is attached to any load that you get. Be sure to get and keep copies of bills of lading, shipping orders etc as you will need to turn some or all of these in to get paid.

I just got my very first load this past Monday. Picked up in eastern Ohio (I'm in Pittsburgh) and delivered to Miami, FL. Deadheaded back. The load paid enough even with the return trip empty to provide operating capital through the end of February for me. The work is out there if you want to do it, and you have the equipment to fit quite a bit of the work that's there.

I'm running an F350 7.3L with single rear wheels and no trailer. Small loads, but I just smile at the scales on the way past.
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I've been wanting to become a hotshot driver for a while now and been doing a lot of research you post is a big help.

drakedillan · Aug 24, 2016

How many Hot Shots are in North America?

Do most Hot Shot drivers us websites and bid?

drakedillan · Aug 24, 2016

Roughly how many Hot Shot Drivers are there in North America?

How many use Websites to bid on jobs?

I'm wondering if biding on websites is the way to go....

Lite bug · Aug 25, 2016

Did you see this on tv? If so it is just that a tv show. Read this part of the forum to gain insight about the Hot Shot world.

christopher j nicholson · Sep 24, 2016

FarmerTransportation said: ↑

I started looking at hotshot around the same time as you, Juan9091. Did a ton of research and got a ton of answers here and went ahead and bit the bullet. Here's a quick summary of what I've found:

1: Don't limit yourself to oil/gas. A load is a load and as long as you can haul it and it pays, go for it.
2: Become a salesperson. You have to go and call directly on companies who ship stuff to let them know you're available. You will probably have to call on them more than once to begin to build a relationship.
3: Load boards, unless you're lucky, will probably be the first place you will find work. I recommend Internet Truckstop highly. You will have to pay to play, but it is not all that expensive and can produce nearly instant results. Be ready to do some selling to any broker you talk to about a load from the board, as they will be a little nervous about you being new.
4. You will need to provide:
a) A certificate of cargo insurance. Your insurance provider will fax this to the broker for you.
b) Your FMCSA permit showing your operating authority.
c) Your W9 information.
d) A signed contract provided by the broker.
5. Figure out how much you need to earn per mile or per hour in order to make ends meet. Be prepared to negotiate rates, and to turn down a load that doesn't pay enough. Brokers may want to pay you a lower rate because you're new. it's up to you whether to accept that or not.
6. Pay close attention to the paperwork required that is attached to any load that you get. Be sure to get and keep copies of bills of lading, shipping orders etc as you will need to turn some or all of these in to get paid.

I just got my very first load this past Monday. Picked up in eastern Ohio (I'm in Pittsburgh) and delivered to Miami, FL. Deadheaded back. The load paid enough even with the return trip empty to provide operating capital through the end of February for me. The work is out there if you want to do it, and you have the equipment to fit quite a bit of the work that's there.

I'm running an F350 7.3L with single rear wheels and no trailer. Small loads, but I just smile at the scales on the way past.
Click to expand...

In same situation as you now what to do??I need to get started,what to do first??

FarmerTransportation · Oct 3, 2016

christopher j nicholson said: ↑

In same situation as you now what to do??I need to get started,what to do first??
Click to expand...

First, get all your required paperwork/permits handled. Get your MC Number. Get your DOT number if the size of your rig requires it. Get your CDL, again if needed for your setup.

Second, get your insurance lined up. You'll need $1 Million liability to work with most brokers, and at least $100K cargo coverage.

Third, get your truck/trailer. You may need to do this before the CDL testing if you don't have a rig to borrow for the testing.

Fourth, start contacting brokers and checking load boards to find a load.

Repeat step 4.
Repeat step 4.
..........
Retire.

Oh, and my 6.0 was attended to before I bought it, else I wouldn't have looked at it. Only big problem I've had is the 40gal fuel tank delaminating and killing my injectors.

Brandonpdx · Oct 15, 2016

workndawg said: ↑

I thought that 6.0 was the best motor ever made until my EGR Cooler fried and after some research I saw what all else could go wrong.

If you like those and will continue running them and you ever tear into it at all, contact Bullet Proof Diesel in Mesa AZ and put all the stuff they recommend into it while you have it down. Then you might have the best diesel motor out there, or at least the best 6.0.
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The 05-07 6.0's were better than the 04's and late 03's and the EGR I would just yank out of there unless you have it registered in an area that emissions tests.

Mbreaux85 · Jan 2, 2017

I have a quick question.. im about to purchase a new truck to get into the hot shot game and my question is 2500 or 3500 and 4 wheel drive or 2 wheel drive

Midwest1 · Jan 2, 2017

3500, 4wd, just my preference

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