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Thinking Hot Shot may be suited for me

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Sandid, Mar 31, 2019.

  1. Mar 31, 2019 #1
    Sandid

    Sandid Bobtail Member

    2
    1
    Mar 31, 2019
    0
    I’ve tried OTR and it’s not for me. I’ve got a 2018 Ram dually 3500. Opinion on best trailer to buy having the most versatility? Please give me the steps to start in this venture. Brokers/Load Boards? You guys are awesome. Thanks so much for all you do for us newbies.
     
    Sandid, Mar 31, 2019
    Sandid, Mar 31, 2019
    #1
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  3. Mar 31, 2019 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    #2
  4. Mar 31, 2019 #3
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    I want to see how many hotshot owner-operators volunteer to give you a slice of the pie when the slices are already very thin.
     
    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    #3
  5. Mar 31, 2019 #4
    Sandid

    Sandid Bobtail Member

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    Mar 31, 2019
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    Okay so they are that thin? This kind of info I need also, the bad and the ugly as well.
     
    Sandid, Mar 31, 2019
    Sandid, Mar 31, 2019
    #4
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  7. Mar 31, 2019 #5
    HSFT

    HSFT Bobtail Member

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    Dec 29, 2018
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    Unless you have lots of cash laying around. Bad time to start hotshot. Over satured market.
    Everybody is thinkimg what ur thinking add in lowest rates long time or ever. You have a recepie for disaster if u dont plan it right..

    You wanna haul. Go class 8 semi..
     
    HSFT, Mar 31, 2019
    HSFT, Mar 31, 2019
    #5
  8. Mar 31, 2019 #6
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    3,175
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    Dec 11, 2010
    West Monroe, La
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    I tried running off the load boards with a hotshot in '05 & '06. Notice I said I tried. In my honest opinion, hotshots trying to run off of load boards is a lost cause. Loads are few & far between & pay is poor. My best advice is to find a good company that can & will keep you busy & lease on with them. If that's what you try, buy whatever trailer suits that need.
    If you're just gonna give it a go out of the blue for over all best rig, buy a 40' flat gooseneck. I used a dove tail. Its ok most of the time but, it tends to drag on elevations, like pulling in a truck stop, in convenience store, business's, over a hill like R/R tracks etc. If I was gonna try it again, I'd personally buy a flat with slide away ramps.
    Lots of people running car haulers.
    Some people just running power only pulling boats, campers etc & such, but I dont think they are doing as well as they thought. But, if you can get them to sign a contract with you, it might be ok.
    As much as I loved the hotshot business, I learned my lesson.

    I do know that I used to catch loads on the boards from Landstar & I liked running for them but the pay wasnt anything to speak of. They tried to get me to lease on with them which paid more money but, I wanted to be independent. I used to get some truck frame rails out of Laredo when I was down that way. Easy load & left lots of room for something else a long the way.

    Acme Trucking used to have a lot of loads before the recession down here in the south but with the oil fields shut down for the most part, even they aren't doing anything much.
     
    Grumppy, Mar 31, 2019
    Grumppy, Mar 31, 2019
    #6
    Lite bug and HSFT Thank this.
  9. Mar 31, 2019 #7
    Gdog66223

    Gdog66223 Road Train Member

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    Coal Town
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    If you live in Texas every family owns a Dually and Gooseneck trailer so they are setup to do hotshot... Unless your hotshot can fly and take loads for $.89 cpm its not gonna be worth it... Market is too flooded
     
    Gdog66223, Mar 31, 2019
    Gdog66223, Mar 31, 2019
    #7
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  10. Mar 31, 2019 #8
    HSFT

    HSFT Bobtail Member

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    Dec 29, 2018
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    Hotshot was beautifull back in the day im mean 70s 80s n 90s.. It was so small and unique its what made it special..

    My first load back in early to mid 90s. I lived in pacific Northwest 18yrs old..
    Construction boom was crazy from all the IT company growing..
    I had a family friend ask what are you doing next 24hrs ? U wanna go to southern California. I said sure..
    I hauled 7k lbs worth of special washington native bushes down to technology company.
    It was 1100 mile run n it paid $3700..
    I ran it in my 1977 chevy c30 dually 4spd 454. Got 5-6mpg.. Ran straight down took me 24hrs. No ELd or even look books.. Spent $250 on gas there i was hooked..

    My point of all this hotshot is not that special anymore .. Its flooded . rates are low insurance is high. Fuel is not that cheap. New semi getting 8-9 mpg. Powerstroke dually loaded up gets 8mpg.. N u carry half the weight..
    Hotshot can work if u have dedicated or contract customers and if u own all ur equipment . so ur cost is low..
    But everyone thinks there truckers if they have diesel n the brokers know this and its driving rates down.. $1-$1.50. Its pathetic..
     
    HSFT, Mar 31, 2019
    HSFT, Mar 31, 2019
    #8
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  11. Mar 31, 2019 #9
    Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    Mar 13, 2014
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    If you don't like OTR in a semi with a full size bed,
    Refrigerator,microwave,television,and all the storage
    Space you need.

    What makes you think you gonna like OTR hotspot
    Living in the back seat of a pickup up truck.
    You've seen these guys at truck stops.
    Can't even pump enough fuel for a free shower.
     
    Western flyer, Mar 31, 2019
    Western flyer, Mar 31, 2019
    #9
  12. Mar 31, 2019 #10
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,043
    179,897
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Not all hotshot drivers are uncomfortable:
    Home Page [www.lilbigrig.com]
    www.lilbigrig.com
     
    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    Chinatown, Mar 31, 2019
    #10
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