getting into hotshot trucking any tips?

I dispatch for Hotshot using only the load board, and my drivers do very well. One thing that must be said..is the the market for hotshot drivers and regular say flatbed drivers is very different. Example, Florida is usually considered a low paying state..and that's true for most of Florida..but I can get a hotshot out of Miami all day long for decent rates. Same thing with Maine. Now also the market changes, MA NJ may be hot one week and terrible the next. I move a ton of LTL freight as full truck loads, and make really good money for my drivers. Our drivers standard equipment is at least a 1 ton pick up truck with a 40' Flatbed Gooseneck Trailer. Honestly if your going to buy one..go to PJ and order an airride, you will get a ton more loads if you have an airride trailer. Point is, you can make good money out there..but you must be willing to build the load....add and drop pieces along the way. Example, had a guy go from Miami to Maine, he had 6 pieces pick and drop with two main pieces heading to Maine. He made $7000 on that run...but he took the time to build the load. he picked up on a tuesday and finaled on a monday. Also, you will maximize your money with the appropriate equipment, and your shippers will take you more seriously. Good luck!! Also I use transcore 360 DAT, as it has a lot more loads for LTL freight.

 

Another Flamer spouting the gary in ca. ltl crap should be called 'how to starve while feeding the dispatchers' After seven years I can tell you for fact if you start with one of them cheap pieces of freight you can have a csx train full and you're still not going to make money... Your first piece needs to be enough to pay for the trip or you're screwed. I don't load for less than 2.40 a mile out and 1.80 coming back the stuff can sit till hello freezes I'll bounce home. And a air ride gooseneck isn't going to pay for the added expense a disc brake upgrade is far better money spent.

 

Well it sounds like someone has had bad experiences before. Yes you are right..the first piece must pay well..which all of mine did with this last run. The first piece to pay so well..must also be called the FTL of the load. But there is a place for ltl freight, and money can be made on it. I have a driver with the disk brake upgrade...though he can haul heavier freight...he would still be better paying loads with an airride. I suppose to each their own..not everything works for everyone..but don't slam something that can and does work. Haulin Jack can make this work. Just dont do any business with Arrowhead Transportation..you will go broke with them. Good luck jack!!

 

@Haulin Jack - Air ride is expensive. FWIW, we dispatch a father and son out of PA. One has a 25' flatbed, the other has a 35' and to top it off, neither have a CDL! They are making money. Are they killing it? No, but they are indeed making money. I would agree that at least a 40' flatbed would be more desirable. There are several brands, do your research and choose one that fits you.

Much Success!
Bill

 

There are a few loval hotshot companys here locally that routinely run 25-35' gooseneck trailers and see there 20-26' straight truck flatbeds alot too. But i agree get the biggest trailer that will suit you cause 30' loads always fit on a 40' trailer but 40' loads raise eyebrows on a 30' trailer

 

As Truckon mentioned; you can definitely make a good living as a hot shot O/O but it will require you to go well outside your desired 600-700 mile range. Given, you are a good driver but now you are running your own business, and that my friend is a whole new ball game. Finding loads off load boards, negotiating rates, pushing paperwork, invoicing/billing, and collections will take up much valuable time and create stress if you are not prepared for this aspect of business ownership. Luckily, there are services out there to assist O/Os on this front that will allow you to focus on what you do best....DRIVE. Naturally, there is a cost to this and there is a always a cost to doing business.

Know your strenghts (and weaknesses), research, have a plan with realistic goals/expecatations, and you will be fine.

 

Get there a little early? tell us what you hauled? good luck on your venture!!

 

FWIW. I'm gonna finish an LTL run in the morning in Tampa and have done 4000 gross on only 1400 miles. Definitely not the best I have done but sure not the worst. Started in Houston Monday empty. Money can be made that way but it does take a little time to put things together. If I had my choice would like to run 300 miles a day for a $1000 bucks but we do what we can. As far as air-ride it is bad pricey but in increasing the life of your truck and trailer might be worth it. I have the disc brake upgrade on my PJ and I have to say I hate it. I like plain old electric drum brakes. Just my .02