Hotshot Questions Answered....

Jsup · Jun 4, 2019

MP-Ctek said: ↑

Well guys, I have "trolled the forums" for a few years and gathered valuable information from some of the old-timers here. So I feel it's only right to answer some questions for others to pay back some of the excellent knowledge I have gotten from these forums.

Almost every time I pull in for fuel I get asked these questions over and over, so here are my answers.

1) Are hotshots required to have the ELD's? YES, YES, YES, It does not matter your weight, registered, plated, whatever. Unless your truck is older than a 2000 Year Model, get an ELD.
2) Who makes ELD's for Hotshots? Big Road is working on a 16 pin version for OBD Ports. They are trying to have it available before the mandate comes into effect.
3) How much do we make per mile? Our average as of Jan 2016 to right now is 2.91 per mile.
4) How do we average 2.91 per mile? Simple answer is, refuse cheap freight, deadhead up to 300 miles if need be, don't negotiate with bad brokers, use a factoring company that approves brokers, get your NMFTA, get your CDL, get your IFTA, comply with FMCSA/DOT Rules, we don't try and skirt by staying below the 26k CDL requirement rule, maintain your equipment, be respectful during DOT inspections, get your T.W.I.C, get approved to carry US Military equipment and vehicles, maintain and keep clean your equipment, maintain and keep clean your person, have tarps, straps, chains, ramps, dunnage, maintain your logs. All this leads to Reputation! You have a good reputation, you don't need to look for loads. Brokers and shippers will call you all day long non-stop with the loads they get in that never hit the boards. Something I had to figure out on my own was, drivers who take loads off load boards don't realize they are leftover loads. If you want the good freight it takes an excellent reputation. If brokers and shippers know there load (freight or auto's) are going to be delivered on time by clean, professional, no excuses, not put out of service risks of being detained, or damaged, they will call you every time before that load get's on the board. It has been our experience over the past 19 months Auto Brokers and Load Brokers (The ones With The Good Paying Freight) will refuse to risk good customers by carriers that "skate by". That being said here is how we moved into good freight.

1) We got our CDL's. Our 3 biggest clients require it before you can even sign a contract with them, and this is why. A carrier a year ago had a light load of 8k lbs from Atlanta to San Antonio. He had a 1 ton Ram dually and a 40 ft Big Tex. He was well within his "LEGAL LICENSED WEIGHT" but his trailer had a GVWR of 28k lbs. That's right the police are starting to go by what the rating is on your equipment if you haul commercially (Youtube McAllen Police hotshot). I am not here to argue or dispute whether or not it's legal or right that his equipment and the load was impounded, I am just telling you we will not risk our reputation or our customers reputation on the interpretation of a Police, DOT, or HP that may interpret the law or rules in a way that slows down our bank deposits. Now the driver may have taken it to court and won, but that's not the issue is it? The issue is YOUR CUSTOMER! Avoid, anyway you can for things like this to happen. Don't leave it in the hands of the DOT or Police on the roadside. The laws and Rules by the FMCSA, DOT & States are subject to interpretation. Why take the risk?

2) Our Equipment, we took months to decide. We have bought and traded every 1 Ton truck & Hotshot trailer you can name. Here is what works for us. Why we left Chevy/GMC & Ford. 2016 Ram 3500 HD Mega Cab 4x4. Why 4x4? Simple, Hotshots go alot of places without pavement and the one time your stuck in the snow you will get it, like we did. Pay no attention to the extra weight and just get the CDL. Rams have a 2 Speed Setting engine brake, while it's not an absolute must to have, it sure makes it alot safer and easier to go north and west. The reason we go with the Mega Cab is pretty simple also, the length. With our 40 ft Gooseneck PJ we are 63.5 long. Why PJ? It has held up the best, and we load up to 19k on it regularly all over the lower 48. We have the Hydraulic Dove Tail which allows for much more freight options, and that is key to getting loads. We went with the flatbed and customized it for our needs. 17.5k Winch, Air Ride, Upgraded tires, side ratchet straps, etc;. Air hitches, we use Shocker Gooseneck Hitch. We have tried all of them. Cody Cushion, Air Safe, and Shocker has held up thru the heavy loads and horrible roads conditions, not to mention the ride is awesome. Cody Cushion pin cracked after the first 15k load. Air Safe hitch was ok, but not worth the money. The Shocker provides the same quality ride as far as "we" are concerned for less than half the cost. We will not tow a trailer without an air hitch period! We found out the hard way that your chiropractic bill will cost way more than an air hitch.

3)IFTA, IFTA, IFTA- Get it. Register your vehicles for the manufacturers GVWR.

4) Cameras, get them, mount them on the front windshield and rear window, trust me they will save you many times over and are well worth the cost. Our insurance company loves us because we sent them video of a car owner who was trying to claim damage to a front bumper. We pulled the footage off the camera and sent it to the broker, insurance company and the police dept where he filed the report. He was charged with filing a false report and insurance fraud. So this investment is a MUST if you want to stay profitable and keep your good clients.

5) Air Ride, we use Air Rite with Firestone bags and in cab on the fly wireless controllers. It allows us to adjust weight for each load going down the road and adapt to different road conditions in different cities and states. It is a must have. Plus it opens up alot more freight options if you have Air Ride.

6) Electronics, we only use Apple products. Again, it's our choice and we are not here to argue which is better (We did not like Android or Windows Products). It works well for us because we like the security and ability to print, scan and Icloud at the touch of one button, everything is stored in one place and downloaded to all devices we choice at the drop of the hat.. We can sign a new contract, condition report, Bill Of Lading, and scan our Transflo within a few seconds and all this boils down to time and efficiency. The more efficient the more money.

7) We chose our equipment after trying just about everything and monitoring the Auto and Freight markets over a 12 month period. I know this can change at the blink of an eye, but so far it works very well for us. We swap between freight an flatbed loads daily and WOW does it offer up so many options. We are not stuck with just moving auto's or loads. Anything up to 19k lbs is fair game for us.

I hope this can help someone else. If you have any questions feel free to send me an email.
Like I said it's only right we give back, and thanks to all the guys and gals on this forum who have helped us with the info over the past few years.

MP
Click to expand...

Jsup · Jun 4, 2019

What ELDs works well in 2018 ram 3500

24kHotshot · Jun 5, 2019

Just got back from training with a small company and I have some questions.

While I had a day off I sat at the truck yard and talked with a non cdl hotshot driver and asked him about ELDs, he pulled out his phone and shows me he uses Keeptruckin app but without the piece that connects to the truck. He just uses the free app and logs his HOS manually. Is this legal?
Also, what paperwork do you guys keep in the truck apart from registration, insurance and medical card?
Do fifth wheel trailers not need safety chains?

Lite bug · Jun 5, 2019

24kHotshot said: ↑

Just got back from training with a small company and I have some questions.

While I had a day off I sat at the truck yard and talked with a non cdl hotshot driver and asked him about ELDs, he pulled out his phone and shows me he uses Keeptruckin app but without the piece that connects to the truck. He just uses the free app and logs his HOS manually. Is this legal?
Also, what paperwork do you guys keep in the truck apart from registration, insurance and medical card?
Do fifth wheel trailers not need safety chains?
Click to expand...

I can not answer the question about the 5th wheel. The guy that uses the app then transfer to paper logs falls into the category of not needing a ELD more than likely he works within the exemption and returns home every night. Nothing to do without CDL. We need all the paperwork you described also BOL

24kHotshot · Jun 5, 2019

Lite bug said: ↑

I can not answer the question about the 5th wheel. The guy that uses the app then transfer to paper logs falls into the category of not needing a ELD more than likely he works within the exemption and returns home every night. Nothing to do without CDL. We need all the paperwork you described also BOL
Click to expand...

No paper logs, just the keeptruckin free app and he is OTR and goes home every 2 weeks.
The company I trained with uses an app called Super Dispatch with no paper BOL. Is that good enough to show an officer? Customers just sign straight to the app and then they get a copy to their email or fax from the app.

Lite bug · Jun 5, 2019

I am going to assume that is a system like UPS uses and works. I do not think he is operating properly. Tracking the operator tied to the truck is how it’s supposed to work.

Medrano13 · Dec 13, 2021

I want to start driving hot shots here in Cali I can go out state i want to start with a company that is willing to help me or guide me in the right direction so I can start doing it on my own if there’s anyone out there let me know I been driving a big rig for 15 years for a company I want to do something different

Lite bug · Dec 14, 2021

Medrano13 said: ↑

I want to start driving hot shots here in Cali I can go out state i want to start with a company that is willing to help me or guide me in the right direction so I can start doing it on my own if there’s anyone out there let me know I been driving a big rig for 15 years for a company I want to do something different
Click to expand...

There is a guy on here located in Southern California who can give you some direction. Phalen California is his based out of. He comes on here when he has time, I have not seen him in a while probably busy.

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