How would you spec a new truck for hotshot?

I'd suggest you learn more about freight and what you'd haul before worrying about the truck. You need to learn your own market before knowing what you will need. Personally, I wouldn't touch anything less than a 4500 or 5500 for doing OTR hotshot because 3500 and below are not built to do this kind of work and they don't hold up. Guys are always having transmission problems in the smaller trucks.

The 4500 & 5500's have bigger brakes, bigger transmissions, bigger rear ends, and heavier-duty suspension. They are closer to real commercial trucks than a pickup truck like the 3500's are.

Personally, I like my 2019 Chevy 5500. It's an actual straight frame chassis built by international and a bigger truck overall than say the Ford or the Dodge versions.

 

Local work can pay really good if you work to find the right work for you. We run 200 mile radius, I find anything over that isn't worth the time. We run for 3 local rental operations mainly equipment and lumber, 30k 32ft hydraulic dove tails with F450's pulling them. We have CDL's for the weight A semi couldn't do what we do, and bigger trailer couldn't get in where we deliver so buy according to what you want to end up doing

 

Harder to find 4500 and 5500's configured for OTR work unless you order one special, and then they are harder to set up for strictly power-unit duty. 3500 DRW or 2-axle tractors are easier for that. They look cool with a Hitchcrafters hauler setup but the business case for them is not as good IMO unless you're like the guy above me doing specialized local work where they need something with 4wd and a higher weight capacity than a 3500.

 

IDK anything about the business loan stuff but generally speaking you want to keep as much operating capital in the bank as realistically possible. A good place to start would be a CPA that specializes in trucking taxes with regard to how to handle the paperwork on new equipment purchases. Never having done that I don't know how that works.

 

Not if the GVWR is above 26k, which all 2 axle truck tractors will be.