looking to get into hotshot

I'm interested in getting into the hotshot business for myself...what's the best way to get started

 

do you know what KIND of hotshot you want to do?
have you crunched all the numbers?
fuel,maint,repairs,truck,ins?
decided what truck you want?

 

Here's some nice hotshot trucks : lilbigrig.com

 

Read through the many posts that are on here asking the exact same question.

 

Read lots of stuff and keep an open mind about everything you read. It's not easy but I am glad I'm doing this instead of driving otr trucks. You can make some good money doing this and you can go bankrupt just as easily.
Research the type of loads you want and equipment what you'll need. I was able to lease to a company instead of using my authority and insurance.

 

What company are you leased to

 

Live in central CA and considering hotshot startup too. Been company driver 8 years and been though the school of hard knox w/CHP. flatbedcarrier seems knowledgeable on weight. Can anyone break down weight dry truck and trailer and how much load limit so even this dummie can get it. A one ton dually can only roll that scale with so much GAW and GCVW. At rambodybuilder the 3500 w/6speed manual will only pull a total trailer weight of 15k and automatic will pull 30k...lame???..............2nd question i know this guy who has been running 3,80k gross flatbed rigs out of Bakersfield non stop since he started a year ago his drivers are home everyday and off weekends just run I-5 corridor......is it possible to run a hotshot like that and make a living..are the LTL loads there???

 

Generally Speaking , The internet loadboards for 15000 lbs and under type loads, will be some where between 3-6 available loads each time you scroll to the next page. Example : you may have a total of 4 pages of loads in your specific Metro area, you may uncover 12 loads, (during broker capacity shortages) for those same 4 metro pages you are scrolling through , you may have 24 available , But the 12 loads is much more likely. My personal experience is that I will call on some of these available loads and it will break down as follows: One of the calls some one else beat me to the punch and got it before I could make contact. Two of the calls are dismissed because the broker did not list the ppm and they didn't want to pay a worthwhile rate. Another two loads I see and don't call on because the destination is not desirable such as Canada or New York City. Another load requires an air ride trailer or you must have a 48 foot trailer to be considered for the load. Which hot shots can't bridge with a 3500 pickup. And then,... just choose from what is left to choose from. Lots and lots of repeat listings on many of the free and subscription loadboards. So just remember to put your favorite loadboard sites on your desktop as a one click Icon , for easy access.
Your friend running I - 5 has an account with a shipper or Receiver that he initiated through his salesmanship as a direct customer.
You can follow this method and take a lot of the hassle out of load board broker scanning and then calling multiple times per day every week to get the next load.

 

Number one thing to do......Call three insurance companies. Tell them You want to comply with the Fmcsa insurance requirements for a Hot shot truck and trailer .There is three parts to become compliant. Truck ins, trailer liability ins, and cargo insurance . All three mandatory. You may have to borrow a VIN number from the trailer dealership , before you actually sign to purchase it.
once you are armed with all the vin's , then find out how many thousands of dollars insurance companies want up front, to get a policy going.
They will have one rate for 300 mile radius and another rate for a greater radius and another rate for unlimited radius.
What these lecherous insurance industries want for a start up venture Hot Shot one year policy , is usually comparable to a down payment on a brick home.