Money making hotshotter

Although not exactly expediters , true hotshotters operate in a similar manner . They get a higher rate for exclusive use of their truck for specialized freight . This O/O recently bought this Freightliner after successfully running a 1 ton Chevy Duramax for years . Like every other hotshotter that upgraded to a medium duty truck he wishes he made the move long ago . There is a night and day difference betwen one ton and medium duty . Medium duty O/O's get far more respect and are checked out far less often at the scales . Don't even think about asking these guys to haul anything under $1.50 a mile . Most loads pay well over $2 a mile .
The truck has a 3216 Cat with a 6 speed Allison .

 

That truckwas bought used withalittle over 100,000mileson it for $48,000 . Yeah,the new ones like that cost as much as a class 8 but there a lot of used ones like this out there . For the same price as a new 1 ton they'll haul more and last twice as long . The hotshotters I know are doing well , turning down loads .

 

That's not my rig . But he owns the trailer and has his own authority . He's been at it a while and has built up a good customer base by providing good service . Brokers call him a lot and he turns a lot of loads down . Your own authority is better but you need to find a couple of base customers . Then you take what you can get from brokers at times so they get to know you . Once you've established a reputation for good service you let them know the minimum rate you'll accept .

 

DOT defines a CMV as a vehicle over 10,000 lbs. GVWR or any vehicle carrying hazmat requiring placarding . Hook any trailer to a 1 ton truck and you have a CMV . That's why a lot of expediters run cargo vans . They are exempt from FMCSA regulations if they don't haul hazmat and they can run as many hours as they want and make their breaks as short as they want . The only downside to a cargo van is there's too many of them so they sit a lot .
Between 10,000 lbs. GVWR and 26,000 lbs. GVWR you need a medical card and you have to log in most cases . You do not need a CDL unless you haul hazmat and drug testing isn't required . Most hotshotters with one tons are in this category but most expedite straight trucks are over 26,000 lbs. and have to follow all FMCSA regulations applying to CDL holders .
If you have your own truck over 10,000 lbs . GVWR and don't want to lease on with somebody else you need your own MC authority . This requires $750,000 liabilty insurance or $1 million if you haul autos . Complete info is here . http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/registration-licensing.htm

 

You have the 7.3 Powerstroke , right ? That's a good engine . I know a guy that started out with an F-350 7.3 but bought a new Chevy 4500 to haul bigger loads . His son took over the F-350 and grossed over $90,000 last year without working hard . He could have easily grossed over $110,000 . A 3/4 ton is limited in what it can haul . The only ones I know leasing them on are RV haulers and things are slow with them . Back in '04 -'05 I delivered Rv's to MA , ME , FL ,and TX from KY , MD, and IN using a Dodge 3500 . Your best bet with that truck would be to get a 2 car trailer and check into auto hauling . There is a guy using the name eddie67 on hotshot forums that started out with a 3/4 ton Dodge and did pretty good . He's out of MD and runs mostly between there and St. Louis but has been all over the country . He stays real busy .