Running hotshot non commercial truck.Is their driving hours restrictions?

Yes. Exactly the same rules apply as for the rest of trucking except the CDL and drug testing. Hot shot trucks are over 10,000 pounds gross weight rating making them regulated commercial vehicles and subject to FMCSA rules when operated interstate. Also, since most states adopt the federal rules even for local you will likely still be covered even running intrastate only.

 

That depends on the truck weight and what you are hauling.It may or may not be an HOS vehicle.

 

I'm curious about hot shot trucking.

I'm just curious what kind of money can those guys make working with non CDL weights?

I suppose your maintenance would probably be less running a smaller truck and and maybe your insurance is cheaper but what kind of money can these guys make?

 

It’s pretty bad. When rates were high I think it was ok but now it’s terrible. However I have seen people with the cargo vans do OK. I don’t see how since it’s just a couple pallets but I guess it works somehow.

 

It seems like those guys sit for days, so I don’t see how they make it, either.

 

No kidding. I’ve seen 30 at the TA in Laredo. But what do I know

 

I've often wondered about that because these trucks can't haul very much.

What does a hot shot haul exactly?

I would say it's a lot less overhead but those pickup trucks are probably like about $70,000 plus whatever trailer you have if you buy a new one, so if you buy a used one for $50,000 I'm not really sure that your overhead is any lower than a tractor-trailer although your insurance probably is less. And the maintenance is probably less.

I've always wondered how that works with them and how busy they are and what they make and what they haul even.

 

If it's non commercial, you don't need to follow HOS. As soon as you are doing it for compensation or commerce, then it becomes commercial and the rules apply. There might be a few exemptions, like for horse racing.

I would drive a pilot car instead of hauling hotshot loads from the spot market.