Why do hotshot drivers use pickup trucks instead of class 8 trucks?

I was wondering the same thing. Ive seen a few of them in truck stops at night so I guess they lay down in the back seat? Id rather do local and go home after anyway. If I was doing OTR id get the semi with a sleeper

 

I drove a '12 Ram w/ the woodhouse conversion. Slept great in it on the couple overnights I ran.

It replaces the door panels to get every last inch of length. I'm only 5'6", but I still had a bunch of room left.

 

Why not? Some of my medical loads are only two bagged pallets. I could take them in my Tahoe some loads to detriot. Far less fuss.

 

Most hotshot rigs are registered above 26k from what I usually see since they usually always have IFTA stickers on them. There is a guy who had a Youtube channel that started off with hotshot sized trucks and eventually moved up into Class 8. Claims it is much easier to get and stay loaded with 48ft of deck space and 45k weight capacity than it is running a small setup with only 32-40ft and maybe half that weight tops. A lot more big truck loads out there than little ones. At the end of the day it is not much less hassle or money to run a little truck like a Ram 5500 down the road than it is a big truck. Fuel economy, not much savings there, and the little trucks do wear out faster and aren't whole lot cheaper to fix or maintain than a big one. Can be harder to find repair help also out on the road if you need it where as big truck shops are all over the place.

 

Back seat or some of them have special conversions to make them DOT legal sleepers like the woodhouse deal. Some upfitters actually put full sized sleepers on larger cab and chassis little trucks. Not going to be anywhere near as comfortable as your standard run of the mill Volvo or cascadia with a stand up sleeper. Trying to get dressed inside of a pickup size cab without getting out of the truck is the not most dignified thing you've ever seen. that being said I am 5'11" and learned how to sleep fine laying across the bench seat.

 

My f250, please don't think I'm bragging I hate it, has a platform under the rear bench for a coffin sleeper mattress