What is Hot Shot Trucking?

Hot shot trucking is an essential niche within the logistics sector focused on transporting urgent, smaller loads or shipments requiring specialized handling throughout the country.

As a freight broker, knowing how hot shot trucking works can open many business opportunities. It’s a viable niche that can differentiate your brokerage and diversify revenue streams.

In this article, we explain hot shot freight in detail. We discuss the practical operations, how it differs from traditional freight, regulations, and profitability, and provide expert tips on how to succeed in hotshotting.

Hot Shot Trucking Explained

Hot shot trucking involves moving immediate, often non-standard freight on smaller trucks.

Shippers frequently have last-minute loads that need to be transported ASAP. These could be machinery parts, specialized industrial tools, or vital components for a production line. 

It’s not economical for a full-size semi to haul such cargo. The load size doesn’t justify the trucking costs, which is where hotshot carriers come in as the economical, efficient solution. They use medium-duty pickup trucks pulling various trailer models.

As a freight broker, you match hot shot drivers with loads, verify carrier credentials (insurance, DOT/MC numbers), and oversee the delivery. This approach ensures quick turnarounds, improving cash flow and helping you build relationships with clients needing urgent transport solutions.

What are the Differences Between Traditional and Hot Shot Freight?

Let’s explore the differences between hotshotting and traditional freight, starting with a snapshot table comparison.

	Hot Shot Trucking	Traditional Trucking
Vehicle Type	Pickup truck with trailer (e.g., RAM 3500 to 5500 + gooseneck)	Semi-truck with trailer (e.g., 18-wheeler)
Load Characteristics	Smaller loads, time-sensitive, direct line deliveries	Full truckloads (FTL) or larger less-than-truckload (LTL)
Rates and Pricing	Spot market rates; prices fluctuate	Rates may be based on the spot market or contracted in advance
Speed and Delivery	Fast shipments, often urgent or last-minute	More complex scheduled routing, delivery times are sometimes more flexible
Truckers’ Operating Costs	Generally lower fuel, finance, insurance, and maintenance costs	Higher costs due to bigger rigs and associated expenses
Carriers’ Licensing Requirements	A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required for loads over 26,000 lbs	CDL required
Common Use Cases	Construction, manufacturing, oilfield parts, farm equipment, and rural delivery	Retail, industrial, commercial, rural, long-haul cargo, and much more

Vehicle type

Hot shot transporters utilize medium-duty trucks (Class 3-5 pickups) with specialized trailers. These pickups are dependable, agile, and built for a range of loads.

Traditional freight, on the other hand, is dominated by heavy-duty, Class 8 semi-trucks, rigs built to carry large volumes over long-haul distances.

Load characteristics

Hot shot trucking loads are smaller, often specialized, and time-sensitive. Examples include:

• Critical manufacturing parts.
• Construction equipment for a remote site.
• Automotive parts.
• Farm equipment.
• An emergency oilfield component.
• A high-value vehicle(s) that doesn’t fill a semi.

Operators are prepared to drive with only a partially full truck.

Alternatively, the freight is LTL (less-than-truckload), meaning several smaller shipments from various shippers are consolidated. These shipments are routed through centralized terminals, where they are sorted and grouped by destination. They are then loaded onto outbound trucks for final delivery.

Traditional freight usually involves full truckload (FTL) shipments. This means a single shipper’s goods fill an entire truck.

Speed and delivery model

Hotshot specializes in direct, expedited delivery. The route is a straight line from pick-up to delivery, bypassing terminals and consolidating hubs.

Traditional haulage involves more complex routing and sometimes several stops. It may move cargo through larger hub-and-spoke networks, especially for LTL consolidated loads.

Rates and pricing

Hot shot trucking industry prices are made in the spot market. Spot rates are dynamic and can change hourly. Factors that cause price swings include:

• Real-time truck supply and demand
• Lane demand and urgency
• Weather conditions
• Seasonal factors
• Route disruptions (e.g., building works and natural disasters)

During peak demand periods, brokers can achieve higher margins on individual loads. On the flipside, competition squeezes margins during slower periods.

The traditional carrier industry is influenced by spot market dynamics, but to a lesser extent. Lots of freight is moved under contract. These contracts lock in rates for a set period, typically 6 to 24 months.

Carriers’ licensing requirements

Hot shot carriers are allowed to operate without a CDL if the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the truck and trailer combined is under 26,000 lbs. For heavier loads and certain regulated materials, hot shot operators require a CDL. All interstate hot shot carriers need USDOT and MC numbers.

Virtually all traditional semi-truck operations require a CDL due to their weight and size. They also generally require USDOT/MC numbers.

Is Hot Shot Trucking Profitable for Brokers?

Many brokerages make healthy profits from hotshotting. The secret is positioning yourself as a dynamic, reliable intermediary, geared to manage the urgent, small-load deliveries that traditional carriers can’t handle economically.

Clients will pay a premium for specialized or expedited performance. This presents an opportunity to earn healthy margins by negotiating smartly with truckers for favorable (but fair) rates. 

Working in this market helps to expand your service offerings. You can build niche client relationships within sectors like construction, agriculture, energy, and emergency services. Hotshotting has offered many new brokers quicker entry into the industry.

Profitability is by no means guaranteed, of course, and competition is tough in many lanes. Your ultimate earnings depend on hard work and factors like load volume, lane coverage, agility in securing deals, and a network of trusted carriers. While competition can be fierce, hard work and strategic planning can yield significant rewards.

Regulations and Licensing for Hot Shot Trucking

As a broker, you must ensure your carriers meet regulatory and licensing requirements. When vetting commercial vehicles to work with, pay close attention to the following:

• DOT Number and MC Authority: Hot shot transporters hauling interstate loads for payment must have a USDOT number and Motor Carrier (MC) authority from the FMCSA.
• CDL requirements: A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required if the combined gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the truck and trailer exceeds 26,000 lbs. A CDL is also mandatory when hauling certain hazardous materials.
• Hours of Service (HOS): Most hotshot drivers must follow HOS rules, including compulsory rest breaks and maximum daily drive times.
• ELD compliance: If operating under HOS rules, drivers must use an electronic logging device (ELD) to track driving hours. ELDs are required by truckers operating more than 7 days a month or crossing state lines. Logging is an important part of complying with RODS (Records of Duty Status).
• Insurance: Hot shot transport carriers must hold adequate liability and cargo insurance. Minimum coverage depends on the freight transported.

How to Succeed in Hot Shot Brokerage

The success formula here is no different from traditional brokering: Find profitable shipments and match them with reliable, available transport.

Tips for finding hot shot trucking loads:

• Prospect astutely: Target industries with frequent urgent needs (e.g., manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, aerospace, emergency services). Look to form relationships with shippers. Offer to be their back-up broker.
• Load boards: Use load boards like DAT and Truckstop.com to find hotshot loads. They often include filters specifically for hotshot freight.
• Network: Connect with local businesses, industrial parks, and emergency service providers.

Build a reliable carrier network:

• Understand the carrier pool: Hotshotters are a distinct subset of carriers running smaller, more specialized haulers.
• Direct outreach: Connect with owner-operators and small hotshot fleets.
• Develop deep, knowledgeable relationships (see how below).

How to Work Successfully with Hotshot Trucking Businesses?

Follow these 4 tips to develop successful working relationships with carriers.

1. Understand hotshot rigs: To book carriers and quote accurately, you need to understand truck classifications, trailer types, and total capacity. Here’s a broad rundown of the most popular models.
   • Hotshot trucks:
     • Ford F-350 / F-450 / F-550
     • RAM 3500 / 4500 / 5500
     • Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
     • GMC Sierra 3500HD
     • Nissan Titan XD for smaller loads
   • Hotshot trailers:
     • Wedge: Relatively lightweight with an angled deck, and easy to load. Commonly used for ferrying cars.
     • Lowboy (low-bed): A specialized flatbed trailer with a lower deck height than standard trailers. It’s designed to carry taller loads.
     • A deckover trailer: Flatbed-style trailer where the deck sits above the wheels (rather than between them), providing a wider loading surface.
   • In terms of hitching mechanism, these tows are typically either gooseneck or 5th wheel.
     • Gooseneck trailer: Connects to a ball hitch mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. The trailer provides robust stability and weight distribution.
     • Fifth-wheel trailer: Uses a kingpin and hitch plate setup (similar to a semi-truck). A 5th-wheel is designed to handle heavier loads with a tighter turning radius.
   • Most trailers are between 35 and 50ft.
2. Vet credentials: Always ensure that your carrier is legally cleared for the specific weight and type of load you’re managing. This includes safety compliance and valid USDOT, MC numbers, insurance, ELDs, and HOS.
3. Track performance: Monitor on-time performance, communication, and overall reliability of hotshotters. The goal is to build a roster of dependable, trusted operators. You can help truckers improve their performance, for instance, by leveraging your advanced Transport Management System (TMS) to optimize routings.
4. Fair treatment: Agreeing fair rates, paying promptly, and treating carriers decently helps you become a preferred client who enjoys priority service.

FAQs

1. Can a semi haul hotshot freight?

A semi can technically carry hotshot freight, but it’s rarely economical. The operating expenses of a semi (maintenance and fuel costs, and driver wages) are too high to justify a light hotshot load, unless it’s part of a multi-stop or LTL route.

2. How do hot shot drivers get loads?

Hot shot truckers usually get jobs from load boards, online job boards where brokers and shippers post hot shot loads. The boards often allow filtering by weight class, distance, destination, and pay rate, helping drivers find shipments that suit their business.

3. What are common misconceptions about hotshot trucking?

Common misconceptions about hotshot trucking include that it’s only for light, local, or last-minute loads. In reality, hotshot carriers can handle cargo over 35,000 lbs, run interstate, and are sometimes scheduled in advance.

Some think it’s an informal or “entry-level” service, but it requires proper licensing and compliance. Many experienced brokerages offer hotshot services.

Summary and Next Steps

Hotshotting handles the freight that’s too big for parcel services, too small/ urgent for a semi, or too specialized for standard LTL.

Have you considered working in this dynamic, high-demand niche? With a firm understanding of the market and a strong commitment to performance, hotshot brokering can be a rewarding avenue for newer and aspiring brokers.

The 90-Day Freight Broker course provides expert insights to guide you, including strategies to grow your business within specialized markets. The industry-leading program (including exclusive input from experienced pros) equips you to build a sustainable freight business, whether niched or more general.

If you’re ready to seize the exciting opportunity, explore sign up for the course today!

Sources:

1. The Best Freight Broker Training Online
2. Thinking about getting into Hotshots? Read this! : r/HotShotTrucking
3. Hotshot Trucking: A Guide for Hotshot Drivers
4. What is Hot Shot Trucking – DAT
5. DAT Freight & Analytics – DAT
6. What is Hot Shots Transportation? – The ILS Company