Hot shot trucking (also known as hotshot trucking) is the practice of transporting small, time-sensitive LTL shipments to a single customer or location within a predetermined time window. Flatbed trailers and medium-duty trucks are the most common mode of transportation for hot shot cargoes.
The specifications for hot shot trucks differ. While some hot shots may only need to travel a small distance, other shots may have to travel across state lines or even across the country.
Do you know what is hotshot trucking? There are a few differences between hot shot trucking and accelerated shipment, which typically comprises a fleet of vans, tractor-trailers, or even pickup trucks on call. Load boards are used to disperse hot shot hauling duties to a variety of drivers rather than having a fleet of accelerated shipping vehicles on call. Owner-operators who are seeking for a new load or extra money on the side might take advantage of hot shot trucking.
What are the duties of hot shot truckers?
Compared to a standard CDL tractor-trailer employment, hot shot trucking is a little more unique. As a starting point, hot shot drivers employ a wide range of unique vehicles and do a wide range of specialized runs in short order. Typically, hot shot loads are smaller and convey time-sensitive goods to their destinations. Hot shot drivers have the ability to transport goods from one location to another across the United States.
Small, time-sensitive loads that must be delivered in a certain time window are the specialty of hot shot drivers. The majority of hot shot truckers work as independent contractors who own and operate their own fleets and obtain work through load boards. However, corporate drivers may also take on high-risk occupations.
It is common for hot shot drivers to have a wide range of experience transporting a wide range of cargo and the essential equipment. Due of the high remuneration, they’re drawn to fast-moving hot-shot loads, especially when the equipment is urgently needed by the corporation.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Hot Shot Trucking
Many drivers begin their careers in hot shot trucking. When it comes to commercial vehicle insurance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is doing everything it can to discourage prospective drivers from first getting their CDL and then going out and buying a semi-truck, which is a risky career move.
It’s better to build up experience of driving on a hot shot truck as your CDL matures, so that if you decide to make the switch from the smaller vehicles into a semi, you’ll have a much simpler time qualifying for insurance. In addition, the regulations and standards for operating a hot shot and semi business are nearly identical, thus gaining experience as a hot shot is a great way to prepare for a career as a semi driver.
There is also a lower barrier to entry and lower operational costs associated with hot shot trucking. As an example, Class 8 semi-trucks can cost as much as $2,500-3,000 a month in monthly payments, yet most pickup trucks cost less than $1,000. In addition, smaller vehicles tend to be more fuel-efficient than their larger counterparts. Hot shot truckers are often able to earn as much as Class 8 drivers, if not more. In many cases, customers benefit from these savings as well. To make up for the greater costs associated with semis and other heavy-duty trucks, truckers must charge more for less than truckload (LTL) and partial freight.
There is a lot of rivalry in the hot shot trucking industry because it is a lot easier to get into. Owner-operators need to focus on quality of service in order to avoid their competition from underbidding them.
The Paying Strategy for Hotshot Trucking
There is a broad range in rates for hotshot trucking because drivers establish their own fee each mile. Depending on fuel rates, a driver’s truck and trailer combination’s mile-per-gallon, and the likelihood of a return haul, charges might vary from one trip to the next. As the project at hand is unique and requires a specific level of care to be taken, so are the costs.
In order for hotshot drivers, as owner operators, to set pricing that make the hauls they do worthwhile and profitable, they need to be aware of their operational costs.
Hotshot and expedited carriers benefit from a complete telematics system that includes GPS tracking, eLogs that are ELD-compliant, in-cab messaging, navigation, and maintenance scheduling that provides insight into operations.