Target the loads that other carriers don't want - like tarps, oversize and TWIC. Tarps require more labor and time on your part. Oversize means you have to limit your driving to daylight hours and specific routes - not to mention the absolute joy of state permit sites (#$^%$!!!!). And TWIC loads - yes, you have to have a security clearance (TWIC ID) and port ID's to enter the ports, and then wait your turn to load or unload. But the rates are better because many carriers don't like the wait and hassle. And the number one thing that you MUST DO: Communicate like the broker wants you to do. Whatever they say they want you to do, then DO IT! I also email the broker when I arrive at the shipper, email pictures of the secured (and tarped) load, arrival at receiver and finally picture of the last item coming off my trailer (including the forklift and driver) as well as a picture of the signed bill of lading (BOL). I do this for EVERY load! If they say call... then CALL them. But I email them also. Provide a service that makes the broker call you before posting loads on the load boards. THOSE will be your best loads!
Hello I am a broker and I’m thinking about getting into this driving wise I am having trouble finding the right pick up truck I Also have my cdl class a but my brokerage firm is non cdl what are your suggestions?
I've been in this industry for 5 years now. 4 as an owner/op dispatching myself and dispatching others full time for a year now and this is the most honest and straightforward video ive seen. I couldn't have said it better myself. I will recommend this video to anyone looking to get into this snake pit of an industry.
This is the most honest video I’ve ever seen in this community. We are coming up on 2 years in the game and piecing partials is the name of the game. We can run a 30k month on a truck but we are lucky to make a 10% profit. It’s becoming impossible to grow and pay big maintenance bills. Definitely not a business to start unless you have loads of cash to expand quickly and have a operating budget. Don’t even get me started on insurance LOL
I feel that your home base state plays a big part. I'm in Florida, Miami Florida to be exact. Freight rates out of here are terrible and it's 10hrs just to get outta Florida.
are you still in the hotshot business out of miami? would like to talk to you about your experience, I'm in Fort Lauderdale thinking about doing the same thing.
@@BlackBeard_ET I'm single with no kids and very little overhead, I own my truck and trailer (2013 6.7 cummins aisin trans 92k miles & brand new 40' flat deck gooseneck 12gvwr) have most the equipment and safety gear, would only be paying for insurance and diesel out of pocket at this point. Im hoping to make more than the 55k a year office job I been working at the last three years, was only 1600$ after taxes every two weeks
You are spot on about semis taking hot shot loads, I have a semi with a landoll trailer and have been taking hotshot loads to supplement my main equipment loads. I actually bought some tarps a few months ago, before I would not have even considered taking a load that had to be tarped, the last time I tarped anything was during the recession in 2008/2009
I’m selling a restaurant now and walking away with close to retirement money. Looking into this hot shot business. I’d like to work another 5-7 years before I hang it up. The more I learn the less appealing it is. Sounds like you’re gone for days or over a week at a time. I was hoping to just run a load here and there to keep a little cash flow coming. Doesn’t sound like that would be worth the investment.
Just got a truck and need work asap… But I gotta find businesses that need trucks and I don’t know where to look or need a truck and if I do find a business they already have a truck driver
You can just maintain it with top products like full synthetic oil and filter, 14 ply tires, add some performance parts and have it tuned for optimal towing capacity
If I have to use progressive for two to three years to stay in the game I don’t think this is the option for me . I’m going to be letting my authority go. This insurance shit is a scam
Thanks for this video, very informative. I'm a company driver, and just got my business started. I'm looking at getting either a GMC, or Ram dually. I know about the commercial insurance that I need. I still need my MC and Authority#. Can I get my dually, get regular insurance. Then once I have the funds needed, could I switch over to commercial.
@gnartalk Nope. I checked the FMCSA site. And it says that, you have to have the truck and commercial insurance. In order for your MC and Authority to be active.
What about someone that has a truck paid off and buy the trailer cash starting off in 2023 with no monthly expenses been thinking about getting into it and have a pretty good Nest Egg to put away for a rainy day would love to get into something like this
@ Richard Chaney I bought a used 2007 E-450 cab and chassis, a 26' gooseneck trailer for 10k.. I have a total investment in my setup of almost 20k... You can survive if you have the equipment paid for... By the way, I have a 6.8L V-10 gas powered truck... Gas is over $2 cheaper and I don't need to have DEF fluid... So yes , it can be done... I'll be ready to roll in February 2023
Don't quit your paying job just yet... you need to get your authority and let it age. A recent supreme court ruling made a broker liable for an accident by an inexperienced carrier. This has resulted in brokers requiring older authorities. When I started hotshot in 2020, the minimum was at least one month of authority so I hauled nothing the first month. Many brokers required 3, 6 or 12 months of active authority before you can haul loads for them. You will be hauling loads for brokers who pay cheap rates. Some now require 2 years! Freight rates are low and fuel is high. I too bought all my equipment and had a nest egg before starting, but things were better in 2020 - 2021 than they are now.
Great advice been doing local stuff to get more experience on doing this kind of stuff too and most of it's been Word of Mouth just hauling cars and cargo trailers right now on my spare time
Hey there bud I have a friend in pa. That has 3 vehicle or more that needs to be moved to Florida. Can you do it or know someone who can please. I'm not doing hauling any more. Or I would do it. Please let me know asap. And I can give you his contact info so you can setup something
Target the loads that other carriers don't want - like tarps, oversize and TWIC. Tarps require more labor and time on your part. Oversize means you have to limit your driving to daylight hours and specific routes - not to mention the absolute joy of state permit sites (#$^%$!!!!). And TWIC loads - yes, you have to have a security clearance (TWIC ID) and port ID's to enter the ports, and then wait your turn to load or unload. But the rates are better because many carriers don't like the wait and hassle. And the number one thing that you MUST DO: Communicate like the broker wants you to do. Whatever they say they want you to do, then DO IT! I also email the broker when I arrive at the shipper, email pictures of the secured (and tarped) load, arrival at receiver and finally picture of the last item coming off my trailer (including the forklift and driver) as well as a picture of the signed bill of lading (BOL). I do this for EVERY load! If they say call... then CALL them. But I email them also. Provide a service that makes the broker call you before posting loads on the load boards. THOSE will be your best loads!
Hello I am a broker and I’m thinking about getting into this driving wise I am having trouble finding the right pick up truck I Also have my cdl class a but my brokerage firm is non cdl what are your suggestions?
Great advice for us new guys.....
I've been in this industry for 5 years now. 4 as an owner/op dispatching myself and dispatching others full time for a year now and this is the most honest and straightforward video ive seen. I couldn't have said it better myself. I will recommend this video to anyone looking to get into this snake pit of an industry.
Thank you so much for the kind words
This is the most honest video I’ve ever seen in this community. We are coming up on 2 years in the game and piecing partials is the name of the game. We can run a 30k month on a truck but we are lucky to make a 10% profit. It’s becoming impossible to grow and pay big maintenance bills. Definitely not a business to start unless you have loads of cash to expand quickly and have a operating budget. Don’t even get me started on insurance LOL
Good intel seemed realistic. I’m jumping out there and stuff like this helps.
Fuel prices suck! #FJB
about to jump in the hotshot game......started trucking in 2016 but I wanna give hotshot a try
I feel that your home base state plays a big part. I'm in Florida, Miami Florida to be exact. Freight rates out of here are terrible and it's 10hrs just to get outta Florida.
I’m in Jacksonville better being in this side of FL
are you still in the hotshot business out of miami? would like to talk to you about your experience, I'm in Fort Lauderdale thinking about doing the same thing.
@@kickingclutches need to be out of Florida. Florida rates are amongst the worst of not the worst
@@BlackBeard_ET I'm single with no kids and very little overhead, I own my truck and trailer (2013 6.7 cummins aisin trans 92k miles & brand new 40' flat deck gooseneck 12gvwr) have most the equipment and safety gear, would only be paying for insurance and diesel out of pocket at this point. Im hoping to make more than the 55k a year office job I been working at the last three years, was only 1600$ after taxes every two weeks
You are spot on about semis taking hot shot loads, I have a semi with a landoll trailer and have been taking hotshot loads to supplement my main equipment loads. I actually bought some tarps a few months ago, before I would not have even considered taking a load that had to be tarped, the last time I tarped anything was during the recession in 2008/2009
Wait 🧐 semis where here before hotshots.
How you do LTL like your talking about?
I’m selling a restaurant now and walking away with close to retirement money. Looking into this hot shot business. I’d like to work another 5-7 years before I hang it up. The more I learn the less appealing it is. Sounds like you’re gone for days or over a week at a time. I was hoping to just run a load here and there to keep a little cash flow coming. Doesn’t sound like that would be worth the investment.
Definitely not worth the investment if your not gonna run for at least two weeks at a time.
Yea it’s not worth it my advice keep your job and run a semi truck hire a driver 1,500 a week fresh out of school
Just got a truck and need work asap…
But I gotta find businesses that need trucks and I don’t know where to look or need a truck and if I do find a business they already have a truck driver
Drivers who under cut other drivers are the scum of the industry. Never in my life would I think to do such a thing.
im trying to make fuel cheaper but would like to keep rude brokers out of the equation.
Change to gas motor, convert to propane, .90 cents a liter, fuel is the biggest cost you have. You are welcome.
I was thinking about buying a 1995 dually can I run with a older truck
You can just maintain it with top products like full synthetic oil and filter, 14 ply tires, add some performance parts and have it tuned for optimal towing capacity
Had that same truck same paint job 2000 f350 se has the bucket in the back ours had the v10 tho i miss it
99 f350 dually, V10, crew cab 2wd manual. 115k miles clean. Send it??
If I have to use progressive for two to three years to stay in the game I don’t think this is the option for me . I’m going to be letting my authority go. This insurance shit is a scam
Thanks for this video, very informative. I'm a company driver, and just got my business started. I'm looking at getting either a GMC, or Ram dually. I know about the commercial insurance that I need. I still need my MC and Authority#. Can I get my dually, get regular insurance. Then once I have the funds needed, could I switch over to commercial.
Wondering the same thing.. Did you ever find the answer to your question?
@gnartalk Nope. I checked the FMCSA site. And it says that, you have to have the truck and commercial insurance. In order for your MC and Authority to be active.
My question is how can I arrange to ship some loads across the country directly with drivers? Apps? I am in no hurry for these shipments.
Wise words 💪🏾💯
What about someone that has a truck paid off and buy the trailer cash starting off in 2023 with no monthly expenses been thinking about getting into it and have a pretty good Nest Egg to put away for a rainy day would love to get into something like this
@ Richard Chaney
I bought a used 2007 E-450 cab and chassis, a 26' gooseneck trailer for 10k..
I have a total investment in my setup of almost 20k...
You can survive if you have the equipment paid for...
By the way, I have a 6.8L V-10 gas powered truck...
Gas is over $2 cheaper and I don't need to have DEF fluid...
So yes , it can be done...
I'll be ready to roll in February 2023
Don't quit your paying job just yet... you need to get your authority and let it age. A recent supreme court ruling made a broker liable for an accident by an inexperienced carrier. This has resulted in brokers requiring older authorities. When I started hotshot in 2020, the minimum was at least one month of authority so I hauled nothing the first month. Many brokers required 3, 6 or 12 months of active authority before you can haul loads for them. You will be hauling loads for brokers who pay cheap rates. Some now require 2 years! Freight rates are low and fuel is high. I too bought all my equipment and had a nest egg before starting, but things were better in 2020 - 2021 than they are now.
Great advice been doing local stuff to get more experience on doing this kind of stuff too and most of it's been Word of Mouth just hauling cars and cargo trailers right now on my spare time
What about car hauling same concept equipment paid for acquiring direct customer ?
@@2020HotShotTruckingLLC What if you drove for a cdl trucking company for a year
what year is that truck
Great info
Hello cool straps down the car's who them onto the flatbed trailer you or the auction company
Hey there bud I have a friend in pa. That has 3 vehicle or more that needs to be moved to Florida. Can you do it or know someone who can please. I'm not doing hauling any more. Or I would do it. Please let me know asap. And I can give you his contact info so you can setup something
My email is Jason@kendallenterprises.com
Think I could start with a 5.4L f250?
You can but you shouldn't.