What Is Hotshot Trucking? A Simple Guide
Hotshot Guide
You have probably seen them on the highway. A heavy-duty pickup pulling a long flatbed trailer with a tractor, a stack of pipe, or a few pallets on it. That is a hotshot rig.
So what is hotshot trucking, and why are so many drivers getting into it? This guide explains it in plain words. You will learn how it works, what gear is used, and what to think about before you start.
In This Guide
- The Short Answer
- Where Did the Name Come From?
- What Trucks Do Hotshot Drivers Use?
- What Trailers Do They Pull?
- What Do Hotshot Trucks Haul?
- How Is It Different From Regular Trucking?
- Do You Need a CDL?
- What Else Do You Need to Start?
- The Good Parts and the Hard Parts
- The Gear Every Hotshot Driver Carries
- How Do Hotshot Drivers Find Loads?
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Short Answer
Hotshot trucking is hauling smaller loads that need to move fast, using a pickup-style truck and a trailer in place of a big semi.
The loads are usually going to one customer. They are often time sensitive. A job site may need a part today, or a farm may need a machine before the weekend. A hotshot driver picks it up and takes it straight there.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The story most people tell goes back to the oil fields. When a drilling rig broke down, every hour cost a lot of money. Drivers in pickup trucks would wait nearby, ready to rush parts to the rig. Those rush jobs were called hot shots.
The oil fields still use hotshot drivers today, but the work has spread to many other kinds of freight.
What Trucks Do Hotshot Drivers Use?
Most hotshot drivers use heavy-duty pickups. These are often called one-ton trucks, and many have dual rear wheels for extra pulling power.
Some drivers use medium-duty trucks that are a step up in size. The right truck depends on how much weight you plan to pull. Bigger loads need more truck.
What Trailers Do They Pull?
The trailer does most of the work. Common types include:
Gooseneck trailers. These hook to a ball in the bed of the truck. They are stable and can carry heavy loads. Many are 30 to 40 feet long. This is the most common hotshot trailer.
Bumper pull trailers. These hook to a hitch at the back of the truck. They are shorter, cheaper, and easier to learn on, but they carry less.
Dovetail trailers. These have a sloped tail and ramps, which makes it easy to drive cars and machines onto the deck.
Lowboy and tilt deck trailers. These sit low to the ground or tilt for loading tall or heavy equipment.
What Do Hotshot Trucks Haul?
Hotshot loads are smaller than a full semi load, but they come in many forms.
- Farm and construction equipment
- Cars, trucks, and side-by-sides
- Building materials like lumber and steel
- Oil field parts and pipe
- Pallets of goods
- Machinery and generators
Most of this freight rides on an open flatbed, so the driver has to tie it down and sometimes cover it with a tarp.
How Is It Different From Regular Trucking?
Here are the main differences.
| Point | How Hotshot Is Different |
|---|---|
| Truck size | Hotshot drivers use pickups. Regular freight drivers use semi trucks. |
| Load size | Hotshot loads are smaller and lighter. |
| Speed | Hotshot loads often go straight from pickup to delivery with no stops at warehouses. |
| Cost to start | A pickup and trailer usually cost less than a semi and a 53-foot trailer. |
| Home time | Some hotshot drivers stay local or regional. Others run across the country. You get more say in how you work. |
Do You Need a CDL?
This is the most common question, and the answer is: it depends on weight.
The general rule
In the United States, a commercial driver's license is tied to the weight rating of your truck and trailer together. As a general rule, if the combined rating is 26,001 pounds or more and the trailer is rated over 10,000 pounds, you need a CDL.
Some drivers set up their truck and trailer to stay under that line and run without a CDL. That limits how much they can haul. Other drivers get a CDL so they can take heavier, better paying loads.
Rules can change and states have their own details, so check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and your state before you decide.
What Else Do You Need to Start?
If you plan to haul freight for pay across state lines, you will usually need a few things in place.
- A registered business
- A USDOT number
- Operating authority, often called an MC number
- Commercial truck insurance
- A DOT medical card
- A way to log your driving hours if the rules require it for your setup
This list is a starting point. Talk to an insurance agent and check the official rules for your state and your type of hauling.
The Good Parts and the Hard Parts
Hotshot trucking has real upsides and real challenges.
The good parts
- Lower cost to start than a semi
- You can be your own boss
- Many kinds of loads to choose from
- Trucks are easier to drive and park than a big rig
The hard parts
- Freight rates go up and down
- Fuel, insurance, and repairs add up
- You are the driver, the bookkeeper, and the salesperson
- Long hours and many miles on your truck
- You must know and follow the same safety rules as bigger trucks
Knowing both sides helps you plan with clear eyes.
The Gear Every Hotshot Driver Carries
Your job is to deliver the load safely. That means you need good tie down gear on the truck at all times. Shippers and inspectors both expect it. A basic setup includes:
- Ratchet straps for palletized and lighter freight
- Transport chains and binders for machines and steel
- Edge protectors to keep straps from being cut
- Tarps for loads that must stay dry
- Flags and signs for wide or long loads
- Safety gear like gloves, a vest, and warning triangles
If you are building your kit from scratch, a bundle can save time. The Hotshot Starter Bundle from Safe & Tie puts chains, binders, and straps in one package. You can also pick items one at a time from the cargo control collection.
How Do Hotshot Drivers Find Loads?
Most new drivers start with load boards. A load board is a website or app where shippers and brokers post freight that needs to be moved. You search by location and trailer type, then call or bid on the load.
Over time, many drivers build direct ties with local businesses, such as equipment dealers, farms, and builders. Repeat customers often mean steadier work.
Final Thoughts
So, what is hotshot trucking? It is fast, flexible hauling with a pickup and a trailer. It can be a good way into the trucking business because the cost to start is lower than a semi. It still takes planning, the right paperwork, and solid cargo control gear. Learn the rules, start with good equipment, and treat every load like it is your own.
Starting Your Hotshot Rig?
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Shop the Starter BundleFrequently Asked Questions
Is hotshot trucking the same as expedited freight?
They are close, but not the same. Hotshot usually means open trailers pulled by pickups. Expedited freight often uses vans or straight trucks with a set schedule. Both focus on speed.
What size trailer is best for hotshot work?
Many drivers choose a 40-foot gooseneck flatbed because it fits a wide range of loads. A shorter trailer is easier to handle but limits what you can carry.
Can I do hotshot trucking part time?
Some people do. Keep in mind that insurance, authority, and truck payments cost the same whether you run a little or a lot.
What tie down gear do I need on day one?
Start with a set of ratchet straps, a few chains with binders, edge protectors, and at least one tarp. Add more as you learn what kinds of loads you haul most.
Is hotshot trucking hard to learn?
Driving a pickup and trailer is easier than driving a semi, but the business side takes work. Learning the safety rules, load securement, and paperwork is just as important as driving.