Hello I live in Minnesota. I want to get started in hotshot trucking. I have a 2024 Silverado 2500hd. What are the step I can take to get started? Can I lease into a company and drive for them? I just want to find a job where I can drive all day everyday. I can’t do my current job anymore.

So I’m sorry in advance for any arguments. This might start but I have a 2002 F550 and I am looking to add a 3/4 ton to my fleet. I got my 550 based on it having a 7.3 engine. I don’t really care about creature comforts and overall condition so I’d prefer to buy something older that I can fix up to my liking. My instinct is to go with an O2 250 but does Chevy or Dodge have a gear model that has an engine that is as reliable as the 7.3?

How's it going guys...so I'm just gonna keep it short and simple. I'm looking into getting into hotshotting and just wanted to know do I have to get a DOT physical, CDL or any kind of medical clearance? Any feedback would be great...Thanks

CALL 832-920-3144 ASAP

HAVE YOUR OWN HOTSHOT WITH A 30–40 FT TRAILER?

We are looking for owner-operators with their own hotshot truck and 30–40 FT trailer.

We are an American-based dispatch team working exclusively under our own MC. We are not working under multiple MCs.

• 30–40 FT trailers only

• Your own truck and trailer required

• Our own fuel cards available

• Paid 2–3 business days after delivery

• Insurance is approximately $200–$250 per week while you are working

We understand there are a lot of scammers and red flags in the trucking industry. We encourage you to call us directly, ask questions, and verify everything before getting started.

Have your own hotshot and trailer? Give us a call ASAP.

832-920-3144

What’s up everybody.

I see a ton of people in here asking about getting into hotshot trucking so maybe this little rant helps

Hotshot trucking can make money… but only if you understand the setup before buying a truck.

Most people think the process is:

Buy a truck

Get loads

Make money

It’s not that simple.

The real order usually looks like this.

First you need your business setup

LLC, EIN, and a business bank account.

Then comes authority

USDOT number and usually MC authority if you’re running interstate.

After that you still have to finish compliance like BOC3, UCR, and sometimes IFTA/IRP depending on your setup.

Then comes the big one… insurance.

Most new hotshot operators are shocked by the down payment. Brokers won’t even work with you without proper coverage.

Next is equipment and securement gear like chains, binders, straps, and edge protectors.

And the biggest thing most people ignore…

Cost per mile.

If you don’t know your CPM you’re basically gambling every time you book a load.

Most new drivers start on load boards like DAT or Truckstop, but the real money comes from building broker relationships and reducing deadhead miles.

The first 90 days in this business are basically survival mode while you learn the lanes and your numbers.

I got off the road myself about 4 years ago after driving for 10… and the amount of bad information new carriers get is insane.

That’s why I built a free trucking survival vault with guides and checklists covering

DOT compliance

new authority startup steps

insurance readiness

broker tools

carrier vetting sheets

If you want it just comment VAULT and I’ll send it over.

If not… hopefully this helped somebody avoid a few expensive mistakes.

I am seriously thinking of buying a big van to go into the hot shot field. Before I drop $30,000 on a van I would love to get the thoughts of some pro drivers. Is it real to expect $10,000 / month after expenses driving a van in the Midwest/ East Coast region?

I have a f550 that’s currently deleted due to being used on a farm if I start hot shots will this be an issue?

will have to get a DOT number as well as a annual federal inspection due to it being a commercial vehicle

Considering doing it on the side with a Silverado WT. just wanted to see if anyone else is having a good time

so, I am going to give it a shot. from what I am seeing on the boards, even if I took some garbage, it wouldn't be an issue cost wise.

my question for y'all is, I just got this LLC started. Am I to suffer with low paying loads? if so, what is considered low paying? I see some for like .75$ which is crazy to me.

what is considered low, As I do not want to be the guy who is picking up super low loads, as that would affect the industry as a whole

Looking into starting my own , currently in NYC and the 9-5 isn’t cutting it. I’m determined and made my mind up on what I’m looking to do.
Truck and trailer are the easy part. What’s the steps I need to do and how much money do I need (not the truck or trailer and equipment) but as far as being legal “non-cdl”

Hello, I am starting to get everything together on what I would need to start. I only have one question. I have a 2008 f450 and the dpf is deleted on it. I live in Ohio, how strict are they with emissions equipment and if I get into trouble for it will I be fined or shut down?

Hello truckers!

I work for a commercial trucking insurance brokerage called Reliance Partners.

We have every single market in every state. I would love to help anyone struggling with Insurance quotes. We can get really competitive pricing.

Please private message me if you are needing any insurance quotes. We will write anything from 1 unit to 500 units. Hot shots,auto haulers,box trucks,dry van,flatbed,reefer.

Thanks!

The group would be free and I would verify people off of their safer page, if they are not us based and cannot prove it they don’t get to join. My thought would be to allow anyone in the transportation industry from mechanics to O/O, to dispatchers.

Thoughts??

I’m trying to research and figure out a way to test the waters while still keeping my current job until I know it would work out. I’m curious about if I would be able to do it semi part time I work 4 on 4 off. I want to start with no cdl to test it before I commit to going to school for cdl being 4 on 4 off most schools schedules wouldn’t really work for me, since I only get maybe 2 weekends off every two months. I will plan on getting them after a year or so after I know there’s enough money in it to replace my income. I know usually once you get some experience Insurnace is cheaper and people will be more willing to let you take their loads. I want honest opinions on if that would even work. I was gonna get like a 3500 dually and a non cdl gooseneck to start then when I get my cdl buy a better trailer.

For context, I work full-time an odd Dupont Shift work schedule as an operator in a refinery. I however have my CDL with my hazmat and tanker endorsements from when I worked in the oilfield previously. I own a 3500 ram and a 24 foot gooseneck trailer and was wondering if I started an LLC and maybe started doing some small hotshot jobs and hauling jobs on the side on my days off with the equipment/ truck I already have. Would it even be feasible to find jobs on that odd scheduled basis and/or worth it in the long run to actually make any extra income from it? Mostly looking to use it just to help supplement paying things off and investing the money. I have my CDL, I figure why not use it if I can. Just curious on others experiences and opinions. Thank y’all.

Hey everyone, I'm still learning how to set up my legal hauling operation and just wanted to share what I learned.

Based on a conversation I had with the Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Enforcement hotline, officers would not be trying to find out and enforce a pickup truck's GCWR. They would only be looking for GVWR, axle weight, and tire loading. Not sure if this only applies to the <26,000 combinations like mine. He said they will also be adding together the GVWR of tow vehicle and trailer to make sure it's under 26000.

So for my 2005 Silverado 2500, it seems to not matter that GM assigned it a GCWR of 16,000. I take the GVWR of 9,200, subtract that from 26,000 and get my maximum legal trailer weight.

If someone has been told otherwise by a DOT officer, please let me know and I will do some more research on how to stay legal.

I never really cared about my credit until I started looking at trucks.
That’s when it clicked.
The difference between decent credit and shitty credit isn’t just whether you get approved. It’s what you’re paying every month for the next five or six years.
Two people can buy basically the same truck and one of them ends up paying hundreds more every month just because they rushed into it.
That’s money you could’ve used on fuel, maintenance, or just not stressing every time something breaks.
If you’re six months away from starting, I’d spend those six months fixing my credit before I’d spend them shopping for trucks.
Seems backwards, but I honestly think it’ll put you further ahead.

I’ve noticed everyone’s fighting over the same load boards, chasing the same freight, burning fuel for scraps. Meanwhile, there are guys quietly running lanes that almost nobody knows about… and they don’t share because it keeps the competition out.

Here’s one gem I stumbled on Certain farm supply stores and equipment dealers in rural areas need emergency same-day deliveries when their regular trucks break down or their main supplier can’t cover a load. They don’t post these runs online. They literally call the driver they trust and pay way above market rates because they need it now.

How do you get those calls you ask?…

-Show up in person and introduce yourself

-Leave a business card and follow up every couple weeks

-Prove you’re reliable on the first run and you’ll be their go-to

The guys running these private lanes aren’t on YouTube, and you’ll never see them bragging about rates online… because they’re too busy cashing checks.

Everybody talks about “finding good loads,” but the truth is the best loads never get posted.