How to Get Hotshot Loads
Running a hotshot trucking company can prove to be a very lucrative side of the trucking industry. However, like running a traditional trucking business, you need to have a steady stream of new loads to keep yourself profitable and your business growing. So, you got your commercial driver’s license (CDL). You are registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), but how do hotshot truckers find loads to keep their trucking company going? Understanding the terms used in the industry and working with reliable freight brokers can help you find the best load opportunities. We are going to take a look at the answer to that and more in this article.
What Are Hotshot Loads
Before we get too deeply into how to find hotshot loads, it is important to have a firm understanding of exactly what they are and how they differ from traditional trucking loads. Hotshot trucking is the hauling of smaller, more time-sensitive loads within a specific timeframe. These freight loads are usually delivered using medium-duty trucks that pull flatbed trailers. However, other trailer types can be used depending on the carrier and the needs of the load.
Hotshot truck requirements tend to vary. Some hotshots need to be delivered a short distance, but others may need to go over state lines or even across the country.
Hotshot trucking differs from expedited shipping, which usually involves vans, tractor-trailers, box trucks, or even semi-trucks waiting on standby to get the job done. Instead of keeping expedited shipping vehicles on standby, hotshot hauling jobs are distributed to various drivers through load boards, such as DAT load board or Truckstop. That makes hotshot trucking a great opportunity for any owner-operator looking for their next load or to make some extra money on the side.
The type of trailer that you need can vary depending on the specific load, and sometimes it can make sense for a hotshot driver to have multiple trailer types available to keep their business options wide open. These trailer types often include bumper pull, gooseneck, tilt deck, lowboy, and even dovetail trailers. However, the bigger the trailer and load, the more you will need to ensure you have the right equipment to safely haul it, such as a super-duty truck.
Tips For Finding Hotshot Loads
Build Relationships in the Industry
One of the best things you can do in the hotshot freight world is to develop quality and strategic relationships. However, building these relationships and learning how to get trucking contracts through them will take some time. These relationships with shippers can and will aid you in your hotshot trucking business. With a startup though, this can be difficult. If you are a new company, hiring a dispatching service that specializes in finding loads for a hotshot carrier is beneficial. Once you are able to get your feet wet and foster some relationships within the industry, your business will gain credibility through those shipper relationships that vouch for you. The more relationships you build, the better. You may be able to use some of these contacts needing smaller loads to fill empty space along with larger loads on your hotshot trailer.
Have Great Communication Skills
Being a great communicator is a crucial skill for truck drivers. Trucking in general is still a very personable industry, so people skills go a long way. No matter what side of the industry you are on, when you are dealing with the transportation of other’s goods it is vital that you show clear and reliable communication skills to establish and maintain that level of trust for them to do business with you. This will aid you now and in the future.
Use a Load Board
While this is far from the best option due to the cost and rates, hotshot load boards are a grassroots-level source for loads that cannot be ignored when looking for available loads. To keep your company profitable, you need to keep moving. That means a constant supply of loads to run, so you will need to source those from all means necessary to keep your schedule booked. You should know the flow and operation of a load board and be ready to hop on it whenever needed to fill in open slots on your routes. Not all of them are free, but if you know how to use them effectively, they are well worth the subscription fee. You will also want to make sure when you are exploring a load board that is best for you that you inquire about the specific load types that you are able to haul with your current equipment.
Our team knows a thing or two about finding good loads in this market. Have more questions on the subject? Give us a call. 913-393-6110