Hot Shot Driver Career Questions

[JBizkit]

Any hot shot drivers on here? Or maybe have friends or family that do it for a living?

Thinking about making a career change and have always loved driving. Thinking it might be a good way to make a living.

I’ve been pulling trailers my whole life that’s not an issue. I’m 40 years old and I have zero tickets on my record and I’ve never been in a wreck. (Knock on wood.....)

Just looking for some pros and cons.

Any and all info is appreciated.

Thank you in advance.


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[GA Bowhunter]

There are several hotshot channels on YouTube that give the ins and outs.

Looks like an interesting way to make a living. I'm like a little kid though. I get behind the wheel and I fall asleep.

[MacDaddy67]

you wont get rich unless you expand and hire.....just driving you will survive but be on the road ALL THE TIME

[Laner7]

depending on how much work you want to take in, but one driver would make upwards of 10k a month when the oil field was good. Can make more if you put in the time & the work is available. Have to calculate gas costs, maintenance, etc. in there & that will add up fast.

[breederbuck33]

I sell pipe, valves, and fittings for a living. We do a ton of hot shotting across the country. It is a very unstable field, but the good drivers are worth their weight in gold! My advice would be to get your CDL. Having your CDL will make you more valuable, and a clean record like you have makes you easy to insure. Find a company with enough contacts to get you back hauls. You want to be getting paid on the drive home too! Also, don't turn any runs down. Don't turn a 40 mile run because its not worth doing. The more you say yes the faster the dispatcher is going to put you on the top of the list when a good run comes up. I know as a customer I'll ask for particular drivers because I know they won't say no. I throw them every bone I can.

[175gr7.62]

My uncle got in to it a couple years ago at 60yr when the hospital he worked at sold and he lost his security guard job. Got his CDL and went to work for a hot shot service. Was making the best money he has every made.

Has had 3 runs in the last 2 months and is about to lose everything. I may be generalizing a bit but to me when you go to work as a hot shot driver you are going to work in the oil field......and there are even more people who know how to drive than people who know their way around a rig.


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[HOOKNBULLET2]

I've been in the transportation business for almost 30 years. You are basically buying
yourself a job. If you work real hard and get lucky you'll make $500,000 total in 10 years. The average is $50,000 per year and that's working 250+ days a year.
Over 50% of the ones I've come in contact with go out of business within 24 months. Usually when a $5000-$10000 repair is needed to their truck.

You can make the same or better money driving for someone else.

[dgilbert]

Think I would find a more secured job.

[TX03RUBI]

You can do ok when it’s busy, but you’ll be begging for work when it’s slow. Lots of drivers sitting at the house right now, and they’re all fighting for the same few loads.

[twistedmidnite]

I done it for myself for 3 years. I only quit because my wife got pregnant and I wanted to be home for my son. I cleared 2-3k a week easy and it wasn't oilfield work. I hauled for a well known farm equipment manufacturer plus a few trailer companies. It was easy money but make sure all your ducks are in a row because D.O.T loves to take your money. My suggestion is to target the manufacturing places around you and see if they need you

[SmTx]

All my buddies that did it ended up the same way. Brand new 1 ton truck and trailer note with a non hot shot job.

This was during oil field boom

[RattlesnakeDan]

I sold trailers and got a lot of guys going with the right setup for them. As in most things in life some excelled some failed miserably. One thing I noticed is the guys who had all their eggs in one basket (signed on with 1 company)were scrambling for work later. I would have as many contacts as possible if I were getting in.

[Acameron52]

Don’t know anybody that has made it more than a few years doing it.

[ramrod]

Like many buisinesses, you just need to diversify. A lot of the guys that went down had nothing but oilfield buisness. Plenty of runs to be had in other sectors at a fair price.

[BiggieSmalls]

The insurance is what kills you, look into it first.