Hot Shot Driver Career Questions

[perow]

If you plan on doing your own authority there's more to it than insurance and registration. I can't remember what all exactly there was but it took a couple weeks to get everything in order. Ifta, mcs150??, dot#, mc #, electronic logs, safety triangles, fire extinguisher, just off the top of my head.

Starting up can be costly but everyone was saying DOT will eat you up. I was just trying to see what they where talking about.

[gatorgrizz27]

Not a hotshotter, but a small business owner. Being near to Houston, I’d focus on building local relationships and delivering art pieces, furniture, collectibles, etc. Buy an enclosed trailer you can fit a car in, and your reputation is everything. If you’re recommended from someone trustworthy it doesn’t matter what your price is.

You’ll need to be prompt, professional, clean, have floor protection, straps, dollies, etc, but the overall investment is low. Have a few local guys you can call to help you unload for $50-$100, they won’t have to ride with you to pick stuff up.

[Tmag]

Insurance and DOT will eat you up.

The only way I'd do it is if I had a dependable insider somewhere close to home that would cover at least 75% of my business....and it was NOT the oilfield. Local specialized manufacturers, etc. Even then, it's a tough business.

Dale is right. Trucking is slow right now, even in the specialized side.

[EarleyBird]

The few of my buddies who ran hot shot didn't last long, except for one, who's been at it for about twenty years now. He hauls trees for a few different nurseries and makes dang good money.