Becoming a hotshot driver?

S

Sienna dude

Joined
Apr 12, 2025
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Does anybody here have experience with this line of work or know someone who is in this line of work? I don't have a CDL so I can't drive semis. I have a minivan and willingly to finance a pickup if required. I can stay away from home for weeks if needed. The kind of job that we read about, Tundras racking gazillions of miles delivering stuff all over the country. I will really appreciate if someone here can guide me in the direction. I will be asking this question on some other forums as well. Thanks
 
Its a tough time now in commercial transport. I haul fuel in Canada and we're slow.

Until tariff situation is sorted theres gonna be alot of commercial drivers working for peanuts and willing to haul anything.

I dont know a lot about hotshotting but I know a little. Its kinda cut throat. Probably best to stick to a specific field. Oil/gas/pipeline/mines. Something where they are willing to pay more to have it right away.

Also know you will have to follow federal laws about HOS even without a commercial license if your inter-state.
 
I have a CDL A, and have numerous trucks and trailers, all paid for. I love to drive and have studied in depth the hot shot business. With zero vehicle or trailer loans ((everything paid for), I still can't see how a profit can be made for 95 percent of the drivers.

First, to get appropriate loads, you will need a DOT and MC number. To get these numbers, you are required to have commercial vehicle insurance. It takes a minimum of three months of dot mc number before a broker will consider a load for you. I can go on and on , that hot shot is a non profitable business for the vast majority. The drivers end up just having their vehicle and trailer repossessed.

What I think might be worth looking into is how can you make money with your mini van. Can you be a courier for medical labs? Airport shuttle? Delivery for local firms? If you can't get work from local firms for delivery, how are you going to pick up profitable accounts as a hot shot?
 
My relative is a hotshot driver, non-CDL. And he only does transport hot shot. 2-3 cars at a time, as long as total weight of truck, trailer, and vehicles on the trailer come under 26k lbs. Lots of overhead expenses, but here is an example of last week, which is not good or bad, but just average. Gross was $6.8k. After fuel, insurance, broker fees, eld fees, and bunch of other stuff he listed - he was left with Net of $3k that week.
 
GR_CoB said:
My relative is a hotshot driver, non-CDL. And he only does transport hot shot. 2-3 cars at a time, as long as total weight of truck, trailer, and vehicles on the trailer come under 26k lbs. Lots of overhead expenses, but here is an example of last week, which is not good or bad, but just average. Gross was $6.8k. After fuel, insurance, broker fees, eld fees, and bunch of other stuff he listed - he was left with Net of $3k that week.
Click to expand...

Really sucks that real drivers holding a class A, owning their own truck and a 53' trailer don't net $3K a week after living in their semi days on end with how cutthroat that segment of trucking is. If your relative is netting $3 a week he's lucky.
 
skyactiv said:
Really sucks that real drivers holding a class A, owning their own truck and a 53' trailer don't net $3K a week after living in their semi days on end with how cutthroat that segment of trucking is. If your relative is netting $3 a week he's lucky.
Click to expand...
It heavily depends on the broker and company. Previous company he worked for paid barely enough to break even. Paid less per mile and had less miles to give.
And my relative does have to sleep in the pickup truck too, just doesn't have all the comfy nice amenities that "real drivers" have in their own truck. He sleeps in a crew cab RAM3500 on a diy plywood bed platform. So that $3k Net does come at the price of lack of comfort. Eventually he does plan to buy a RAM 5500 with a sleeper.
 
Had a coworker whose second job was a medical courier. There was a chain of nursing homes with a pharamacy in only one location. So the pharmacist would process all the meds for the chain, daily, and he'd run up and down between them. Had a company car, an unmarked subaru.
 
GR_CoB said:
It heavily depends on the broker and company. Previous company he worked for paid barely enough to break even. Paid less per mile and had less miles to give.
And my relative does have to sleep in the pickup truck too, just doesn't have all the comfy nice amenities that "real drivers" have in their own truck. He sleeps in a crew cab RAM3500 on a diy plywood bed platform. So that $3k Net does come at the price of lack of comfort. Eventually he does plan to buy a RAM 5500 with a sleeper.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming he's an independent contractor? Does he also have to provide health insurance for himself out of the net pay? Have to consider the benefits, or lack thereof, with these gigs as well.
 
GR_CoB said:
My relative is a hotshot driver, non-CDL. And he only does transport hot shot. 2-3 cars at a time, as long as total weight of truck, trailer, and vehicles on the trailer come under 26k lbs. Lots of overhead expenses, but here is an example of last week, which is not good or bad, but just average. Gross was $6.8k. After fuel, insurance, broker fees, eld fees, and bunch of other stuff he listed - he was left with Net of $3k that week.
Click to expand...
Where is your relative based out of? I've been looking for a vehicle transport from So Cal to Boise, Idaho area. Need a 2012 Tundra and 2022 Accord moved.
 
My career was high end Corporate Aviation, traveled the globe. But one really cool aspect of my job (that I both complained about and loved) was the long distance driving. I'd drive one of 3 F150's 1350 miles in one day. Often twice per week, especially during covid.

The 2009 F150 5.4V8 lariat was the best over the road truck. Super comfy, and that engine was an absolute gem, smooth and pleasant.
The 2011 3.5V6 EcoBoost and sounded like a UPS truck. The intercooler filled with condensate over time (during rain) and then the engine would act up.
The 2018 2.7EB got the best MPG.

Neither V6 was as pleasant on the highway as the V8. Soooo, I purchased a 2024 F150 V8 Lariat.

We operated out of 5 different airports and often needed supplies such as berthing/sleeping setups, additional aircraft seats, helicopter dolly or power carts and support equipment to reposition. FedEx could never handle the pace.

Anyway, driving the F150's IMHO is the best way to travel. They are so comfortable, quiet and drive incredibly well.
 
Sienna dude said:
Does anybody here have experience with this line of work or know someone who is in this line of work? I don't have a CDL so I can't drive semis. I have a minivan and willingly to finance a pickup if required. I can stay away from home for weeks if needed. The kind of job that we read about, Tundras racking gazillions of miles delivering stuff all over the country. I will really appreciate if someone here can guide me in the direction. I will be asking this question on some other forums as well. Thanks
Click to expand...

Bad idea because the rates are low and it’s difficult to get into this type of business with crazy insurance rates.

Get a part-time job at Costco and you’ll probably make the same amount of money per week.
 
Sienna dude said:
Does anybody here have experience with this line of work or know someone who is in this line of work? I don't have a CDL so I can't drive semis. I have a minivan and willingly to finance a pickup if required. I can stay away from home for weeks if needed. The kind of job that we read about, Tundras racking gazillions of miles delivering stuff all over the country. I will really appreciate if someone here can guide me in the direction. I will be asking this question on some other forums as well. Thanks
Click to expand...
Had a friend that bought an F350 and became a hotshot.
He used a booking service that took a good chunk but made sure he got paid.
He ended up getting buried by load and unload time, expectation around that, and issues with it.
In a year of doing it, not a single load made it on and off the trailer in the window allotted - unless he could drive it on and off himself.
Cant get to the next load if you are waiting for the one on your trailer to be loaded or unloaded.

Small but expensive packages might be better- like medical stuff.
 
Last edited:
Also the broker might say the load is only 5000 pounds and it’s 8000 pounds.

Maybe 20 years ago it was doable, but today many are willing to haul stuff for peanuts.
Too many people on YouTube make it look easy. Working 70 hours for crap wages is not smart.

What city is OP in ?

Yes, specialized surgical trays are in demand and need to get delivered ASAP cause cases are scheduled the next day. I will take a photo of these type of trays next time I’m at a hospital.
 
Last edited:
UncleDave said:
Had a friend that bought an F350 and became a hotshot.
He used a booking service that took a good chunk but made sure he got paid.
He ended up getting buried by load and unload time, expectation around that, and issues with it.
In a year of doing it, not a single load made it on and off the trailer in the window allotted - unless he could drive it on and off himself.
Cant get to the next load if you are waiting for the one on your trailer to be loaded or unloaded.

Small but expensive packages might be better- like medical stuff.
Click to expand...
I have been thinking about that medical stuff as well. I just don't know how to get into it. My Sienna is the pefect vehicle for that kind of stuff.
 
Dave Hess said:
Also the broker might say the load is only 5000 pounds and it’s 8000 pounds.

Maybe 20 years ago it was doable, but today many are willing to haul stuff for peanuts.
Too many people on YouTube make it look easy. Working 70 hours for crap wages is not smart.

What city is OP in ?

Yes, specialized surgical trays are in demand and need to get delivered ASAP cause cases are scheduled the next day. I will take a photo of these type of trays next time I’m at a hospital.
Click to expand...
I am in Western WA.
 
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