Hot Shot
Hotshot trucks usually are the Class 3, 4, or 5 trucks pulling a flatbed or other trailer for extra weight and capacity. Hotshot trucks often transport an item needed to prevent a failure, such as in the power grid, a factory or plant, or a pump in an oil field. They handle the emergency logistics. These trucks often take other jobs like towing cars, equipment, machinery, boats, and RVs. If the owner is not leasing their hotshot to a business, he must get a US DOT number and a minimum of $750,000 as the primary liability insurance coverage. It is mainly to drive interstate.
Hotshot trucks typically come in different sizes. Today’s most hotshot trailers range between 30 and 40 feet in length and others between 3 feet, 4 inches, 3 feet, and 6 inches above the ground.
Most of the time, hotshot trailers have a maximum height capacity for freight that ranges between 9 feet, 6 inches, and 10 feet tall — depending on the type of tires. These trailers can move almost the same weight as the standard flatbed trailer.
Gooseneck hot shot trailers
Dovetail hot shot trailers
Bumper pulls hot shot trailers
The type you pick depends entirely on the kind of loads you wish to handle.
One of the critical advantages of hotshot trucking is the low start-up equipment costs at higher pay-up get per mile. Also, you can buy a Class 3 truck and trailer for a lesser price than a Class 8 long-haul, and it has less insurance cost. Another significant benefit is that the drivers can set their expenses – this can often go at premium rates as it has a tight turnaround – and you can also select the working hours and choose when to take loads, as they work for themselves.
Hotshot trucking also has its challenges. Work can be unstable. You will not always get the hires as expected. Also, the drivers must be ready at a moment’s notice to be at the service. The trucks may need frequent maintenance as the trucks’ workload is tuff. And it’s challenging to maintain the resale value of vehicles. It is mainly because, most of the time, the trucks are s as other carrier types. It includes the insurance, licenses and qualifications, drug and alcohol testing, Hours of Service (HOS) logging, and IFTA reports (depending on pounds hauled).
The Hotshot truckers must deliver small, time-sensitive loads that need to be delivered within a tight timeframe. Most hotshot truckers are freelance owners who-operators their vehicles and find their loads. But drivers who work for other companies sometimes take on hot shot jobs. All the drivers have to undergo the necessary procedures and qualify to take up the job.
Hotshot trucking is, in fact, a very effective and widespread process of transporting smaller quantities of freight. They use a flatbed hotshot trailer and a “medium-duty” pickup truck most of the time. Hotshot trucking became a convenient option because it provides a time — and budget-friendly — solution for shippers to send their freight via less-than-truckload or partial-truckload services.
How to Choose?
Hotshot trucks typically fall under Class 3, 4, or 5. – What is the best hotshot trailer for hotshot trucking?
Class 3
Class 3 medium-duty truck types have a 10,001-14,000 pounds weight limit. Drivers use the Chevrolet Silverado 3500, the GMC Sierra 3500, the Ford F-350, and the Ram 3500 as the most common types.
These are the essential heavy-duty pickup trucks. Contractors and last-mile delivery drivers commonly use this type, but you can also use them for hotshot logistics.
Class 4
The regulation is that the Class 4 medium-duty trucks can carry a weight limit of 14,001-16,000 pounds. The Chevrolet Silverado 4500, Ford F-450, and Ram 4500 are the vehicles that fall into this category. Though these are heavier trucks, they come under as non-commercial. If you plan on hauling larger hot shot loads, you may want to invest in a Class 4 truck.
Class 5
Class 5 medium-duty trucks have a recommended weight limit of 16,001-19,500 pounds. Standard vehicles of this category are Chevrolet Silverado 5500, Ford F-550, and the Ram 5500. The Kenworth, Peterbilt, and International TerraStar are the other type of vehicles that fall into this category.
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