Hey Guys,
I'm new to the forum and I'm hope some one out there can help me. I have a 2006 Dodge ram 2500 5.9 Cummings and I would like to do some hotshot hauling. I just don't know were to start. Does anyone have any info. I'm in Orlando FL.

 

i don't know alot but i will let you in on a web site. i do very little but uship.com go there and make a profile or just take a look then if you want make a profile. people go there to put what they need shiped and you can look at it and bid. its like an ebay of shipment. also you will have to find a goog insurance company down there so you can get a good rate. also you need to look into getting your D.O.T. numbers. its not the cheapest thing to get into but if you do good there is alot of money to be made. but like i said i don't know alot but some of the other guys will give you more info. hope what i told you is helpful.

 

there are always companys looking for hotshot haulers. like has been mentioned you gotta have your D.O.T #'s on truck and trailer. not sure how they would handle your 2500 with the load ratings though.

 

Hey bud Im a hot shoter. Im with Cheetah trans. The full name is Great Wide Cheetah Transportion. IF you have any questions let me know. I work out of TX but you could work out of FL if you want. The company is out of NC.

 

i am curious about this hotshot hauling i haul campers evry now an then and am thinking of doing it full time but would likt to know more about hotshot hauling

 

You can also check out www.hotshothauling.com - good info on that site.

From what I read and see, a 2500 would be limited, and there have been some concerns about even 3500's when it comes to how Florida tags them (heavy truck VS truck tractor), and about issues concerning a sleeper bunk for FMCSA rules (from what I have read - no personal experience).

1. You will need to determine what economics require you to obtain for a trailer that your 2500 can haul, so you can determine what sort of freight you can haul (IE: how big a trailer, types of cargo (cars VS freight) etc.)
2. Lots of good info on the Federal site (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin) about rules, regulations, forms, etc.
3. Check out Florida insurance statute regarding limits - you'll need 100K per occurance to tag up to 43,999#, and 300K per to go above 44,000#, but your 2500 can't handle those weights anyway.
4. With insurance issues and fuel costs and equipment costs, do your "due diligence" research about how you can make a living.

Best of luck !

 

Could you forward me some contact info, I would surely appreciate it.

 

Can I make a living working for Cheetah?

 

Cummings no no no no no no no no no no no no no no! -Cummins- yes! welcome to DTR always glad to have a new member in FL

 

my dad is a hot shot hauler and I know that without a one ton there is no way he could haul some of the stuff he hauls . He works for Acme truck lines right now and they seem to treat him pretty good, and I know that he brings home pretty good money even after the fuel and insurance is taken out of his check. If your going to do it for yourself insurance can get a little expensive. I also know that the bigger trailer you have the more you get paid . He has a 40ft. tandom and even if the load doesnt fill it up he still gets paid more bc he is able to haul more.

 

Good Eye Buddy,
I'll get it right for now on.

 

Yes you can. In less then one week I grossed $5000 and that was with 2 loads. At the end of the week I had 2 more loads that paid 3700 for one and 3300 for the other. So the answer is yes I think you could make a living working for Cheetah.

 

I used to do hot shot work and was leased with acme truck in the late
90's.

When I was working all the hot shot companies worked the same and had the same regulations.

I don't want to spoil your interest in this type of work but here's basically what these companies are requiring.As far as oilfield hot shot service is concerned.Thats the only type of hot shot work i ever heard about is having to do with oilfield.

1-Ton Dually
40 ft flatbed 102" wide.
Class A CDL.
Commercial truck/trailer plates stickers and insurance. Apportioned Truck Plate and Token Trailer plate is a must.
Cargo Insurance would be provided by the company.
You also had to be 21 years of age and in some cases 25 years old for insurance purposes.Even though you owned your own rig because you are hauling their load.

You do sometimes need to go out of state sometimes around colorado,oklahoma,lousiana.

Most of these companies are based and have terminals around houston,tx,laredo,tx,alice,tx and corpus christi,tx.

Look around and try to find a carrier that does this type of work because they are always looking for drivers and the work is always consistent.Ask around and look for hot shot services in the yellowpages or on the internet.

As far as pay goes you get paid by the loaded mile but sometimes you back haul so it works out even better for you.

Some of the guys who do this type of work now i heard are making around 80+ thousand dollars clear a year and grossing 100k+.

Good Luck.

Oh by the way.U SHIP is the biggest bunch of B.S. i've ever seen.Come on now.Who would haul a motorbike coast to coast for a few hundred bucks!?!

Talk about some real cut-throats.

 

Been there done that with my dodge now I'm doing it with a full size Volvo.
I pull a 40' flatbed up and down I-5 in OR and WA
my mileage with the dodge was between 8.0 and 8.3 and thats a 3month avg.
So far with my volvo the last three month avg was 9.5.
I love my dodge and I put over 600K on my 97 but I will never hotshot with a pickup again.
Not only do I have brakes that will never fade but my tranny will never wear out and I will get over a million miles out of my engine.

 

Everything has it's limits. I love my 05 3500 DRW Quad 4x4, and have upgraded it. But if I were out on the road trying to make a living, I'd opt for my ten year older Freightliner FL70 - nice sleeper (which meets federal regulations that back seats do not), a bit worse on MPG, but air brakes, 6spd, air seats, 23,000# rear, huge tool boxes, 160 gallons of fuel - it just makes common sense, and you can pick up these used single axle rigs for the same $$$ or less than a new 1 ton, yet have far more flexability and comfort, and even durability. It is fine to "start small", but so many guys I read posts from upgrade, unless they have a limited or local operation. You are trying to work the same hours and run the same miles as the big boys, and have to meet the same requirements from motor carrier safety, yet you are trying to do it in a pickup truck.....