Why was my post deleted?

 

How bout it Tuf-4x4 give me some info on cheetah. I work hotshot same as you and leased on to a company not making what you're making . Any info appreciated.

 

i myself have thought about it as well. Ive done some non commercial deals for some people. obviously didnt pay much as it was more of a friend for a friend thing. But my trailer is a 48 foot gooseneck with a 8 ft sleeping area. Comfort wise is fine, thought about going on the road part time but to make it work you gotta do it full time by the time you pay for everything. So its just as easy to sign on with a company and use their truck. Not only do you not wear out your own. but if your particular truck goes down every place ive worked for (mechanic) has a few extras you take while yours is repaired. So your never not makin money. may not make 5000 a week. its only 30-70 cents a mile but still not bad money. Not to mention have you every tried to put a good load together on that uship? wow takes so much to find a load where times and dates all work with everyone

 

I sent you a PM when I did it, but the reason it was removed is because you can not advertise in the forums. Only paid site sponsors can do that and that is also the reason your ad was removed from your signature.

 

I didn't get a PM from you.
So, I'm not allowed to mention my company, but the other gentleman can pimp Cheetah and no problem? I call foul.

 

Call it anything you want, he isn't advertising his OWN business and you are.

 

actually hot shot drivers in pickups can make more money than truck drivers.like i said a starting hot shot driver can make more than a truck driver.

 

With the FL70 I could run "hot shot", same as a pickup truck, but with more capacity (= more $$$ loads), more comfort, and meeting all the federal requirements for sleepers, yet the same initial cash investment. My point is/was that I read a lot of posts written by guys really trying to "stretch the envelope" on what even a well-equipped one-ton truck can/should do, not only legally, but from a safe operating/capacity standpoint. The occasional "stretch" is one thing, but we all share the roads, and I would rather be running alongside or behind a vehicle operating within an appropriate margin-of-safety, especially when there are alternatives. Owning both a well-equipped (upgraded) 05' 3500 AND the 1995 FL70 allows me to see both under the same circumstances. The Dodge is a great truck for what it was designed to do, but that design has its reasonable limits. It is a big jump, rebel05, from either of your Dodge trucks to your Peterbilt 379, but it is a smaller "hop" from a Dodge 1 ton to a 6500 series (which I am seeing more of on the roads), and then even a bit more for an FL60 or FL70 single axle. The operating costs are closer, but the capacity of the "medium duty" truck allows for greater flexibility in load configurations.....if I were going into the hotshot business today, and did my homework, and had the financial resources, I would opt for a medium duty truck unless my operating area or my desired capacity were pretty narrow.

 

actually hot shot drivers in pickups can make more money than truck drivers.like i said a starting hot shot driver can make more than a truck driver.


yeah and a garbage man could make more than an electrician depending on where and how hard he is willing to work. IF you find the right company and IF you have the right truck n trailer I'm not trying to talk you out of anything but everyone has a different opinion on this subject I live about 75 miles from you and know two guys that that run hotshots they have about 4-5 trucks each all 1 ton or bigger they both have contracts with several companies in the Tampa area they both do quite well for themselves without running out of state or being gone from home at night. I bought my D-350 from one of these gents and pulled loads around FL on a part time basis for 2 years based on the money i was making per load I dont think I could support my family.BUT that was going thru him pulling his load with his trailer If you shop around ORL and find a manufactring company that ships all around the state and has loads going out most days you could make a living with your own truck and trailer. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions

 

Well guys I left cheetah a Monday due to finding out that they have been taking more money then they should and other reasons. To keep it short
STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY the hell AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY from CHeetah. I know what other cheetah drivers are talking about. They call it CHeat yah out of your money.

 

rebel05: I was never sure of where the term "hot shot" came from - from what you say it is from the oil fields ?

I guess that term has been "borrowed" because it seems now to be used to describe (as you say) the general transportation of cargo using (usually) a one ton truck (as opposed to a tractor trailer), most often with a gooseneck connection (although some run 5th wheel), usually non-air trailer brakes.
Some of these combinations do not require a Class-A CDL (which I have), because of combined GVWR, but all "in commerce" generally have to comply with their state and the Federal regulations for motor carriers.

As to the different "types":

I have seen some guys run wedge-type car hauler trailers only, just a smaller version of the big car haulers.

I have seen others running general equipment or cargo.

Others use their trucks to tow RV's for delivery to dealers.

As you say, I guess in TX and OK there are guys who strictly haul oil rig related cargo.

It seems that many of these guys "specialize" as to cargo, just like the big trucks do. And as you've pointed out, from your knowledge of the oil field work, there can be different pay. A guy hauling RV's for a living would (a guess) make much less than the oil field guys.

But the term "hot shot" is used for the smaller rigs, and I've seen it used by truck advertisers, and on the web site "www.hotshothauling.com", and in general conversation, none of which was specific to the oil field. The DOT uses it all the time, even here in Florida where, as you pointed out, there are no oil fields.

A lot of the guys who are thinking about getting into the freight hauling business with a one ton, ask about how they should proceed. Is there money hauling RV's (you don't have to buy a trailer that way) ? Can I use a 2500, or do I need a 3500 ? Can I use SRW or do I need duals ? How does the DOT look at a rear seat in a quad cab for sleeping ? If I want to haul general freight, should I get a 40' flat deck or larger ? What does insurance cost ? Etc., etc.

We all learn from each other on this site in these forums. From you I learned the origin of the term "hot shot", even though now it seems to no longer have the same specific use. I hope, on this thread at least, interested guys will get the drift of my responses, owning both a 3500 and an FL70, that if one is going into the "hot shot" business, and the ability to haul WEIGHT = $$$$, that if reality allows, they should opt for the medium-duty truck, because it will afford them the greatest flexibility in choice of commodity. The medium duty truck may be a bit too large for the person who wants to drive the truck on the weekends (my FL70 doesn't fit in a regular parking space - it is almost 4' longer than my 3500...), and a lot of these guys use their money-making 1-ton for personal use, too.

But expecting a 2500 to be able to carry the variety of cargo safely (and dare I see, legally), that may be available to a "hot shot", and even expecting a 3500 DRW to carry heavy loads on a regular basis, may simply be stretching the "wish" beyond a practical line.

C Pierce pointed out a lot of the real concerns in "getting into" the business, (this, or any other business), and now Tuf-4x4 has had a wake up call. Being your own "boss" and having to deal with all of the regulations, as well as the issues of the "companies" can be done, but can be daunting, and it is a reality of this business, as well as the general trucking business. High fuel prices, more traffic, more regulations and requirements, high equipment and other over-head expenses, the impact on family life and health, the "life on the road" - all of these and other issues weigh in. Hopefully we all share our experiences and from that, others make more informed choices.

We certainly all have our opinions, and I for one take no offense at anyone disagreeing with mine, taking exception, sharing a different view, or engaging in even a "lively" debate. At the end of the day we are all big boys (and girls) and make up our own minds....hopefully we all keep open ones.

 

OK big trucker sorry I got your panty's in a wad I've always heard it called Hotshot around here and if you read the first post on this thread Big1 says He's in Orlando FL I didnt know Texas OWNED the phrase Hotshot I've had my class A for about ten years and currently drive a 379 pete same as you. I was only trying to give a guy my opinion just like everyone else! I dont know what got under your skin Mr SUPERTRUCKER but if I hurt yer feelins I'm sorry!

 

Customer base. Thats what its all about. Been at for 10 years. Love it. Wouldn't own another big truck. I have made well into the 6 digits, freind of mine ran $183,000 in 1 year. He's even under 26,001lbs.

Customer base.

(hauling oil field doesnt hurt - our rates are 2-3 times that of general freight)

 

u might be better set up to run a stakebed out of your truck.... get in touch with smaller companies and start hauling test pieces and pallets of material and see how u like it... then if it suits u look into a one ton witha trailer etc.... but if i was u i would just start calling some of the smaller companies and ask to run their smaller frieght.... in a short amount of time u will mor than likely meet all kinds of people and contacts to move further into the business

 

I like the 1 ton hot shots myself.. they're a lot easier to pull through the mud to get to location....isn't that right oilfield-trash?