Me and my wife are considering joining the hotshot ranks. I know I know...not another Hotshot thread-but I promise this one is different

My dad is in the process of starting a small trucking company with a few others, and should be complete in a few weeks. They are starting with a few contracted suppliers of shipping containers and steel, all TL items. Since my wife says no to a big truck-SHE actually brought up the idea while we were down to see him this past weekend(1400 mile total trip) I ran it past him, and he said yes he has arranged to house a few O/OP, but no LTL loads, so it would be up to me to find work, in exchange I would only pay a fee for use of Authority, Tags, Ins, etc.

This brings me to 1 main brick in the road. Loads. I have searched the web and so has my wife, and all we see is people looking for work, or brokers pushing cheap freight, neither of which I need.

Brokers...I have heard that many are crooks, and will either leave you hanging, pay you crap, or change load info on you. So are there brokers who WANT to have a good reputation, and pay a decent rate? Any names(in PM if not in public)

Load boards...I heard at one time of some software where a supplier can post thier loads, it comes across the software and you contact the supplier and work out the details. Is this true?

 

The mine I currently work at is closing so I am interested in this information as well so I "Bumped" this one.
Ken Gardner

 

I found this site after posting the above
ShipIt
Ken

 

Let me try to help. I run a small oilfield hotshot company out of Houston. When we started I had one company that said they would use our services. When I was not hauling a load for them I was running the streets of Houston beating on doors looking for new customers. I have my own customer base now that keeps me fairly busy so I don't have to use brokers. The problem I see with brokers is they have lots of light loads, (LTL frieght)but that does not make it expedited hotshot freight so you don't make a lot of money.If you are going to use brokers be sure a do a credit check on them first. Do your homework. There are good ones and bad ones. Freight boards are the same way they have LTL freight but not the high paying hotshot loads. My advise to people that want to get started in this business is to lease on with a good hotshot co. like Acme, Ace, Texas Hotshot, Venture, Hotwheels, Decide if you even like the business (10,000 miles a month and 80 hour weeks ) then work on building your own customer base and go out on your own. Hope this helps.
You can give me a call if you need help.
Good luck
Gordon

 

80 hour weeks

 

And no paid holidays , vacation , health insurance , etc . .Stricter emissions mean truck prices , service fees and fuel will get even worse . Not to mention DOT in most states love to single out hotshotters because so many of them can be nabbed for something ( no DOT physical , logbook problems , over on axle weight , lack of proper state permits , etc . ) Don't get discouraged . Get good advice and dot your i's and cross your t's and CYA.

 

You want to know how to make a small fortune in trucking?


You start with a large fortune and start a trucking company.

 

Yeah and plan on driving until you can't crawl into the cab anymore. No retirement, lower SS because of lower claimed income, you end up old as dirt, trouble walking but keep on truckin. Now how did I know that

There is a lighter side, all the friends you make at the scales. Get flagged to the back, come in with your papers and get greeted by "oh its you again"

The lot lizards all know you by name, either because you use them or in my case get highly irrate when they bother me.

You get to be saught after by Map Quest, you and only you will know where each and every Waffle house is that you can get a truck into. Which of the Wallyworld parking lots are safe (from tickets) and the first name of the Bears that patrol each and every off ramp in your operating area.

Its a great life, someone has to support the municipal police saleries. Of course you can always move up to being a lawyer with all the Municipal, State and Federal vehicle code that you will know after a few years.

Still game... it gets in your blood and you keep doing it

 

Haulin you're just toooo outgoing. Not everyone wants to make that many "friends" and meet all the folks that work the highways like you do. I'm suprised you didn't mention how good you will get at defensive driving, avoiding the self proclaimed "good" drivers out there and dodging debris left in the road, especially if you travel through B'ham.

 

Oh yeah , Haulin in dixie brought something else to mind . Banks will be glad to give you money to get a truck if you have good credit . But everybody knows when you start a business you claim a loss or close to it on taxes the first year . Great for a tax refund BUT try to borrow money if you need it . If you're self employed banks want to see 2 years' tax returns before handing money out . How can you borrow money when your tax returns show a loss ? That happened to me mostly because of the " bonus " $14,000 depreciation the IRS "gave " me the first year . They didn't give me anything . The second year I could only depreciate $2,000 because I depreciated so much the first year .

 

I'm not a truck driver. But I own a truck repair shop, and long time ago we had a trucking buisness. I feel for you guys making truck driving as your career. Things are getting tougher and tougher all the time. Seems like everyone is against the American truck driver. Especially those clowns at the EPA.

 

I run wild.hauling horses.,and have found some hauls at(findahauler.com) they have everything you can think of that needs hauling,boats,motorcycles,cars,household goods,empty horse trailers,ATV's,ski-do's ec.

 

I bet your dad taught you to drive in a twin-stick mack and every time you racked a gear, he rapped your knuckles with a tire thumper. LOL. J/K

 

I like to tell people that I run a non profit business. I do try to keep it close to that. Tell you what, this first quarter, did not have much trouble accomplishing it either

 

I've been thinking about doing it too, but I don't think I will. A friend of mine hot shots. They haul cheap freight, deal with brokers that don't pay, breaks down all the time, and now he only runs loads about every week or two. Insurance is high.

I think ACME in Sapulpa, Okla. is always looking for O/O, but you have to have your own trailer. I'd do it, but I don't want to wear out my nice, pretty, new truck out just yet.