Expedited dispatch for freight that can't wait
Hot freight goes to the carrier who answers first and prices it right. Our desk answers tenders at night and on weekends, counters for the urgency and gets the offer to your phone in minutes. You still decide.
Why speed pays
When a production line is down or a shipment missed its truck, the shipper's cost of waiting is far higher than the freight bill. Brokers working those loads call the first carrier who can commit, and they pay for certainty. A carrier who answers at 10 PM gets loads that a carrier asleep never sees.
That speed has to come with judgment. A hot load at a weak rate is still a weak load, and a broker in a hurry is still a broker whose credit needs checking. We do both in the minutes between the tender and your phone buzzing.
From tender to rolling
Play the clock to see an EXAMPLE night: tender at 9:42, truck rolling before 10:30. Every step where a decision is yours stays yours, even at night.
EXAMPLE · TENDER TO ROLLING
Tender received
A broker posts a hot load: machine part, Dallas to Tulsa, pickup tonight.
What expedited needs from you
- Clear availability windows: when you're willing to roll, and how far
- Fast answers on offers, ideally within minutes
- Equipment ready: straps and chains, liftgate, pallet jack, reefer pre-cooled
- Clean paperwork on file so brokers can set you up instantly
- A phone you can answer, or a driver who can
- Your lowest rate for night and weekend work
Expedited by equipment
| Equipment | Typical expedited work | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Hotshot | Parts, small machinery, partial flatbed | Weight limits on non-CDL rigs |
| 26 ft box truck | Palletized partials, trade show, retail recovery | Liftgate needs, appointment windows |
| Power only | Preloaded trailers that missed a truck | Trailer location and status |
| Team dry van or reefer | Long-haul time-critical truckload | Hours of service for both drivers |
See hotshot dispatch for how we match hot loads to a hotshot's ratings, and price your own with the hotshot rate calculator.
Fast, not forced
Hot loads come with pressure: the broker wants an answer now. We absorb most of it. You get the offer with pickup, delivery, weight, rate, broker and terms, and you decide. Say yes and the broker emails the rate con straight to you to sign; pass and nothing happens except we keep looking. The fee is the same as any load: 7% for a single 26 ft box or hotshot, 5% standard, 4% for fleets. See rates and fees.
What carriers ask us
- "Expedited means I'll be driving all night."
- Only if you choose to. You set the hours you'll run. Offers outside them don't reach you, and you can pass on any hot load that doesn't fit your sleep or your hours of service.
- "Hot loads are always cheap partials."
- Some are. Many aren't: a plant paying to restart a line, or a shipment that has to make a deadline, pays for certainty. We price the urgency into every counter and pass on hot loads that don't pay for it.
- "Brokers won't wait for me to decide."
- They'll wait minutes, not hours, which is why offers come with every detail up front. Most drivers can decide in the time it takes to read the offer.
How we handle a hot load
- 01Check the broker. Credit and history first. Hot loads attract the shakiest brokers.
- 02Confirm the freight. Weight, dimensions, pickup time and the real delivery deadline, in writing.
- 03Price the urgency. Short notice, night or weekend pickups and tight deadlines all go into the counter.
- 04Get it to you fast. The full offer lands on your phone within minutes.
- 05Stay on it. Check calls through the night so you can drive, and the broker hears from us first if anything changes.
Getting set up for hot freight
Tell us on the first call which hours you'll run, how far you'll go on short notice, and the lowest rate you'll take for night or weekend work. We put your equipment details and paperwork on file so brokers can set you up the moment a hot load appears.
Expedited dispatch FAQ
Q01What is expedited freight dispatch?
Booking time-critical loads: a part a plant needs to restart a line, a shipment that missed its truck, freight that has to move tonight. The dispatcher answers tenders fast, prices the urgency and gets the offer to you in minutes.
Q02Which trucks get expedited loads?
Hotshots and 26 ft box trucks get a lot of it because they're quick to dispatch and fit partial loads. Power only and team dry vans and reefers take expedited truckload freight. We don't dispatch cargo vans or sprinters.
Q03Do expedited loads pay more?
Usually more per mile than standard freight on the same lane, because the shipper is paying for speed. How much more depends on the lane, the hour and how many trucks are available. We price the urgency in every counter, but we don't promise a premium.
Q04Do you dispatch at night and on weekends?
Yes. Hot freight doesn't wait for business hours, and neither does our desk. Tell us when you're willing to run, and offers outside those hours don't reach you.
Q05Do I still approve expedited loads?
Yes, every one. Expedited just means the offer reaches you faster and needs a quicker answer. On a yes, the rate con still comes straight to you to sign.
Q06How fast do I need to answer an expedited offer?
Usually within minutes. Hot freight often goes to the first carrier who commits. If you can't answer quickly at certain hours, tell us, and we won't send hot offers then.
Q07Can I run expedited part time?
Yes. Many owners take expedited loads only at certain times, like weekends or when their regular freight is slow. Set the windows and we stick to them.
Q08Do expedited loads need special equipment?
Not usually, but readiness matters: straps and chains loaded, a liftgate that works, a reefer that can pre-cool fast. Anything the load needs is on the offer.
Q09Do you dispatch expedited box trucks?
Yes, 26 ft box trucks and longer. Palletized partials, trade show freight and retail recovery loads often need a liftgate and a fast answer. Smaller boxes, cargo vans and sprinters aren't dispatched.