Hotshot setup: truck, trailer and equipment list

A hotshot rig is three things working together: a truck that can carry the pin weight, a trailer sized to the freight you'll see, and gear that keeps every load legal. Get the ratings right and the rest of the business is easier. Get them wrong and you'll either leave money on the table or run loads you shouldn't.

The truck

Look at the truck's GVWR, its GCWR (the manufacturer's towing rating) and its rear axle rating. A gooseneck puts 15% to 25% of the trailer's weight on the truck, so a heavy load can max out the rear axle before the trailer is full. Compare models in best truck for hotshot.

The trailer

• Gooseneck flatbed, 30 to 40 ft. The standard for CDL hotshots. Better stability and more weight capacity.
• Bumper pull flatbed, 20 to 30 ft. Lighter and cheaper, common on non-CDL rigs.
• Dovetail and ramps. Needed for equipment that drives on.
• Deck over vs between the wheels. Deck over gives full width; between the wheels sits lower.
• Car hauler wedge. For two or three vehicles; see hot shot car hauling trailers.

The trailer's GVWR decides your CDL status as much as the truck does. A 14,000 lb truck with a 12,000 lb trailer is 26,000 lb combined and non-CDL. The same truck with a 14,000 lb trailer is 28,000 lb and Class A.

Example setups

Freight figures assume typical empty weights. Your scale ticket is the real number. Check yours with the max payload calculator.

Hotshot equipment list

Securement rules are in 49 CFR 393 subpart I. Count your tie-downs with the load securement calculator and run the pre-trip and load securement checklist before every trip.

The budget line most setups forget

Hotshot trucks work hard. An engine, transmission or aftertreatment repair can cost more than a month of profit. Set aside a repair fund every week, or look at a breakdown protection plan for the truck. Plans like this cover eligible class 3 to 8 trucks, usually under 15 model years old and under 1 million miles. They're not insurance and don't replace the coverage you're required to carry.

More on repair costs in hotshot truck warranty.

Buying used

Many hotshots start with a used truck and trailer. Before you buy:

• Check the plates. Truck GVWR, trailer GVWR and axle ratings decide your license and payload.
• Weigh it empty. A heavy flatbed body or a steel deck can cost you 1,000 lb of payload.
• Inspect the frame and hitch. Cracks around the gooseneck ball mount and trailer neck are deal breakers.
• Look at brakes, tires and lights. These are the most common roadside violations.
• Get the service history. Emissions systems on diesel trucks are expensive to fix.
• Ask about the title and liens. Especially on trailers sold privately.

A used rig with the right ratings beats a new one with the wrong ones.

What your setup means for loads and pay

• Deck length decides which equipment and steel you can take. A 40 ft deck sees far more posts than a 30 ft one.
• Payload decides which posts you can legally book. Non-CDL rigs see far fewer.
• Ramps or a dovetail open equipment moves, which often pay better than palletized partials.
• Tarps open lumber and steel that must stay dry, often with tarp pay.

Data on how hotshot owners set up their rigs and what they earn is collected in hotshot trucking statistics.

Dispatch built on your setup

Everything above is what we ask on the first call. With hotshot dispatch, your ratings, deck and gear become the filter for every load. You approve every load, and the broker sends the rate confirmation straight to you. Check what a run should pay with the hotshot rate calculator.