My job as a sales rep requires a lot of driving, but I am not a commercial driver. I travel the I-5, I-90, Hwy 101, and I-84 corridors in Washington and Oregon quite a lot to cover my sales territory. My company truck is a F250/PowerStroke with a canopy, which is basically empty most of the time. I've been wondering if it'd be feasible to add professional hauling to our company repertoire, as an additional revenue stream and to offset the cost of the trucks. We could move most-any bumper-pull trailer, anything that fits in the bed under a canopy, and most of us have equipment, enclosed, or utility style trailers at our disposal as well.

Can anybody point me toward a resource for learning more about Hot Shot driving and/or getting started? Google results are a little overwhelming, and really only point to signing-on with a service such as U-ship.

 

You will require a lot more insurance and whoever is doing the driving better DAMN well know how to maneuver a 40' TT/FD properly!

 

You will first need a CDL. Then each truck will need a motor carrier inspection.

Then commercial insurance up to at least 750K to move freight or trailers.

Since crossing state borders IFTA stickers for taxes.

Identification on the trucks with the business, MC and DOT #'s on each truck.

Pre-trip inspection forms and log books. You can run paper logs but electronic is an option too.

Have to get registered in the drug and alcohol system with DOT too.

There is a primer for you.

 

You will serve two masters doing this. Maybe 3, given the info posted in post 3.

IMO focus on your sales job.

 

Heed the info Senix presented and id personally suggest signing on a dispatch board and get your beak wet just moving cargo that fits in the truck bed. While you do that for a time period pay attention to the rest of the racket and you'll learn pretty quick what wages your competition is working for and if you can or want to compete in that environment.

I ran hotshot with three drivers here on the East Coast for a good while and to just get into it with no existing relationships or ever being in or around the industry is a very steep learning curve that can cost sizable money and be discouraging very quickly. Super competitive over here with everyone and their brother that has a pickup truck and cheap Big Tex or PJ trailer trying to make a buck after watching YouTube videos of others claimed success. West Coast may be different?

 

@The Peddler

first step is CDL as mentioned
then to create your business within your state. Then you have to apply for your Authority.
Call OOIDA and get setup with them. They can help you with a lot of this. The will also get you setup for the drug consortium
You will also need to get setup with the clearing house crap, which OOIDA can setup for you
Also as mentioned, you have to get your IFTA/ registration setup with your commercial DMV
You need to get your 2290
UCR registration
what else am i missing...
You need to get setup with NY, KY, NM, OR if you plan to travel in their states. I do not remember the process.

Do not put a flatbed on your truck; otherwise you will be classified as a tractor/ trailer
You will be required to run e-logs now, you cannot run books anymore unless you stay within 150 air miles of your "office"
I do not recall the insurance minimums but typical is 1 million at min.

you are required to have a sleeper cab on your truck. there are some kits that allow newer trucks to fit min sleeper requirements. Otherwise you are legally supposed to stay at a motel. we know all hotshot guys break this rule.

you will have an Audit within your first 18 mos of authority.
Insurance will be high
Many brokers will not work with you as a newly established carrier. they will also not work with certain insurance companies.

the list goes on but it's doable.
rates have been in the gutter all year. rates are lower than they were 15 yrs ago and fuel is twice the cost.

you will most likely need to get setup with a factoring company like OTR
You will need a fuel card
You want to get either truckstop load board or DAT.

we can go on forever.

I have been an Independent Owner op since 2014. I have been driving semi's and commercial vehicles for over 20 yrs
Trucking is not the business to get into, especially right now, but you can make it work

 

You dont need a sleeper now. You can most certainly sleep in the back seat of a crew cab.
yes you can run paperlogs due to one truck, but yes if you are running multples ELD is the way.

Fuel card is a great idea to add. If you pair with someone then there are fuel discounts, the price at the pump is not what you pay.

 

Well, from what I’m learning it seems that unless I commit to doing it full time, the cost of licensing, permitting, and insurance will gobble-up too much of the profit to make it worth-while.

I have learned that there are “truck share” type apps, similar to Uber/Lyft but for hauling. None of them currently serve my area. This might make more sense, if/when they’re in my local market.

 

you can just limit yourself to a regional run and that will help with the cost of insurance.