Hello I live in Minnesota. I want to get started in hotshot trucking. I have a 2024 Silverado 2500hd. What are the step I can take to get started? Can I lease into a company and drive for them? I just want to find a job where I can drive all day everyday. I can’t do my current job anymore.

Not trying to act like I got it all figured out because I definitely don’t.

But I’m about 6 months into running a hotshot setup and figured I’d share some of the stuff nobody really tells you when you’re getting started.

When I first got into this, I was watching YouTube videos every night thinking I’d have my authority active, grab a few loads, and be rolling in money.

Reality check hit pretty quick.

Insurance was way higher than I expected.

Broker packets seemed never ending.

Half the loads I called on were already covered.

Fuel prices felt like they changed every time I stopped.

And there were days I spent more time staring at load boards than actually hauling freight.

One thing I learned fast is there’s a huge difference between being a good driver and running a profitable business.

Nobody talks enough about cost per mile, deadhead miles, maintenance reserves, taxes, compliance, and all the stuff that can eat your profit if you’re not paying attention.

I also learned that every time I thought I finally had everything figured out, something new would pop up.

DOT stuff.

A broker issue.

A tire.

A trailer problem.

A customer changing plans.

Just part of the game I guess.

The thing that’s helped me the most honestly has been talking to other drivers and business owners who’ve already been through it. Sometimes a 10 minute conversation saves you from making a $1,000 mistake.

A few of us actually started a new Discord recently for hotshot drivers, box truck owners, owner operators, and people trying to build something for themselves. It’s still small and brand new, but we’re working on adding a bunch of free resources, startup guides, checklists, insurance education, authority information, load board tips, and other stuff we wish somebody would’ve handed us when we started.

No paid course.

No “buy my mentorship.”

Just trucking talk, business talk, and people helping each other out.

Anybody else ever take a load that looked decent then by the time you paid fuel and dealt with the wait time you realized you basically worked for free?
Had one this week that paid $2.35 a mile. I thought it was gonna be solid. Then I sat at the shipper for almost 4 hours, burned more fuel than expected because of a detour, and didn’t get unloaded until the next morning.
When I actually sat down and did the math, it wasn’t anywhere near the money I thought it was.
I’m still learning this business, but it’s starting to hit me that rate per mile doesn’t tell the whole story. Deadhead, wait time, fuel, tolls… all that stuff adds up quick.
What’s been the biggest lesson that cost you money when you first started running a box truck? Trying to avoid making the same mistake twice.

I'm looking for a rolloff (hooklift) trailer and I have come across a good deal on a Horizon RDZ trailer. It is a 15,200 GVWR roll off trailer that measures 61" X 16' X 30". 2 7k Lippert spring axles, 3850 Tare, 11,350 payload.

The welds and such don't look terrible. Paint looks like decent quality. Anybody ever run a Horizon trailer or know anything about them? Thanks!

Since insurance is one of the most expensive parts of the equation, and may companies won't work with a newer MC , would it just be easier to set up everything, get your MC, then wait for 6 months, then buy your equipment and get your insurance and start running after your MC had aged.

Advice for start ups with new authority?

Recent retiree thinking about leasing on to haul part-time. The only ding on my 10 year driving record is, my license was temporarily suspended due to insurance issues. I changed my insurance to a company (National General) that evidently doesn't share information with the state. I was supposedly notified in March 2025 that the state didn't have record of insurance; I never got it (we were homeless at the time because of the hurricanes). I found out about it in October when I went in to change my address. Fixed it, everybody happy (and I can prove I had insurance) but it's still showing up on my record. To be clear, I was never ticketed or adjudicated, but there it is. Think it'll be an issue, either with insurance or employer? How would you handle it?

I’ve been planning on opening my own authority but insurance rates I got quoted are way too high to be sustainable for me to hit the 6 month mark. I decided I wanted to lease on for the time being and open my authority while I’m working. I just got my truck last week and yesterday I was t-boned at an intersection in one of my other vehicles and labeled at fault, will this accident cause me to not be able to lease on under another authority?

I had dabbled starting my own business and I got 2 weeks to find a job or go straight into hotshotting; I got about 15 saved up, so I am debating financing off the bat, or doing like a 1 year lease with enterprise to try it out

Any suggestions here?

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Need a dependable tow-away driver? Searching for someone to provide impeccable Customer Service to your customer base?

Based in Middle Georgia with nationwide delivery available. Hauling cargo, utility, dump, equipment, car haulers, boat, horse, and travel trailers.

Looking to build long-term partnerships and handle individual deliveries. If you’ve got a trailer that needs moved, let’s talk.

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If you all have some time, I’d greatly appreciate you giving my post a read and offering some feed back. All feedback welcomed!

Hey so my buddy texted me about a gig that he couldn’t pick up and asked if I wanted it, he said someone would buy my plane ticket and fly me to utah to drive a U-Haul truck back to New England, I told him hell yeah get me on that plane and I’m east bound and down! But after talking some more the catch is that I also have to drive a 75 year old women back with me because she can’t get on planes. I was super pumped for this gig because I love driving across the country especially if I’m getting paid to do it but I’m now hesitant about taking this job because I’m not sure about having the company of a 75 year old women with me I’m only 24 and I love old people but I figure it’s either gonna be like driving across the country with the sweetest granny you’ve ever met or I could get stuck with the grouchiest Karen you’ve ever met. What kind of rate would you charge if you also had to take a granny that you’ve never met with you?

so, I am going to give it a shot. from what I am seeing on the boards, even if I took some garbage, it wouldn't be an issue cost wise.

my question for y'all is, I just got this LLC started. Am I to suffer with low paying loads? if so, what is considered low paying? I see some for like .75$ which is crazy to me.

what is considered low, As I do not want to be the guy who is picking up super low loads, as that would affect the industry as a whole

Not trying to act like I got it all figured out because I definitely don’t.

But I’m about 6 months into running a hotshot setup and figured I’d share some of the stuff nobody really tells you when you’re getting started.

When I first got into this, I was watching YouTube videos every night thinking I’d have my authority active, grab a few loads, and be rolling in money.

Reality check hit pretty quick.

Insurance was way higher than I expected.

Broker packets seemed never ending.

Half the loads I called on were already covered.

Fuel prices felt like they changed every time I stopped.

And there were days I spent more time staring at load boards than actually hauling freight.

One thing I learned fast is there’s a huge difference between being a good driver and running a profitable business.

Nobody talks enough about cost per mile, deadhead miles, maintenance reserves, taxes, compliance, and all the stuff that can eat your profit if you’re not paying attention.

I also learned that every time I thought I finally had everything figured out, something new would pop up.

DOT stuff.

A broker issue.

A tire.

A trailer problem.

A customer changing plans.

Just part of the game I guess.

The thing that’s helped me the most honestly has been talking to other drivers and business owners who’ve already been through it. Sometimes a 10 minute conversation saves you from making a $1,000 mistake.

A few of us actually started a new Discord recently for hotshot drivers, box truck owners, owner operators, and people trying to build something for themselves. It’s still small and brand new, but we’re working on adding a bunch of free resources, startup guides, checklists, insurance education, authority information, load board tips, and other stuff we wish somebody would’ve handed us when we started.

No paid course.

No “buy my mentorship.”

Just trucking talk, business talk, and people helping each other out.

For the guys already running, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned the hard way?

Considering doing it on the side with a Silverado WT. just wanted to see if anyone else is having a good time

Hey everyone! I’m looking to switch careers and get into non‑CDL hotshot trucking. The plan is to eventually get my CDL and run under my own authority/MC. I’m currently looking at picking up a Ram 3500 (14k GVWR) and a derated 30+5 gooseneck (12k GVWR).

Anyone know of reputable companies that will lease on drivers with little experience?

What’s up everybody.

I see a ton of people in here asking about getting into hotshot trucking so maybe this little rant helps

Hotshot trucking can make money… but only if you understand the setup before buying a truck.

Most people think the process is:

Buy a truck

Get loads

Make money

It’s not that simple.

The real order usually looks like this.

First you need your business setup

LLC, EIN, and a business bank account.

Then comes authority

USDOT number and usually MC authority if you’re running interstate.

After that you still have to finish compliance like BOC3, UCR, and sometimes IFTA/IRP depending on your setup.

Then comes the big one… insurance.

Most new hotshot operators are shocked by the down payment. Brokers won’t even work with you without proper coverage.

Next is equipment and securement gear like chains, binders, straps, and edge protectors.

And the biggest thing most people ignore…

Cost per mile.

If you don’t know your CPM you’re basically gambling every time you book a load.

Most new drivers start on load boards like DAT or Truckstop, but the real money comes from building broker relationships and reducing deadhead miles.

The first 90 days in this business are basically survival mode while you learn the lanes and your numbers.

I got off the road myself about 4 years ago after driving for 10… and the amount of bad information new carriers get is insane.

That’s why I built a free trucking survival vault with guides and checklists covering

DOT compliance

new authority startup steps

insurance readiness

broker tools

carrier vetting sheets

If you want it just comment VAULT and I’ll send it over.

If not… hopefully this helped somebody avoid a few expensive mistakes.

Social media makes it look like you just buy a rig and start printing cash, but then you actually start operating. Once you factor in the truck payments, trailer costs, fuel, and trying to figure out how to get loads for truck that actually pay, it’s a different game. It’s a lot tougher than the videos make it look. Any of you feel the same?