Hot Shot Company

A hot shot company moves smaller, urgent loads using heavy-duty pickups and flatbed or gooseneck trailers. It dispatches one truck for one load, which picks up the freight and drives straight to the destination with no terminal stops. Some hot shot companies run their own trucks, while brokers book licensed carriers for each load and manage the move. Hot shot companies serve construction, energy, agriculture and manufacturing, moving equipment, machinery, steel, building materials and urgent parts that load by forklift or crane.

A hot shot carries up to about 16,000 lbs of freight on a flatbed or gooseneck deck up to about 40 ft. That is more than an enclosed box truck, which carries up to about 5,000 lbs, or a straight truck at about 9,000 lbs. It is less than a full 48 to 53 ft flatbed semi, which carries up to about 48,000 lbs. The exact limit depends on the weight ratings of the truck and trailer. Give an accurate weight and dimensions when booking so the right rig is sent.

It depends on where the nearest suitable rig is, the trailer needed and the time of day. In many areas hot shots are plentiful, so pickup can be arranged quickly for a small urgent load. A broker can look across many carriers for the closest truck, which helps when one company's trucks are busy. Having the freight ready, weighed and measured, with loading equipment on site, shortens the wait. A dispatcher can give a realistic pickup window once the details are known.

When you book a hot shot, the truck should be dedicated to your load. It picks up your freight and drives directly to the destination without adding other shipments or stopping at terminals. That reduces handling and keeps timing predictable. It also means you pay for the truck rather than a share of the space, so matching the rig to the load matters. Ask the company to confirm the truck is dedicated when you book, especially for high-value or fragile freight.

Two drivers are used on long, urgent runs where one driver would have to stop for required rest under federal hours-of-service rules. With two drivers taking turns, the truck keeps moving much longer each day, which can shorten transit significantly. Two-driver runs cost more than solo runs, so they make sense when the deadline justifies it. Most regional hot shot runs use one driver. A dispatcher can say whether your distance and deadline call for a second driver. Sharing the deadline at booking lets the run be planned properly from the start.

Have the pickup and delivery addresses, the freight's weight and dimensions, the number of pieces and the deadline ready. Say how the freight loads and unloads, whether by forklift, crane or ramps, and confirm loading equipment at each end. Mention site access for a pickup and trailer, any tarp needs and a contact name and phone number at each site. For equipment, note whether it runs and if keys will be available. These details let a dispatcher match the right rig quickly.

Ask for the company's USDOT and MC numbers and look them up in FMCSA's public records. The records show whether the company is registered, whether its operating authority is active, and its safety data. Then ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the policies are current and that the cargo limit fits your freight's value. Confirm whether the company is the carrier or a broker, and who will drive the truck. These checks take minutes and protect urgent freight.

It can be either. A hot shot carrier owns or leases its trucks and hauls freight under its own motor carrier authority. A hot shot broker books licensed carriers for each load and manages the shipment under broker authority. Carriers suit shippers who know a reliable truck nearby. Brokers suit shippers who need a truck found quickly, a load far from home, a backup when a truck falls through, or a different truck size. FMCSA records show which type of authority a company holds.

Yes. Most hot shot loads are partial in the sense that they do not fill a full semi trailer. A booked hot shot carries only your freight, even if there is room left on the deck, and drives straight to the destination. That differs from LTL, where freight from several shippers shares a trailer and moves through terminals. Hot shot suits partial loads that are urgent, heavy or load from the side or top. For small enclosed freight, a van or box truck may be a better fit.

This page is written for shippers, but many people searching for hot shot companies are drivers. Whether a hot shot driver needs a commercial driver's license depends on the weight ratings of the truck and trailer. A CDL is required when the combined weight rating passes a federal limit or the trailer alone is rated above a set weight. Some rigs are built to stay under those limits, while heavier rigs need a CDL. FMCSA publishes the current requirements for drivers and carriers.