Hotshot trucking: what it is, what it takes, and where the CDL line falls
Steve Woods · Lead Dispatcher, TruckSprint
Steve Woods leads the TruckSprint dispatch desk and reviews every guide we publish. How we research and update guides.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Hotshot trucking is hauling smaller, often urgent loads with a heavy-duty pickup or medium truck pulling a flatbed or gooseneck trailer. If the combined weight rating reaches 26,001 lb with a trailer rated over 10,000 lb, the driver needs a Class A CDL; many hotshots are built to stay under that line. Either way it's commercial trucking, with authority, insurance and hours-of-service rules.
Source: 49 CFR 383.91 · checked 2026-10
Hotshot is the quickest way into owner-operator trucking, and the easiest to get wrong. The rig looks like a big pickup, so people treat it like one. I'm Steve, lead dispatcher at TruckSprint; we dispatch hotshots, and this is what we walk every new hotshot carrier through.
What hotshot freight is
| Freight | Typical customer | Trailer |
|---|---|---|
| Construction equipment (skid steers, mini excavators, lifts) | Rental yards, contractors | Gooseneck flatbed, ramps |
| Farm equipment and implements | Dealers, farms | Gooseneck flatbed |
| Oilfield parts, pipe, tools | Service companies, operators | Gooseneck flatbed |
| Building materials (lumber, steel, pallets) | Supply yards | Flatbed |
| Urgent partials and expedited parts | Manufacturers, brokers | Flatbed or enclosed |
| Vehicles | Dealers, auctions | Car hauler or wedge; see car hauling business |
Hotshot loads are usually lighter and shorter than full truckload freight, and many are time-sensitive. That's the appeal: smaller loads, faster pickups, often direct to a job site.
CDL or non-CDL: where the line falls
The license depends on the combination's weight ratings, not the load you're hauling today:
| Non-CDL hotshot | CDL (Class A) hotshot | |
|---|---|---|
| Combination rating (truck GVWR + trailer GVWR) | Under 26,001 lb, or trailer rated 10,000 lb or less | 26,001 lb or more with a trailer rated over 10,000 lb |
| EXAMPLE setup | 11,500 lb truck + 14,000 lb trailer = 25,500 lb | 14,000 lb truck + 16,000 lb trailer = 30,000 lb |
| EXAMPLE empty weight (scale) | 8,500 lb truck + 6,500 lb trailer | 9,500 lb truck + 7,500 lb trailer |
| EXAMPLE payload | about 10,500 lb | about 13,000 lb* |
| DOT drug and alcohol testing | No | Yes (49 CFR 382) |
| Our dispatch fee | 7% | 7% |
*Payload is also limited by the trailer's GVWR and axle ratings and the truck's rear axle and hitch ratings; the lowest rating wins. All numbers are EXAMPLES; your scale ticket and stickers decide.
Source: 49 CFR 383.91 (CDL groups) · checked 2026-10
Many owners start non-CDL for the lower barrier, then find most good hotshot freight wants more payload. Run your own numbers through the CDL checker before you buy the trailer.
Hotshot trucking requirements
| Requirement | Applies | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT number and operating authority | Interstate for-hire, combination over 10,000 lb | FMCSA registration |
| Insurance filed with FMCSA | $750,000 minimum, general freight | 49 CFR 387.9 |
| Medical certificate | Interstate CMV over 10,000 lb, CDL or not | 49 CFR 391.41 |
| Hours of service and ELD | Yes, with short-haul exceptions for local work | 49 CFR 395 |
| Cargo securement | Every load; machinery has its own rules | 49 CFR 393 Subpart I |
| CDL and drug testing | Only at the Class A line | 49 CFR 383, 382 |
| Annual inspection | Truck and trailer | 49 CFR 396 |
Source: 49 CFR 387.9 (FMCSA) · checked 2026-10
Securement is where hotshot drivers get fined most often, because the freight is open-deck equipment. Machinery of 10,000 lb or more needs tiedowns at the front and rear and blocked attachments. Our flatbed load securement guide covers the counts.
The equipment
Trucks. Most hotshots run Class 3 to 5 trucks: one-ton and heavier pickups and cab-chassis trucks, usually diesel and dual rear wheel. Higher ratings mean more legal payload, and they also push you toward the CDL line, so pick deliberately.
Trailers. A 40 ft gooseneck flatbed is the common choice for equipment and mixed freight. Shorter goosenecks handle local construction work; dovetails and ramps load wheeled equipment. Bumper-pull trailers are cheaper and lighter but carry less and handle heavy loads worse.
Gear. Chains, binders, straps, edge protectors, tarps, corner protectors, a load bar, and enough tiedowns for the longest load you'll take. Without them, you can't legally haul machinery.
Where hotshot loads come from
Hotshot freight moves through the same channels as other truck freight, with a few differences:
- Load boards carry plenty of hotshot and partial flatbed loads. Filter by trailer length and weight so you only see what fits.
- Equipment dealers and rental yards move machinery every day between locations and customers, and many keep a short list of hotshots they call first.
- Oilfield and energy service companies need parts, pipe and tools moved fast; terms can be long, so price that in.
- Brokers who specialize in expedited and partial flatbed freight are worth getting to know early.
Answer fast, send photos of your rig and securement gear when a shipper asks, and you'll get repeat calls. Our guide to getting loads covers the broader playbook.
Common first-year hotshot mistakes
- Buying the trailer before checking the CDL line. A heavier trailer rating can push the combination over 26,000 lb overnight.
- Hauling at the edge of payload. Fuel, gear and the driver count. Weigh the empty rig before quoting.
- Skipping securement gear for machinery, then losing the load at the dock or the scale.
- Chasing long deadhead to a strong rate and coming home empty.
- No cash cushion for slow-paying customers.
Hotshot pay: the honest version
Hotshot pay is the weekly gross minus everything it took to earn it. A simple way to see it:
| EXAMPLE week | |
|---|---|
| Loaded miles | 2,200 at $1.60/mi all-in = $3,520 |
| Empty miles | 300 |
| Fuel (2,500 mi at 11 mpg, $6.20/gal) | -$1,409 |
| Truck and trailer payments, insurance (weekly share) | -$850 |
| Maintenance and tires reserve ($0.10/mi) | -$250 |
| 7% dispatch fee | -$246 |
| Left before taxes | $765 |
These are EXAMPLE numbers to show the math, not an average or a promise. Hotshot rates swing with oilfield activity, construction season and the general freight market. Use the rate per mile calculator on real loads, and plan for slow-paying customers; oilfield work in particular can pay on long terms, which is where oilfield factoring comes in.
Costs new hotshot owners underestimate: tires and brakes on a loaded trailer wear fast, a pickup working at its rating needs more frequent service than one that tows on weekends, and commercial insurance for a for-hire rig costs far more than a personal policy. Put all three in your cost per mile from day one.
The carriers who do well in hotshot pick a home market with steady equipment and construction freight, keep empty miles short, and say no to loads that don't cover their cost per mile.