Hotshot trucking uses a heavy-duty pickup and gooseneck trailer to haul time-sensitive freight — typically 10,000–17,000 lbs. It is the lowest capital-cost entry into for-hire trucking. Hotshot dispatch is a different game than class-8 — faster, shorter lanes, more calls per week.
The equipment
A one-ton dually (F-350, RAM 3500, or Silverado 3500HD) plus a 40-ft gooseneck. Expect $80–$130k for a solid new setup, or half that used.
Authority and insurance
You need MC/DOT authority, and insurance runs $9–$14k per year for a new operation. Some hotshotters run under someone else's authority for the first six months to get a track record.
Where the loads come from
DAT and Truckstop post 'hotshot' or 'partial' loads daily. Oil & gas, construction, and agricultural equipment are the biggest verticals. A dedicated hotshot dispatch program keeps you off the phone chasing partials and on the road.
The bottom line
Hotshot works if you love hustle, quick loads, and mixed short-haul work. It underperforms class-8 trucks on cost per mile, so you win on speed, not on scale. See /hotshot-dispatch for how we keep hotshot trucks turning weekly miles.