Hot Shot Contracts: Finding Steady Hotshot Work

Hot shot contracts are the steady-work side of hotshot trucking: a dealer who calls you every week, a supplier with an on-call agreement, a broker's dedicated lane. They're worth chasing, but they come with requirements and trade-offs that spot loads don't. This guide covers the types, where to find them, what they ask of you, and how to compare them with spot work.

Types of hotshot contracts

• Dedicated lanes with a broker. A broker with steady freight on a lane books the same reliable carrier every time, at an agreed rate.
• Direct shipper agreements. Equipment dealers, rental companies and material yards that move machines or materials between locations on a schedule.
• Oilfield and industrial service agreements. Suppliers and service companies often require vendors to sign a master service agreement before they're called for hot shot runs.
• On-call expedite programs. You agree to be available within a set window, for freight that needs to move the moment it's ready.
• Seasonal work. Agricultural dealers and contractors with predictable busy seasons.

Where to find hotshot contracts

1. Your best spot customers. The broker or shipper you've already hauled for without problems is the most likely source. Ask what lanes they struggle to cover.
2. Local equipment dealers and rental yards. Ask who moves their machines now, and what they'd need to add a carrier.
3. Supply yards. Steel, pipe, lumber and oilfield suppliers in your area.
4. Broker dedicated desks. Larger brokers often run separate teams for contract freight. Ask your broker contacts.
5. Industry contacts. Other hotshots, mechanics and dealers hear about work before it's posted.

Spot freight, and how to win it in the first place, is covered on our hotshot loads page and in the hotshot load boards guide.

What contract work requires

• Higher insurance limits and the customer named as additional insured.
• A clean safety record, and sometimes a safety program in writing.
• Availability: response times, coverage windows, sometimes a truck reserved for them.
• Equipment specs: deck length, ramps, winch, securement gear, sometimes newer trucks.
• Paperwork: invoicing in their format, photos, proof of delivery within set times.
• Vendor onboarding: master service agreements and safety questionnaires, especially in oilfield work.

Read every clause about liability and indemnity. A contract can make you responsible for more than your insurance covers.

Amazon hotshot loads

A common question. Amazon's freight program for carriers, Amazon Relay, lists the equipment it works with on its own FAQ: tractors and full-size trailers and containers, plus some larger straight trucks. Pickups and gooseneck hotshot rigs aren't on that list as of October 21, 2026, and Relay asks for interstate authority active at least 180 days (Amazon Relay FAQ). Check their current page if you want to apply, but don't plan a hotshot business around Amazon loads.

Contract vs spot hotshot work

When spot rates are low, a contract rate looks good. When spot rates rise, the same contract can feel cheap. Price a contract against your cost per mile, not against this week's spot market, and run sample loads through the hotshot load profit calculator.

How contract work pays

Contracts pay per load, per mile, by the hour or day, or with a standby rate for on-call time, often with a fuel surcharge tied to a published diesel index. Payment terms are written into the agreement. Make sure detention, standby and cancellations are covered; on contract work they can add up.

Risks to weigh

• Customer concentration. If one customer is most of your revenue, losing them is losing your business.
• Volume that doesn't show up. "Up to five loads a week" isn't a promise of five.
• Locked rates. Ask for a rate review schedule and a fuel surcharge.
• Liability terms. Indemnity clauses can shift risk onto you.
• Exclusivity. Agreements that limit who else you can haul for.

Brokers are behind many contract lanes, so knowing how they work helps; see hotshot freight brokers. If you're still deciding whether hotshot is for you, start with what hotshot trucking is.