Hot shot freight
Hot shot loads: where they come from and how we keep you loaded
Hot shot loads come from load boards, hotshot and expedite brokers, and shippers who need something moved today on a pickup and gooseneck. Finding them is the easy part. Finding the ones that fit your payload, pay for the empty miles and set up the next load is the job our dispatchers do every day.
Where hotshot freight comes from
Eight places hotshot loads come from
Filter by what matters to you right now. Brand-new authority, non-CDL setup, or trying to get home.
8 sources shown
Load boards
Brokers post spot freight by trailer type, length and weight. Filter for hotshot, partial and flatbed loads under your payload.
The fastest way to see volume, and the most crowded. Posted rates are a starting point for negotiation.
New MCNon-CDLBackhaulHotshot and expedite brokers
Brokers whose shippers need small, urgent loads moved on a pickup and gooseneck instead of waiting on a semi.
Repeat freight once they trust you. Some set a minimum authority age before they load a new carrier.
Non-CDLBackhaulEquipment dealers and rental yards
Skid steers, mini excavators, compact tractors and light towers moving between stores, job sites and customers.
A direct shipper relationship takes calls and time, but it repeats. Load weights are known up front.
Non-CDLOilfield and industrial suppliers
Hot parts, valves, pumps and pipe for rigs, plants and shops, often needed the same day.
Pays for speed. Some loads are heavy enough to need a CDL setup; others fit a light deck.
New MCBuilding material yards
Steel, lumber, trusses, panels and tanks for job sites that a semi can't reach or doesn't need.
Light, bulky loads fit non-CDL decks well. Heavy steel and lumber usually needs a Class A rig.
Non-CDLBackhaulAg dealers and farms
Implements, parts and compact equipment, with busy seasons around planting and harvest.
Seasonal. Good lanes in farm country when everything else is slow.
BackhaulVehicle moves
Dealer trades, auction runs and private-party moves for car-hauler setups.
Needs the right trailer and cargo coverage for vehicles. Two-car loads on a non-CDL setup are common.
New MCNon-CDLContract and dedicated work
Regular runs for one shipper or broker program, at an agreed rate or schedule.
Steadier, but expect requirements on equipment, insurance and availability.
Comparing boards and apps, free and paid? Our hotshot load boards guide lists what each offers, with prices from each provider. For steady work, see how hotshot contracts work.
Hot shot loads for pickup trucks
Checking weight and dimensions before booking
A posting that says "hotshot OK" tells you nothing about your trailer. Before any load goes to you for approval, we check four things against the ratings in your profile:
- Weight. Load weight plus your trailer's empty weight, against the trailer GVWR on its VIN plate. On non-CDL setups, the whole combination against 26,000 lb.
- Deck space. Length and width of the freight against your deck, beavertail and dovetail included.
- Securement. Chains, binders, straps or tarps the load needs, and whether you carry them.
- Windows. Pickup and delivery times against your hours of service and the miles in between.
EXAMPLE weights. A load like this can look fine on the board and still be illegal on your trailer.
New authority
Your first hot shot loads on a new MC
Some brokers won't load a carrier until its authority reaches a certain age, and fraud has made the rest careful. That doesn't stop you hauling; it changes who you call. We start with brokers who set up new carriers, send a complete carrier packet the moment there is interest, and pick fair loads that build a track record.
Expect the first weeks to take more calls per booked load. That is normal, and it's the part a dispatcher takes off your plate. Our guide to working with hotshot freight brokers covers setup packets and how to vet a broker before you haul for them.
Backhauls and deadhead
The better-paying load is not always the better load
Empty miles cost fuel and time but pay nothing. Compare loads by rate per total mile, empty miles included, and the picture changes.
Load A pays $250 more but earns $0.61 less for every mile your truck turns. We plan reloads so you take more of Load B. Run your own in the hotshot load profit calculator. EXAMPLE numbers.
Power only hotshot loads
Power only means you pull a trailer that belongs to the shipper or broker, such as an equipment trailer or a gooseneck already loaded at the yard. Your truck needs the right hitch and rating for it, and your insurance needs to cover a trailer you don't own, which usually means trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage. Check both before you accept one.
Hotshot trucking loads, booked for you
How our dispatchers book hotshot loads
- 01
Search
Boards first thing and through the day, plus calls to the brokers and shippers who move hotshot freight in your lanes.
- 02
Check
Weight against your trailer and truck ratings, deck length, tarp or chain needs, and the pickup and delivery windows.
- 03
Negotiate
We counter on every load, using the lane, the timing and your empty miles as the case for a better rate.
- 04
Approve
The full offer goes to you. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
- 05
Book and plan
Rate con signed, broker set up, and the search for the reload starts before you load.
The fee is 7% of gross on loads you haul, with no setup fee or contract. See the full pricing, the onboarding steps, or how our hotshot dispatch works overall.
Start with your setup:
FAQ
Finding and booking hotshot loads
How do you find hotshot loads?
Four places, in practice: load boards, brokers that specialize in hotshot and expedited freight, direct shippers like equipment dealers and material yards, and contract programs. Most owner-operators start on hotshot load boards and build broker and shipper relationships from there.
How do you get hot shot loads with a brand-new MC?
Expect some brokers to pass until your authority is older. Work the ones that set up new carriers, have your carrier packet ready to send in minutes, and take a few fair loads to build a track record. Answering broker calls fast matters more in the first months than at any other time.
How do hotshot drivers find loads day to day?
They check boards early and again through the day, call brokers back fast, and line up the next load before they deliver the current one. Drivers with a dispatcher hand that work off and stay in the seat.
How do you get loads for hot shot trucking without a load board?
Call local equipment dealers, rental yards, steel and lumber yards and oilfield suppliers, and ask who moves their small urgent loads now. Work with hotshot freight brokers who call you directly once they know your truck.
How do you find hotshot loads to haul back home?
Start looking for the backhaul before you deliver, widen the pickup radius a little, and compare loads by rate per total mile, not just loaded mile. A lower-paying load that starts close often beats a better one 200 miles away.
How do you book loads for hotshot trucking?
Call or message the broker on the posting, confirm weight, dimensions and times, agree a rate, get set up with your carrier packet, then sign the rate confirmation before you roll. Read the rate con for detention, TONU and payment terms before you sign.
Next step
Let a dispatcher find your next hot shot load
7% of gross for one truck, 6% per truck for 2+ trucks (limited-time). No haul, no pay. No setup fee, no contract, cancel with 30 days notice. You approve every load.
Start with your setup: