In the early days of the oil boom, high-demand trucks emerged as a solution to the problem of expensive downtime due to broken parts on oil drilling and pumping platforms. Businessmen with small trucks would pick up parts from machine shops and oil field suppliers and quickly deliver them to the oil fields. This process was beneficial for all parties involved: drillers could get parts in a timely manner, suppliers could maintain sufficient inventory, and truck-owning businessmen could capitalize on the demand for delivery services. Fast-loading trucks are a type of transport that specializes in relatively smaller and more urgent loads.
These drivers are essentially the minutemen of road transport, often operating heavy-duty trucks with trailers instead of heavy-duty class 8 semis. They are hired when customers have a strict deadline and need to get a load from point A to point B as soon as possible. However, entering the world of trucking hot shots is not without its challenges. You'll face fierce competition, as it's much easier to become a driver than it is to become a successful one.
DAT load panels are one of the most comprehensive charging networks in existence and make it easy to find hot cargo. Ultimately, there's no secret sauce for hot trucks, you just have to spend time and accumulate experience. Hot Shot Carrier is a great resource for aspiring truckers, as it includes an active profit calculator and a visitor page (free) that publishes the loads currently available. It's important to examine drivers thoroughly before hiring their services, as they may need to transport loads beyond state lines or even across the country.
In addition, the rules and requirements for operating a hot shot business largely overlap with those for operating a semi-truck business. Entering the world of hot shooting is the perfect preparation for taking the leap into transporting larger loads (if that's the career path you're interested in).
