I just switched from hotshot back to a semi. I was doing “ok” but like you said, it was tougher to keep loaded and seemed like I was deadheading more and more all of the time. Hotshots were never meant to compete with semi’s for freight, but to complement or supplement them. Brokerages are seeing the inexperience and using it to tag the whole industry segment. Driving rates down and load sizes up. There’s still good hotshot freight out there but it’ll be the business man with the truck that succeeds, not the truck driver with a business. Great video, stay safe out there.
Definitely don't buy new equipment and try getting into hotshot! I'm coming up on 2 years in the business. Started out with my truck, trailer and equipment already paid for, plus cash in the bank so I won't get caught up in the factoring trap. My trucks are 99 F350's and I can buy another one every year and still come out cheaper than a new truck. Sure, the new bells and whistles are really cool, plus all the power the newer trucks have means you can haul more weight. I run non-CDL so my 99's are fine with that. If I want to haul more weight, I'll move up to semi.
I started off in hot shot 3 years ago I'm doing pretty damn good I do not care about a semi just because you had bad experience in it and jumping in the big boys don't think other people can't handle it. You've got to make relationships with brokers and hot shot and big trucks so take that trash somebody else
Did I say 100% fail? No. 10% succeed at it. But you're not every hotshotter out there. There is a 90% failure rate. Period. You are an anecdote. People should realize and understand just how cutthroat the industry is. Its not trash when its truth.
I agree with you on the cutthroat... starting up a business the odds of you making it I don't know what the percentage is but it's pretty slim... and you are right there's a lot of guys on RUclips that got a lot of people in trouble. But it's not their fault they didn't twist their arm to get into this business either you have it or you don't got to hustle got the grind-it-out. Once you make that connection with the Wright brokers you can make it
@@jamescota8137 I agree whole heartedly. It is NOT the creators fault if they show you the bad and the good, and the viewer just ignores the bad. Problem is this is a high grossing industry, and too many people don't understand profit loss and only see that big dollar amount.
@@roadtriptinytrucker7829 really ignorant postl; there's plenty local ltl that takes it to rail and NO it does not take the time length you whine about
Lol videos more of a rant about getting less loads because of people running hotshot rigs… maybe find better brokers or don’t deal with brokers who cheap out. I’ve been dealing with the same guy who sends loads to my uncle I pull the stuff that’s either left over from his pull or misc small shit that needs to go into the inner city. But I DO FEEL where your coming from. I’ve seen loads over 10k on a ball or cars without the right straps. Some hanging off…… so it goes both ways bro
Sure. But running hotshot rigs for going out of business rates. My competition isn't the successful hotshot companies. My competition is the guy that doesn't have a clue, runs for 8 months for horrible rates, goes broke, and another 4 guys start up and do the same. Thats an anomaly thats rare. Not any joe blow can start a steel mill, build a grocery store, open a bank, start a farm, etc. Any joe blow CAN finance a ram and a cheap gooseneck. The barrier to entry in hotshot is so low, that anyone can do it, hence the enormously high failure rate.
Hotshot alive and well my friend
Been doing hot shot since 2012, totally agree with you vid.
I just switched from hotshot back to a semi. I was doing “ok” but like you said, it was tougher to keep loaded and seemed like I was deadheading more and more all of the time. Hotshots were never meant to compete with semi’s for freight, but to complement or supplement them. Brokerages are seeing the inexperience and using it to tag the whole industry segment. Driving rates down and load sizes up. There’s still good hotshot freight out there but it’ll be the business man with the truck that succeeds, not the truck driver with a business. Great video, stay safe out there.
I'm still going hotshot, only the fittest will survive
I’m a tow piglet I’m not going anywhere 24yrs Orr class-A I like the non cal hotshot
Facts 💯
Thanks for the info. I saw the same thing happening. I decided not to go the hotshot route, and I’m currently in class for my CDL A
We Appreciate you 💪
Definitely don't buy new equipment and try getting into hotshot! I'm coming up on 2 years in the business. Started out with my truck, trailer and equipment already paid for, plus cash in the bank so I won't get caught up in the factoring trap. My trucks are 99 F350's and I can buy another one every year and still come out cheaper than a new truck. Sure, the new bells and whistles are really cool, plus all the power the newer trucks have means you can haul more weight. I run non-CDL so my 99's are fine with that. If I want to haul more weight, I'll move up to semi.
I started off in hot shot 3 years ago I'm doing pretty damn good I do not care about a semi just because you had bad experience in it and jumping in the big boys don't think other people can't handle it. You've got to make relationships with brokers and hot shot and big trucks so take that trash somebody else
Did I say 100% fail? No. 10% succeed at it. But you're not every hotshotter out there. There is a 90% failure rate. Period. You are an anecdote. People should realize and understand just how cutthroat the industry is. Its not trash when its truth.
I agree with you on the cutthroat... starting up a business the odds of you making it I don't know what the percentage is but it's pretty slim... and you are right there's a lot of guys on RUclips that got a lot of people in trouble. But it's not their fault they didn't twist their arm to get into this business either you have it or you don't got to hustle got the grind-it-out. Once you make that connection with the Wright brokers you can make it
@@jamescota8137 I agree whole heartedly. It is NOT the creators fault if they show you the bad and the good, and the viewer just ignores the bad. Problem is this is a high grossing industry, and too many people don't understand profit loss and only see that big dollar amount.
Alt for hotshot; alt big rig is rail
So the guy who has a bad experience with a big rig decides he'd rather wait 2 weeks to move his product and build a railroad to his business instead?
@@roadtriptinytrucker7829 really ignorant postl; there's plenty local ltl that takes it to rail and NO it does not take the time length you whine about
Rail is highly unreliable. They are notoriously late. And if you dont have a rail right up to your business you will still need a truck.
U right
Lol videos more of a rant about getting less loads because of people running hotshot rigs… maybe find better brokers or don’t deal with brokers who cheap out. I’ve been dealing with the same guy who sends loads to my uncle I pull the stuff that’s either left over from his pull or misc small shit that needs to go into the inner city. But I DO FEEL where your coming from. I’ve seen loads over 10k on a ball or cars without the right straps. Some hanging off…… so it goes both ways bro
Sure. But running hotshot rigs for going out of business rates. My competition isn't the successful hotshot companies. My competition is the guy that doesn't have a clue, runs for 8 months for horrible rates, goes broke, and another 4 guys start up and do the same.
Thats an anomaly thats rare. Not any joe blow can start a steel mill, build a grocery store, open a bank, start a farm, etc. Any joe blow CAN finance a ram and a cheap gooseneck. The barrier to entry in hotshot is so low, that anyone can do it, hence the enormously high failure rate.