Welcome To The Hot Shot USA Blog!

So We start our Blog section on our website or websites. I have to ask what is a Blog? , so I do what I do often – Google it, research it, do my due diligence, as I always recommend to my members and readers of my books and posts.

Blog

/bläɡ/

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a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Why is it called a blog?

The word’s creation has been attributed to Jorn Barger, of the influential early blog Robot Wisdom. The term was created to reflect the process of “logging the web” as he browsed. … “Weblog” was shortened to “blog” in 1999 by programmer Peter Merholz.

There now we know, I can add I am a Blogger (not to be confused with a booger) along with a published Author Lol. What are we going to discuss? As for my usual style, a little bit of everything, mixed in with a little bit of liquor, a little bit of, excuse me for veering off on Eminem lyrics. I have had so many lines of thoughts on what I would write about. Many of you read my book Hotshot-USA How to start a Hotshot business and know the chapters I put into it. I have wanted to expand on it, there is so much to know to run a successful business. Once you get started there is securing loads, equipment, staying safe and secure on the road, what to be prepared for and maintenance and maintaining your equipment.

However, we are going to start with the State of Hotshot Trucking – as I see it while I am out on the road, I try to pay attention to what I see other drives, the posts on our Six Facebook groups, the business, the rates, the costs, Fuel and in the end, is it all worth it?

I ask myself this often. I try to look at it from the average driver, Owner Operators, veteran, or newbie’s eyes. One thing about this trade, job, you have lots of time to think. I come up with so many ideas, plans, stories, and lessons for me and my readers. I can honestly say that everyday is a learning experience and that no two days are exactly alike. The loads aren’t, the rates aren’t, the customers differ. The terrain changes, the weather changes. Some days are easy, and I love this business, some days you just want to get it over with. As I also often say, some loads you pull, and others pull you. Some push you. You ever have that load that you are constantly having to check? pull over and restrap?, It is so heavy that it is gobbling up fuel, the wind is against you and it is like a parachute? You’re running later than you thought and you want to make it to your drop-off and offload before they close? and the worse feeling? You took a load without vetting it, checking it out, because it was the only one you could find but you made a bad decision and your working way too hard, driving for much less than the load deserves. They made you tarp it, made you wait to load, load isn’t what they said it was going to be, 15 foot of deck space turns into 40 foot, 5,000 pounds turns into 15,000 lbs.? Then your mad at the broker, the customer, your dispatcher, and most of all yourself.

How does this happen, and can anything be done about it? Here lies the problem with getting loads, and is it worth it? They talk about a driver shortage- there is but for Semi truck drivers and Flatbed drivers. All my partners that started in Hotshot, or were in Semi and went into Hotshot, went back into Semi, flatbed, Power Only drop and hook, and are killing it, expanding their fleets. I am just going to say it, Hotshot trucking is over maxed with Hotshot drivers, especially Non-CDL, in States like Texas, Oklahoma, and many others, there are too many. Try getting a load out of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, DFW and Midland Odessa. I was in Denver this week and was lucky to find a load home but had to take much less than I would of liked. I am a CDL set up with all the bells and whistle, I like to think I am a professional driver. Best equipment, best trailer with tandem dual 12k axles, IFTA, and I have 12 strap keepers on deck, 8 chains, plenty of extra for all situations. I usually get more and better paying loads than my fellow drivers that I work in a network with that are non CDL , usually but not always. A lot lately and I say lately but it has been getting bad for a minute. Fuel is way out of control, what used to take me $150 to fill my tanks now takes $250. Rates are low because of the simple law of supply and demand. Brokers know that whatever rate they offer on a load, that there are plenty of Hotshot drivers that will take it, and within seconds. They can’t do that with Semi as easily. I know that as a fact. The other problem- Yes, I am going to say it- Dispatchers- every driver’s wife, girlfriend, sister, daughter, even overseas services are all getting into the game. For every load there are a thousand dispatchers sitting around watching those screens competing for every load. You blink and they are gone. You see it every day. They grab at any load and before you know it you are taking a container, or 10-foot-high load that needs tarps, and only paying less than $2 a mile, and you went from 14 mpg to 6.8 mpg, only place you can refuel on the trip is truck stops selling fuel for $3.95 a gallon, and your happy just to get that. Will this change? Probably not, more and more getting into the business, both driving and dispatching. Natural selection, or only the strong survive will cull out many. I have been accused of contributing to the problem with my book and groups. Guilty? Maybe some, but I also go through a lot of detail explaining as I am here, that this business is not for everyone, and if you don’t run it like a business, it will run you, out of business. It is tough times, cash guzzling, repairs and maintenance can destroy you. Insurance is very high and going higher. It is physically rough at times, not everyone can drive 12 hours a day and not be home for days. I tell it like it is. The pros? A bad day at hotshot trucking is better than a good day at any 8-5 job in my opinion, the opportunity, the chance to run my own business and future, and to be out all over this beautiful and great country is worth it. The money even on a bad week if I watch my financials is better than I can make at any hourly job. The secret to this job is when you make more than your expenses, pay your bills, and get ahead, save some so you are prepared for the worst days. I have missed months before and been able to survive. I pay ahead on my insurance, my truck and I just paid off my trailer. What you can’t control are tires, repairs and upkeep.

I want to hear some of your stories and thoughts in this new Blog section. I want to know about your maintenance tips, best hotels with truck parking, how you keep warm or cool in your truck. We have lots of plans for our websites, shows and books. Tell us what you want to talk about. We are planning a photo library with hundreds of pictures of loads I have taken over the years, to show those new and old veterans how I secured the loads. I am no expert, but I believe that it is one of the most important job skills because it keeps you safe, your load safe and others around you safe. I was told early on that you secure every load as if your wife and family were driving with you or behind you. I over strap and go by the rule that if you got them (straps) use them.

We also will have a section on our website where you can enter a picture of your truck and trailer, your MC, your company description, where your out of. A directory of sorts. We will also have a Dispatcher section.

Finally in parting. As I was out on the road this week, I was at two customers, and picking up a heavy load of a metal building. It was around 13k and there was a non cdl driver loading up the same as me. I have been really noticing especially since I have so many friends and partners that drive non CDL that they try and succeed at loading the max their trailers allow, with single axles rated at much less than mine, risking their lives, others, and the load. Crazy part was I was thinking a lot about this lately because I wanted to start my Blog out discussing it. Guess I am right? Okay back to crazy part. So I get to my drop location in Pueblo, the forklift driver is telling me that this very non CDL driver that I had seen loading with a 12k load has bent both of his axles, blown his tires and drove on the rim, and literally destroyed his trailer. They had to go and save the load because he almost made it there. I have to wonder why do so many risk so much? One of my greatest joys in pulling loads is knowing that they are as safe as I can make them and not having the worry or anxiety makes the trip so much more enjoyable. I just don’t get the reluctance to getting your CDL, if you’re going to make a living at this, make a living that will maximize your efforts. Is it as some say, you want to not worry about the drug clearinghouse? Or getting Apportioned plates, IFTA, and all that? I would like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you for being a part of my first blog, I suspect that they are supposed to be shorter and more to the point. If you know me, I just don’t have the ability to keep it short and simple lol.