Hotshot vs. Semi Trucking

We get the question of hotshot vs semi trucking all the time… Almost daily in one of our groups. Which is better? Well let’s discuss it.

Hotshot vs. Semi Trucking – Pros of Hotshot

Hotshot trucks are easier to drive, less training is involved and no need for CDL if you go that route. You can drive your truck home and park in front of your house. Yes, in most cases that is right. There are some Semi drivers who can do the same thing, especially if they are tractor only. You can use your Dually or pick up for personal business. That is true, I do it all the time but the more I learn about FMCSA regulations, I am not so sure it is completely legal. However, that goes for just about everything when it comes to them.

Hotshot loads are easier to strap, tarp and chain. I will agree with that. Most gooseneck flatbeds are about 3 foot high decks. Much lower than a 48 foot plus trailer that is at least 4 foot in height. I can’t even imagine tarping a full trailer load of 6 – 8 foot high materials, pumps, pipes or whatever. I hate tarping anything but sometimes you have to. Most hotshot loads pay in the same range as Semi, $2 to $3 a mile, that is true but we will discuss that in a minute.

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Until recent times a smaller investment was required to get into Hotshot, a dually used or new would run you about $25-70g. That may not be the case today. A trailer can cost you used around $10g to 30g, depending on length and axle rating, air ride, hydraulic and all the bells and whistles can impact it greatly but still cheaper than most semi trailers. Times have changed here recently, you could buy a used semi cheaper than a Dually. Still there are some out there fairly cheap.

One of the greatest advantages of a pickup dually is that it uses less fuel and gets better mpg than a Semi in most cases. With a Semi you can’t pull into a Sam’s, Bucees, or many discount fuel centers so you end up paying more. Storing or parking you truck is cheaper and easier to find than for a semi.

The biggest difference and cost savings with a pickup or dually, maintenance and upkeep. Everything for a Semi is expensive, oil changes, repairs, filters, parts, and tires. Tires can be very costly for a semi where I pay around $225 a tire for truck and $175 for 16 ply trailer tires. Just the amount of tires on a trailer is staggering.

Hotshot vs. Semi Trucking – Pros of Semi

There is money to be made. Lets just be honest, Hotshot trucking can be brutal at times… trying to find a load out of many areas, oversaturation of Hotshot truck drivers in many markets. AVAILABILITY OF LOADS. A semi, power only, flatbed and dry van can find a load just about anywhere. They can find local, regional or OTR loads much easier, plus they can find dedicated routes and lanes. Not many Hotshot drivers can do that.

Since their markets are not saturated and they actually are in demand they can find much better paying routes. My partner has 3 semi flatbeds. We recently had some runs from Houston to Dallas, we were quoted $600 for the Hotshot, they agreed to pay $1000 for the semi flatbeds. My first partner in this business started out Hotshot, grew to 5 trucks, but keeping them running, trailer problems, drivers not taking care of their trucks, non-cdl drivers getting violations for not knowing many of the FMCSA regulations, caused him serious grief.

He bought one semi and just did drop and hook, power only. He has since grown to 3 trucks, no trailers and tells me often that he wishes he had done it sooner. He has 15k weeks, picks and chooses his loads, stays busy and is growing every time I talk to him. My other friend Marcus was a hotshot car hauler, he ended up buying a tractor. My friend Justin had two new Ford Super dutys and within one year had a motor go out, trucks and trailers always in the shop. He ended up just buying himself a brand new tractor and trailer with a 10 year warranty. He made more in the first 6 months than he did the whole year of hotshot trucking. I could go on and on.

I know I said maintenance is cheaper for the pickup dually BUT and a BIG BUT that is, pickups and gooseneck trailers are not made to drive 3-4k miles a week, constant wear and tear, left idling long, and their average lifespan is around 400k miles but some can reach 500k. Most drivers trade them in around 200k for newer models. A good tractor semi can easily reach 1 mill. or more miles. Some have been known to last a few million with some work and tender care. That makes quite a difference.

Now here is where the greatest advantages of a semi with a sleeper lie (pun intended). There is no comparison in the sleeper berth comfort vs a dually. I see drivers have microwave, satellite tv, refrigerator, desk/office, computer, printer, comfortable mattress, heating and ac. You can make modifications to a pick up dually but no comparison.

Final advantage – driving comfort, air ride, cushion captain seats with air ride, lumbar support, arm rests, many top brands such as Bose and National, with cooling, heat, massage. The seat is air-ride and the tractor and trailer are air-ride. A dually will beat you down on some of those Louisiana, Oklahoma and other oil field leases. Hands down, no comparison.

So you might be asking – well, if semi is so attractive why aren’t you driving one? I started out in one but hated driving Dallas/Ft. Worth traffic. I love driving most of the time but I always have hated traffic. Every day it gets worse it seems with construction, populations growing, crazy drivers, impatient drivers. Even in a hotshot rig, a semi, or box truck. The reason is simple, I am too old to start a note on a new truck and if I buy a used one, it is going to be lightly used, a newer model and with all the bells and whistles. I want to end my driving years with something comfortable and not worry about repairs. I think about it every day. I still might.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, My belief is that every driver in the transportation and freight hauling business should aspire to make as much as they can. This is one industry that one can make enough to save for retirement, invest in their business, and grow. The best way to do that is with a CDL and eventually driving a big rig. We should learn the ropes and regulations in the hotshot trucking business and then move on up to the big rigs.

Especially if you are young. I know that it seems intimidating to some, but thousands of men and women step up into a rig for the first time every year. The market is changing, rising fuel and low rates are going to kill a lot of hotshot businesses. Trucks and trailers prices and insurance rates increasing are killing profits. Many are working just to pay their fuel, equipment payments and insurance. It just takes a couple breakdowns to eat your savings. Make money with your investment and do not limit yourself. Do the smart thing and that means stepping out your comfort zone.

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