I'd start small and work my way up to a semi is what I would do and was always told and dodges have always had front end issues plus they're water pumps always go bad faster then a ford chevy or a gmc does all vehicles have they're pros and cons I commented on one of your videos my buddie is still doing hot shot trucking locally without a cdl with his 1985 f150 hauling lumber about a 1,000 pounds on a 18 foot pj bumper pull trailer but he also has overload springs and heavier shocks on his f150 he makes 15 grand in 2 weeks runs 700 or so miles a day cause he doesn't stop he starts at 6 am and doesn't stop until 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon he enjoys it makes good money and for having a 351 Windsor in it he doesn't use alot fuel ether he can normally run until Thursday before he has to refuel his pickup and older fords has dual tanks which is nice
The one thing I wish you would go over is the cost per mile on these trucks. I think you do a phenomenal job of explaining the total cost and profits but the totals don't mean much if the cost per mile isn't established.
good rule of thumb is $1.85 mi that the wheels roll, loaded or unloaded for hotshot. $2.50 mi semi, if you keep this average for every mile your odometer rolls you will be profitable on paper. Your personal lifestyle after that will determine success.
I have over 506k on my 2014 Ram 4500. With sleeper. Only thing I did to it was put a 2012 motor in it. Out of a 2500, so it's not de- tuned as the 4500s are.
I am in CDL school, and I know that I will take a job with as a company driver to start. Once I get established and the finances in order I would really like to get into Hotshot trucking. Thanks, this was very informative, great comparison!
I actually just got a 3500 fully used but since it used I already have my cdl I'm about to go drive for a company for a few months and put the money in my used truck then the real fun begins you just have to know what you are doing these do let life overwhelm you when doing things like this we all live a different life style so play the game according you your life ppl....yep
Both have pros and cons. Hotshot done the right way can be very profitable with very little maintenance if you're running new trucks. Semis offers more personal space and allows more weight but higher maintenance. Both have there place in my opinion just depends on goals and expectations.
I love this video you explain everything that everyone wants answers to ima try and start up a hotshot business since it’s more cheaper but I won’t be driving i want to get workers for it but I love how you explain everything perfectly appreciate it
Imma get my cdl with semi trucking company then after. Im going for a hotshot. My girl wants to ride with me. And help. But shes gonna be non cdl for awhile so thats my reasoning for the hotshot. So she can drive some of our loads!
Ram 6.7 motor is $19k plus labor. Trans is $6k plus labor. I have 28 trucks in my fleet. We have never had a rear diff go down. Brakes, tires, oil changes are normal. I have 1 truck 2015 RAM 6.7 5500 with 641,000 miles. 2nd trans. original motor. All steering bars $1000 every year. Ball joints every other year. Semi up front cost is higher like buying 2 rams. Maintenance cost is the same but maintenance mileage is much longer on semi. 60k or longer oil changes.
@@utiguy69 Most of the fleet are wreckers. A completely different business. But a line haul truck will gross 20k per month. I buy new trucks so it pushes the breakdowns to the 3rd year most of the time. So your fixed expense is just fuel , plus 2 k for truck and trailer and 2 k per month for insurance. Fuel cost run $1300 per week plus employee cost. Usually on the line haul trucks it leaves 5k per month for maintenance or profit.
So if your truck(s) average 20k a month, half is overhead and the other half is take home until something breaks? So more likely less than half do to preventive maintenance and paying the driver(s)?
@@utiguy69 maintenance cost runs around $300 per month in parts. Tires will go 60kmiles on the back and 45k on the front. So not every month is a high maintenance month. Line haul is the fast food of the trucking world. Low profit for miles run. But the startup cost is the lowest. That’s why everyone gets in. This is also why you don’t see fleets of hotshot or LTL trucks. You are better off driving for a company. Most people don’t have the reserve cash if anything goes wrong to gun a low profit business. We use it as a way to diversify the business’s to limit risk.
If im looking to make money im better off having class A drivers and seni trucks then? I have class A drivers that will drive for me just weighing my options to make money and keep my drivers happy before i invest
Would you recommend getting a hot shot start building clients saving $ etc and eventually get a semi. My concern is semi getting used can cause problems and be parked and make no $ hot shot since it’s new less problems hopefully. And worst case scenario don’t work out I can go back to my regular job and afford the truck payment and use it as a daily idk how much that payment can it be on semi. Once I know how things works get a semi and if it’s parked cause of an issue I can still hot shot Thanks!!!!
Always start with a semi unless you want to live a miserable life sleeping in the back seat of a pick up. Semis can be had for a cheap as 9k and so can a pickup. There literally no reason to ever start with a pickup unless you don't have a CDL and need to stay under commercial weight.
I'm enjoying y'all content much appreciated! I'm considering getting into the hotshot business myself. I go to the dmv in the morning to take my combination test I already passed general knowledge and air brakes so tomorrow I should have my permit!
@@NowWeEats Just find a way to pass, study and take some headphones you can plug into the monitor to block out the noise. I'm actually driving for a company doing flatbed in an international with 48ft. I enjoy it. If you keep trying you will achieve it! Peace.
This is probably the hardest decision yet most crucial decision you can make that will and can break you as a O/A. There's no right or wrong answer it's dependent on individual factors such as credit/stacked money/ how hard you can grind or not etc. 🤑
13- 15k a week you are full of crap ola why you lying to these people on the interweb. You for sure aint getting no freight from any load boards. So all your loads are direct from the client. I dont think so.
Man you and pops have inspired me so much! Based out of South Carolina… 2017 f450 2020 40ft big Tex 22 gn! If you and pops ever wanna dispatch someone else I would love to be an asset! Topnotch Transport and Logistics llc.
Bennie, inspired by you ability to disseminate your passion. I have a completely different background, but I meet you on passion. I want to buy a 4500 truck for hot shot. I’d enjoy the opportunity to join up forces with you, representing you from Kalispell, Montana. David Ravo
I know hotshots are the butt of the joke a lot of the time in our industry and I've definitely seen plenty of idiots out here over ten years in both semis and hot shots. I could never do hotshot, I love my semi I can stand up in it and cook food in it ect. I could never live out of a pickup so props to y'all!
The cooking probably, but standing up?? And man I gotta look up a video on how y'all have it set up because I'm curious. I have my cat with me tho OTR too and I've hung some toys and stuff in here for her so it helps having the bigger cab and space and stuff ya know?
@@samr5075the difference between my sleeper and a semi walk-in sleeper is obviously the walk-in part…you can checkout my setup on Jlove the Flash on RU-vid 😉
@@rayramos1179 sounds good man I'll check it out! I just have never really seen the inside of one ya know? But hey as long y'all are comfy keep it up! But I'll keep my semi 😃
