Hotshot is such a small segment in the overall market, all this focus on us (new laws, regulations, and DOT cracking down) at the same time there is a trucking shortage seems counterproductive. The independence of Hotshots must be rubbing the company big boys the wrong way.
All great points. The simple fact is that inspections on hotshot trucks are easier. No air brakes or slack adjusters to check. Ive had several level 1 inspections where they never crawled underneath. IF the officer has a quota to meet, hotshots are much faster. Pro tips: keep your truck clean inside and out, and keep a "truck book" neatly organized with all documents. Do a REAL PRETRIP! Going on 2 years cdl hotshot, zero violations.
Got my first inspection after 6 months of being in business last week. Handed him my cab book which he was impressed with and got my stickers for the truck and trailer. He even gave me his number and told me to call if I ever have any issues.
Do you watch "hotshot benni" that's his and his pops RU-vid channel if you don't watch them you should they tell it like it is no bs and make great vids..
I agree with Craig! Those are great you brought. Remember safety is a the main factor on the road. Do proper prep trip, look and be professional at all times and just be ready to deal with DOT. Practice in stay in compliance! I've been a CDL driver for 30 years no violations. Yes it can happen. But maintain a safety mind set and that will help you. Thanks for that info. Look forward in seeing your next video.✌🏿
You are a little off on the GVW and GVWR. You have always had to balance your load so that the axle load was at or below the axle rating. That is why semis slide the tandems and 5th wheel to shift the weight for the appropriate axle. Hotshots have to do the same, by moving the cargo to balance the axle load. The times you have said you were 12.5 k or such on your trailer, you were technically over weight on that axle group. That does not require you to have a CDL. Your trailer can not be over the GVWR of 12 K, regardless of which license you have.
Absolutely great video man. Thank you very much for keeping us informed on what the system is trying to do. It's just ridiculous how they seem like they have nothing better to do but to nit pick. We all appreciate the updates!
It's seems like it's never a good time to get into hot shot business or any business. You just have to do your research, get your ducks in a row, and pull the trigger. and the reason DOT is cracking down on hot shots is because you have all these guys out here running hotshot, don't know the regs or half-assing it, and they're making it bad for the rest of the people doing it the right way.
@@someguyfromtheinternet5102 There is a shortage of those that that will operate at a loss. I have been low balled out and watched the desperate guy that just wanted to get started go bankrupt. Then the contractor hired another dummy. Most important you are not truck driver. You are business man first. Do the math. Read the contract. If you are reading the paperwork. Then the nut job asks why you are reading the the thing because he does not have time to wait. Leave and DO NOT say anything. Does not matter what you do or whom you are getting into a contract with. Banks, real estate, what ever. If there is no time for you to review and look for the gotcha. Put the pen down and leave. You do need to make more than it costs to do it.
@@warrenpuckett4203 I’m a truck driver and there is no such thing as a driver shortage. There’s a reason why the rates are so cheap. Too many driver taking cheap loads and people are fighting for freight. There’s over 400k cdl companies in the USA alone not including Canada. Getting rid of hotshots will make the rates go up.
@@warrenpuckett4203 there’s no such things as non specialized driver that’s hauling the same freight as a cdl owner. Taking cheap freight making everyone miserable.
It is so infuriating how the global market and supply chain is in despair and here in the states our lawmakers are making things harder for people who work in the logistics side of things. What a joke.
Anyone in panic mode for a CDL: sunstate CDL in Moorehaven, FL. $1500, 5 day, 2 free attempts almost fail proof. They use SA trucks with synchro transmissions to get you unrestricted. Best thing I ever did.
Don't they also use single cab semis with like a 20 foot trailer? I seen people in FL take their driving test in small trucks like that. Almost impossible to fail in a truck like that
@@YanilMiami305 It is impossible to fail that way. I have a class B with no restrictions and I could go get a pickup with a semi hookup and trailer and pass with flying colors for A.
The issue with the gvwr and gvw enforcement that you mentioned has been an issue forever but you explained it somewhat wrong. If your trailer is "registered" or has a "derated" sticker of 12,000 lbs and your loaded trailer weight is at 12,500 lbs, this means you are technically 500 lbs over the 12,000 lbs supposed capacity of your trailer. Even though we all know you derated your trailer and it is capable of hauling more than 12,500 lbs that's not what it says on paper.
It is of no significance what is stated on the trailer registration. The officer is going to look at the GVWR on the manufacturer applied sticker. That number superior to all others . SO, if the sticker states for example, the GVWR of the trailer is 12,500 lbs, that is IT....What the state registration certificate says does not matter. Now, if the COMBO weight of the GVWR of the power unit PLUS the GVWR of the trailer exceeds 26k lbs, and the Combination is used in a "For Hire" commercial venture , the operator MUST have at least a Class B CDL...NO exceptions.
@@patersonplankrd that is what I said. His trailer has a derated GVWR sticker of 12,000 lbs.....he has scaled over 12,000 on the trailer but was still under 26,000 lbs. On this scenario he is over the GVWR, aka, the capacity of his trailer. Even though he is not technically over capacity since his GVWR sticker is fake, DOT doesn't know its a fake sticker or can't know either 🤷♂️
Have a trailer built. Most reputable builders will let you understamp it, but not over stamp it. If your truck is at 14k GVWR, have them stamp the trailer at 11,960 with 7k or 8k singles.
Great content as always Alex. Still glad I went back to a rig and 48’ flatbed in March. Have our own direct accounts now. I do two loads a week, one steel and one treated lumber, just under 1500 miles, only gone 2-1/2 days, and are making great money. Glad to see you are well !! Mike and Eileen ✌️
@@yassineelallaoui7761 As a CDL driver myself, he just did. You may not need a CDL to do your job, but those safety pretrips cover your ass. Not just with the DOT, but like the man said, your safety.
I have a cdl B and am planning to go to school to get my cdl A. Am I in a better position going into hotshot driving with my cdl B as far as weight allowances is concerned? Do I need the A already having a B?
Non CDL hotshot is a grey area for DOT & FMCSA. It's hard earning a living in transportation. Hotshots are always singled out at scale houses. Getting a CDL isn't that hard nor expensive, especially if you've already been driving. When you have one you can legally pull a better trailer and book higher paying loads. Really no down side to CDL work.
Yeah. When the authorities start changing the meaning of weight and making up rules which seemingly are designed to create more violations, its time to make adjustments. Quite frankly, any CMV over a combined 35 feet in length should require at least a Class B CDL. I spoke to a local field rep for the FMCSA. I talked with him about the ever growing number of pickup truck/enclosed cargo trailer rigs I am seeing on the road. THese rigs have NO USDOT numbers and NO MC numbers displayed on the vehicles. He told me that the states are now cracking down on these rigs. However, enforcement is still a struggle. Lack of officers .. if the operator is discovered to be conducting commerce, the officer has the duty to place them out of service. Not just issue a citation and send them on their way. Why should legitimate law abiding operators have to compete for these fly by nighters for business?
Just as Alex mentioned in the video that brokers yet brokers see data on trucks and trucking types, DOT also gathers data and extrapolates from it. My Uncle is a now retired retired California highway patrolman working as a consultant back to the state of California. He specializes in accident scene recreation and evaluation. With a particular emphasis on commercial motor vehicles. According to him back in the late eighties and early nineties when manufacturers started started putting more powerful diesel engines in pickup trucks, the state of California immediately noticed more wrecks involving this involving these pickups. Therefore, they created a focus on these pickup trucks pulling larger trailers. Obviously many people would purchase them even for personal use not realizing the size of trailer put them into CDL requirement. Likewise on a national level statistics clearly show many operators of nonsenyeah it's of non CDL hot shot rigs have no knowledge or experience in the industry. Therefore, they get issued far more violations than carriers operating larger trucks. It basically boils down to a numbers thing.
i was looking into hotshot and decided to simply get my cdl. the tech school near me charges $1,850ish and i won’t have any restrictions when i am done. i feel as though dot will eventually even require hotshot drivers to get some sort of special license credential/formal training so i should just stay a step ahead of them.
I have my CDL and drove the big rigs for years doing long haul, otr, regional, dedicated,even local. So not everyone who does hotshot is a "kid" it's simply cheaper to get going as a hotshot vs a big rig. And maintenance is ridiculously cheaper.
It is interesting to hear you speak about these topics because I understand that there is a shortage in all types of drivers CDL/Non-CDL delivery, school bus, etc. It’s is not that there is a product shortage but a shortage in drivers which is affecting business across this country. You would think that there would be ways to ease up on the laws and keep the highways safe in order to get this country’s supply cain back to normal.
I've been driving hotshot for the last month. I've been in over 30 states recently. More than half of the time the weigh stations are closed and the other half they just wave me on. I'm honestly not seeing an issue.
GVWR is usually always the determining factor. Most of the time that is the first thing they look at. If those numbers don’t work, (over tag limits or over GCWR )you will get a violation even if you are empty.
This is why I’m getting a cdl and gonna move local grain. No need for a mc # or overpriced insurance. Just a simple cdl an old semi and cheap grain trailer. Dot numbers are free if your moving intrastate boys! Also if I have a break down local mechanics won’t try to replace your engine if your low on coolant 😂 The only con I believe is 500 bucks a year for a highway tax. So… Goodbye FMCSA, unfair DOT officers, stupid crack hotels, shady brokers and crooked diesel mechanics! Hello farm life!
@@abrahampshat8095 only crop farming beef and hogs run year wrong. and maybe old boy lives a simple life and doesnt need to break his back every day of the year.
That's your opinion and not everyone else, everyone has to do what works for them and their business plan their is risk in everything you do and for a person to say reasons not to get into something because it doesn't work for them does not mean it would not work for someone else if one would take that type of advice we would not have over half the Successful companies that's out their today
The DOT are trying to have you center the load because of so many accidents due to overweight of trailer putting to much weight on the back or front causing trailer sway and excessive trailer breaking
IN a perfect world, you'd be correct. Sadly, the world isn't perfect. The end game of the FMCSA and USDOT is at the behest and lobbying efforts of the largest freight haulers is to eliminate any and all competition. That means ALL independent and leased on operators are in the cross hairs. Hot shots and car haulers included.
@@patersonplankrd In response to the political agenda is so much more terrifying. Full government control and Communism in THE USA... The Big boys of trucking are on the way out if we AMERICANS don't Wake up
To think back 20 yrs ago when I was in the game a new trailer cost $5,000 and new truck about $25,000. A new Freightliner was about $100,000, which is why I went hotshot. I didn't want to run hard enough to pay for a semi. DOT has always been tough on hotshots. Of course laws are going to get harder. Staying legal and under 26,000 lbs means you really have to pay attention to how you're loaded. That's why you get a CDL.
Expose those brokers so that everyone knows who they are and not move loads for them, and its time call out this small brokers companies so they loose work for alienating a group based on their equipment when we hotshots pay the same at semis or even more.
@@louisalbert8400 It should not matter to a broker by which conveyance the shipment arrives. By offering different rates based on the vehicle carrying the load SHOULD be illegal. Illegal to the extent that those brokers offering unequal rates should be prosecuted for fraud.
@@patersonplankrd not sure why it would be fraud paying a group of drivers who have been certified and tested more than drivers who have not. That's capitalism like it or not. Imagine the same scenarios with child care..who do you want your precious cargo being taken care of by? Like the other commenter said, don't pull loads for those folks if you don't like what they're doing...the govt has no part in people's private voluntary transactions.
I know these brokers you are saying. I just tell them I’m a step deck. I know I can haul what they got so I play their game back at them. It’s BS these brokers are always like oh you’re just a hotshot so it’s this rate. Well mr broker last I checked I still run diesel and still get the same mileage as a semi if not worse and your customers goods will be there faster so my rate is actually higher than your semi. You’ll be surprised how many brokers will give you a $1500 load for $3500 when you throw it out there. So far my best was getting a $2500 offer up to $6300 on 745 miles. Don’t let them push you around. Two weeks ago a broker was offering $1500 and I told them oh sorry we’re too far apart I won’t even quote what I can do and she was like no wait what’s your price? I said $3000 and she’s like hold on I think I can make that work. They are skimming so much off the top it ain’t even funny!!
Aside from Semi Rigs, two most stopped ( In my travels) rigs are Hot Shot and Car carriers. Hot Shot is a higher risk business. Unless one has a ton of money in the bank, enough to afford a major repair , it is NOT recommended to start in the business.
The disadvantage non cdl hot shot is they don’t net work with semi drivers there’s always a driver that knows a route thst avoids truck stops amd what time to pass through some thst are closed at certain times
Alex they may be picking on hotshot, but the drivers need to get their ducks in a row, because their getting violations it’s not like they get pulled over and set free without a violation so that gives the DOT incentive to pull over hotshots
Pretty sure Washington state passed some new law that prevents you from doing non cdl as well. Also you can finance a used trailer. Bought mine used and went through navy federal credit union for my loan
I am from Washington and there is no such law preventing you from doing Non-CDL as long you are not over 26,000 GCW. That law is in California that prevent Non-CDL from having trailer 10,000 pounds or more.
Lots of drivers didn’t run through Colorado when a driver was sentenced to 110 years in prison after a little more than week no freight was moving in and out of Colorado the state decided to reduce the sentence to 10 years in prison reason was simple - the entire state of Colorado was running out supplies- /I guess the trick work out pretty good !
Just get yourself a CDL, IFTA, IRP and a nice 25GN and haul up to 20,000 lbs distributed correctly and call it a day. So much easier to run than non CDL.
I was in hotshot from 2007-2009 . Never made a dime, wore my truck out and couldn’t stay out of the scale houses …. Better off to buy a semi in the long run.
Properly tying the load down, and good maintenance goes a long way to keep dot happy..... load placement is very important as well..... back bumper dragging the ground will always get the wrong kind of attention 🙄
Thank you for this informative breakdown. Because of your channel I have seen how hard you have had to work to achieve what you have...and that the government AND brokers make it so difficult to scratch out enough income to offset the costs of shoddy trailers and axles, tires, etc. Thanks for saving me thousands of dollars and the endless headaches that come with hot shot hauling. I'll take up a hobby more conducive to enhancing my retirement rather than draining it.
Hi Alex- something to remember when dealing with the law - laws have to be written so they can be interpreted in only one way... otherwise the law is void for vagueness.. that's a Supreme Court ruling .. also the dot has to publish CLEAR and easy to understand regulations ... for the same reason as above ... and one other thing - DOT cannot expand the authority or scope of a statute. And each of those regulations are published under the authority of a statute. So the way to determine exactly what the authority for a particular regulation the dot claims is law is to either learn how to look it up or just call dot and ask them. Just because they are DOT does not mean they can just make up rules that effect commerce without statutory authority...
JT ,laws can be interpreted different ly from one officer to the other officer.... a law can be written for a very good purpose and most know what the purpose is, however an officer looking for a reason to irritate someone can twist the good law into something that it never was intended for.....it happens daily 😉....
@@deanvav7820 your right - and those are the cops that need to be exposed, sued, and drummed out of law enforcement - after you sue one and he costs his employer a sack of cash it's hard to get another job - especially if you see where he went to work and drop a dime to the insurance company for his new town - before his probation period is up... bad things follow you the rest of your life...
Hey JTH, I disagree with that statement. Towards the end of my trucking career (2008), I got a ticket in Rhode Island on I-95. Now we all know the interstates were meant to handle big trucks, specifically military equipment. Going up 95 in RI, I saw a sign ahead for this bridge that said: Weight limit 15 tons per two axle unit. I remembered that on the scale ticket it said 29,000 something on the drives and 28,000 something on the tandems, so I proceeded thinking I was well under the limit. A DOT trooper pulled me over and said he was ticketing me for being over weight. I said I was under and showed him the scale ticket. He said, That sign says no trucks allowed on the bridge. Lying sacks of shit. My ticket was $80 and the company's ticket was just under $5,000. A base charge for the violation and so much for each pound over the limit.
@@markenriquez1486 the advantage for police in situations like you describe is that it's hard to defend yourself and remain on the road - especially against a bald face liar - however for that kind of money it pays to hire someone to take pictures and protest the ticket - then when the case is withdrawn because the cop is caught lying and the prosecutors know it, would be the time to sue the dogshit out of the city they work for and sue the cop in his personal capacity and take his private money.... once these shitty little towns liability insurance can't be afforded those kinds of cops will be drummed out of law enforcement. I dont doubt that you and your company were scammed and it sucked ... the issue is letting them get away with it.
All these new state restrictions, even the federal... something in common with the governing parties.... can't quite put my finger on it 😉 but they clearly care about the working man 🙄 oh well, at least they don't fire off mean tweets
The reason why there's a blitz on hotshot trucks is because it's super easy to inspect them. Dot officers have to do so many inspections to keep their certification but there's no designation of inspection between hot shots, big trucks, etc. Basically, it's a lazy, easy revenue stream for the government. Been pulled over 3 times in a 550. Never been pulled over in a big truck. Ever.
Truck I am looking(Intl cv515) at has 19,500 and trailer(40 ft gooseneck) has a gvw of 27,500. So if they see that, thats 47,000 lbs before you even put anything on the trailer. I think the truck is about 6500, maybe 7000 empty, and the trailer is like 10,400 empty....but thats not what they go by.
Highest combination would be gvwr or actual weight, whichever is higher. That means don't have a 14k gvwr truck and 12.5k gvwr trailer. Stick with a 3/4 ton for non-cdl work.
Exactly! I have a 2020 f350 short bed crew cab single rear wheel platinum and I’m swapping the f350 emblems to f250 emblems and my trailer is a non cdl 40 ft. I’m not planning on putting any mc number or stickers on my 90k rig and will only pull light selective loads. I’m not planning on dealing with dot or scale houses. As far as I’m concerned I’m not for hire! These government agencies are all about $$$$ not safety. They can all kiss my a$$. I just wanna work leisurely and be left tf alone
Hey Alex, I have been watching you for years...I may of missed your video about this question : what's the formula to figure out my operating cost, paying my self and expecting to charge for car hauling or freight. Just keep on keeping it real !! Happy also for your business growth number's...killing it!!
Hello, just do a list of all expenses you have for your business by month or by week example: truck payment, trailer payment, your payment, dispatcher if you have one, insurance, Fuel, Tolls, etc… if anything on the list you are not sure of guess to the higher side like fuel you will spend an average of 6-800 a week. Once you have all your business expenses not your personal expenses that will be covered by your payment, you will then divide each expense by 10000 if you did it by monthly or 2500 if you did it by weekly. (Fuel: 800/wk x4= 3200/10000=.32 and so on) once you have all your decimals add them up to know your operating rate per mile. That is your lowest point to move if you move for less than that you will be paying to move that freight. Now keep in mind that in partials you have to combine them to exceed the operating cost and that is how you make money with partials. Hope you got this and can help you out. Be Safe out there
Better start to upgrade Alex. Get those CDL's. I got a 40ft Gator with 15000 pound axels. My declared gross weight truck and trailer is 43025. I put 17000 to 200000 on the trailer. They pull me in all the time but I have been flatbedding for 22 years. Hotshoting for 7. Goodluck
Ok Alex, I had to stop you 55 seconds into your spiel. I totally disagree with buying a trailer at any point in time. If you as a person are in the market to buy a trailer, then do so at your discretion. There are too many things for each individual to point out...is it the right trailer...what can I do with this trailer...can it haul the weight I need...BUY the trailer you specifically need no matter the cost! Plain and simple. I could had gone and bought a cheap Texas Pride, Gator, roadmaster, interstate, big tex, etc....BUT I chose not too because I DID NOT want to be broke down or paying alot on maintenance. So I bought the best heavy duty customized trailer on the market for $56k from diamond c. It almost cost more then my truck and I'm fine with that. But what I know and understand is that: 1) I will have it paid off in less then18 months! 2) It won't break down on the side of the road and repairs will be limited, because it's heavy duty and can handle heavy loads. It also comes with a great warranty that NO other manufacturers offer. So far, maintenance has cost around 12% for my trailer with NO issues such as blown tires, fried brakes or broken axles. 3) I'm not new to transportation or logistics. I have done every aspect of them for 23 years and know what is what. I know I can make $250k-$300k with my custom trailer, as it was built for it. It can haul HD loads repeatedly for years and take the beating. 4) Most importantly, I know how to do proper PMCS on my vehicles, how they ride and how to fix them on the spot. I won't be the one on the side of the road changing a flat because I had 10 ply tires, or an axle breaking, or my disc brakes frying, or having electrical wiring problems. I've done this for 23 years and NEVER had such issues. Why?! Because I don't buy cheap trailers! Now saying that Alex, your information is great for the newbies out there wanting to do non-CDL trailers...but don't buy cheap trailers. They are made for farmers who use them for short term time lines such as hauling equipment, hay, etc. I've been there and done that as I grew up on a dairy farm. But we also spent alot of time and money fixing them because they were cheap. I then became a master driver in the US Army and then did OTR for years. I have driven and taught 100s of others to operate everything in the government motorpool. I have used about every trailer maker in the USA, from the farm to personal. Always go heavy duty people. Save yourself money, time and frustration in the long run.
Diamond C is the best trailer out there. It’s not even close. Gator, Texas Pride, Big Tex, Lamar, Kaufman, PJ, Corn Pro, Load Trail, etc it’s all garbage.
As a HotShot driver for over 10 years, it's gotten so much worse, even if you can sleep in the back seat you can't log sleeper berth. Finding a motel every night is expensive but keeps you out of trouble. I ended up buying a single axle Volvo class 8 tractor with sleeper. with a PJ air ride, disk brakes 42ft deck with 8 ft deck on the neck. total trailer length 51.5 ft. Made good money with it.
16000! I sell them 2022 PJ LS Model for 14395. 8.5x40 15.6k with two 7ks [ 1.6k comes from weight distribution of weight of front of trailer. ] I run a trailer dealership in North GA, Chipper LLC. Problem I have is keeping them in stock. They all presell prior to hitting the lot. My lead time is may. They are up 45% from last election.
Ok now, retired trucker here 40+ yrs. Dot has been impossible for me to deal with. They are pirate thugs of the highway, not always but @ least the past 25 yrs let's say. You hotshots are just now starting to get a taste of what truckers have been dealing with...welcome to the shitshow!
Anytime too many undesirables and/or minorities enter any field. I.e. trucking, real estate, general contracting. Cost of entry, certs, regulations always increase
Here’s a video series idea, get your CDL and document the process. At this point in your career and before the rules change you can pick up a CDL study manual, take the written test then practice your pre-trip and skills and go do your road test. Now there’s a video series that’ll bring in some clicks. I’m sure you know someone who’ll let you use their CDL rig to do it.
I would recommend everyone get a CDL even if you don't plan on driving 26k +. Simply because why not. Sure it will cost a couple bucks and take a little time but the way I see it is your seeing yourself up for failure if you refuse to do it. Plus with a CDL you can open doors to more opportunities. I love the videos man, you've been a big inspiration to me, keep up the good work!
I agree it’s best to just get the cdl and be done with . I knew back in 2017 non cdl hotshot was not go have long longevity. I have my permit just trying to find some to let me test in their rig so I get to work .
You said dot is operating in grey area. Lol. It's non cdl hotshot that operates in the grey area. When you take that 500 lb am move it forward to be 12k on the axle, the weight is still on the trailer. This means you are still over 12k gvwr.
The reason DOT issues violations is because there is a violation, if your setup is legit and you treat hauling as your profession and take care of your equipment and took the time to just follow the rules and oh by the way loaded your trailer like it should be. Then you will not have any problems. Biggest problem with hotshot’s is half of them dont know any of the driving laws/codes and they are operating so far out of bounds that they have given us all a bad name. So naturally the DOT is clamping down.
The whole time he just leased a truck out and purchased a commercial property to Operate Non CDL OuT Of but will tell us not to start HotShot..... lol 😆
@@williamjonesii7694 If one has a decent credit rating, getting a loan of one of these types is a breeze. My first cargo trailer was purchased with the proceeds of a personal loan. I paid off the loan a year ahead of schedule. Why? Because I hustled and built my business as rapidly as I could.
Lol this guy changed his tone! I remember him saying how it’s a easy and he makes all this money! I must have some lawsuits from people, tow piglet said it’s easy 😅
I'm not familiar with the hotshot area however I cannot seem to wrap my head around why one would not just get a CDL. What are the advantages to non-cdl hotshot work? I got my cdl in a matter of weeks with a final cost of around $375. Granted I had a truck to use for the road test which saved me a $200 rental however I still feel like this is quite cheap for everything you are permitted to do with one. I was able to get all of my endorsements done right out of the gate leaving me with a Class A, no manual transmission restriction, air brake endorsed, combination vehicle, tank trailer, hazmat, doubles and triples. The work required to get one is so minimal I just can't understand why not just get it to have it so you can run heavier. Btw I'm not even going into DOT vehicle restrictions because I'm not ready to have that battle with keyboard warriors that drive 200 hours a week since they were 8. Simply talking about getting the CDL itself.
Brokers are all that is wrong with trucking. I believe that there needs to be a regulation requiring all brokers to own trucks to have the ability to broker. Brokers make usually hundreds and hundreds of dollars and they have nothing in the game but a pen and a phone.
The problem with non-cdl hotshot and brokers is you are the red headed step child of the industry. The brokers just think they can get you to work for nothing and then the shipper thinks.. well why am I paying full rate if a guy in a pickup shows up not a semi.. Meanwhile hotshot car hauling is more valuable to the brokers, shippers and people getting the car. In car hauling brokers love us hotshot guys because we can deliver right to the front door, we can get it there faster. The draw back is cars are heavy, you need to be cdl and 3 cars on a trailer won't always equal the rate of say a 40ft flat cdl. The benefit is no waiting to load unload, you can find cars literally anywhere and 80% are cod payment. I started non cdl flat after driving demi's OTR but I mostly do cars and equipment now. I don't have to deal with appointment times and I usually get handed cash or a check when I unload. I only bill certain companies so no real bother chasing money and don't have to pay for factoring. Honestly though if I was just buying my set up right now. I'd 100% buy a semi because rates for V/R have been crazy for a year or more. Those rates never really spread over to flat deck or cars at least not the rates the van and reefer guys get now days.. $10k loads out of socal for van... its insane.
I think the GVW is Gross COMBINED Weight Rating. If the truck GVWR is 14K and the trailer is 12,500 GVWR, then you are over non CDL class, and require a CDL to drive it. There is a statement in the regs that say, "Whichever is greater". This is where one can get into trouble. If the GCWR is higher than 26,000, then according to regs, it requires a Class A. It's all in how the law interprets it. However. Non CDL max "towing" weight is 10K or less for some states, so check your state laws. That means trailer weight + load weight cannot exceed 10,000 pounds, AKA Trailer GVWR must be 10,000 or less. This is another example of where Big Brother can get you. If the trailer's GVWR is over 10K, "Whichever is greater" interpretation applies, and could earn you an OOS and a hefty fine, even IF you have less than 10K total weight. Since states have reciprocity with all other states, if your state allows towing greater than 10K, then no issues, but if your state does have such restrictions, other states can hit you with fines too. IL has this law, you require a CDL to tow a 10,001 trailer commercially, but for private use, one is not required. Here's another thing often overlooked, and can get you in trouble. GAWR. Make sure you have enough GAWR to support a full load. Something to check into before buying a truck or trailer. Some trailer manufacturers put on just enough GAWR axles that get you to GVWR by adding pin weight with axles to reach gross. Based on how the Federal Regulations are written leaves a lot of open interpretations, so be wary of them all.
Mileage tax has been tried in Washington. 1 month ago I got out of the big truck 35 years old, 14 years behind the wheel, 16 year CDL holder and a 100% CLEAN DRIVING RECORD, ZERO VIOLATIONS. I am fucking done with it.
they have to get a tax even way they can ti is just a way taxing u I got an att. one time to a over pay that they were s-- me out of it cost me more but I got it they told me Thant u for cleaning it up I told them I trie without a att. they could fit it I told f-- off
I would be interested in hearing about if people who have a CDL already would be as affected by the laws. I've had my CDL for over a year now, mostly hauling 53' reefer trailers, but hotshot trucking sounds a lot better for me financially. I currently get paid less than 50 cents per mile I drive, so even $1 per mile would be a huge pay increase.
He is saying he is getting flagged because he doesn't have a CDL. If he had his CDL like us and follows DOT regulations then he wouldn't even be doing this video.
tp i was in the business 27yrs b4 retirement and brokers have always sat and waited on the sucker ive seen a driver go coast to coast and went in his pocket and was happy cause he got to go home i never had that problem id leave home after thxgivig and come back after mardi gras i never stayed home to watch anything or anybody
What do you guys think of a straight truck under 26k lbs? I am thinking of something like a Ford F-750 with a 24 ft flatbed on it. I guess it would be cheaper to operate than a traditional gooseneck (less things to break, less maintenance, less taxes, less road tolls...), although you would be limiting your load capacity lengthwise and thus your earning potential. But you could probably take several thousand pounds more payload and still stay under the 26k lbs, and if you ran locally (intrastate), that might just work. Opinions?
Only downside if it's the same weight or lower than say a f250 and a 40ft trailer would be the lesser deck space. One company I worked for had a similar setup to deliver steel it worked well for them except when the pieces were longer than the deck space we would have to hire out a hotshot driver with a longer trailer
In your referral to the 14k truck and the 12.5k trailer ticket potential, that is a know factor as your trailer cannot exceed 12k gvwr if your truck is 14k rated. It's a number game and you have to be very careful if you don't want to pay needlessly. Good info Alex.
I started non cdl small hops in my tuned Tdi. Single axle pulls smooth and I’m getting 23-31 highway pulling. Keep in mind that you’ll need a new tranny every 15-30k miles though. ;)
I've ran into the info asymmetry issue a few times before already, where brokers wanna pay less for the same load if it's being hauled in a Hot shot trailer. It's very frustrating to see them try to pull that stunt. I do Hotshot and my dad does semi trucking under our own MC and trust me when I say the cost of running both are nearly the same. I never deal with those brokers and I would encourage all of you to do the same and turn them down. There's always another broker that will take care of you much better.
Problem is there’s always someone who will jump on that lower rate. We can’t show the brokers we won’t touch a load they’re screwing us on if everyone isn’t refusing those loads.
Telling folks the cut off for a CDL is 26k or less is misleading. The law HAS ALWAYS BEEN 26k or less in-state used commercially or 10k used commercially crossing state lines. Look it up, I'm not wrong. However not all states enforce the 10k requirements. Some do, Wyoming and several others do. And the fines are steep when caught.
Wonder why the general public hates law enforcement thugs? That thin blue line is more like a brown line, brown as in piece of 💩. Just doing my job isn't an excuse. I'm so glad I have driven professional CDL since 2001.
DOT has been going nuts on everyone here in maryland...they come up with stuff that isnt even rules all the time so if doing that wasnt legal it wouldnt surprise me at all
DOT regulations are very clear. Im confused on your comment that DOT are sneaky on how they are interpreting the regulations. This is what the DOT regulations state. *Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more MUST have a CDL. Simply put if you do not have a CDL your combined Gross weight CANNOT exceed 26,000 LBS. That is based on the Gross weight of your truck, trailer and cargo. The difference is if you have a CDL, DOT will go with the actual weight of your truck. So instead of taking the 14,000 GVWR on a dually. They will use the actual weight for that truck which should be around 8,500 pounds. Hope this helps! Thanks for the info.
I believe that it used to be less than 26,000 combined and only 10,000 pounds on the trailer to be non-CDL? I don't deal with this size equipment, so I'm a little rusty on those parameters.
Great information, but keeping up with your log book is another crucial tip of staying compliant and legal or you can be paying big fines and be put out of service
just have a class A CDL that way can haul bigger loads I know I'm a Owner Operator truck driver with my own semi truck I have 24yrs driving last 16 as a owner operator I'm doing great with the company with I'm with I only drive in the south east of the USA and home every weekend my company do not deal with any broker loads they deal with directly with the customer and 90 percent of the loads are drop and hook
Hey Craig why not have the company cover insurance for lost or damaged load's get contracts for companies who want many load's per week or month? I have a CDL class A. Could get a medical. Could use my own money as well I have about a half a million dollars in assets.. example property I'm selling ... already listed these lot's for 125,000 to 150,000 ...but I'm older experience driver. But don't understand how I get recompensated. With the company furnished me a combative check for there be Qualcomm. What I have to keep a log book and stopping all weigh stations... When I get offered the same discounts at truck stops? What I have to keep a liability insurance on the load? What I have to be bonded? Will I be required to get a certain amount of sleep during a work day . Like in a truck it's 15 hours that you can legally work but only 10 hours you can legally drive and you have to have a certain amount of time in the berth . So want to be required to stop at a hotel? When I have to furnish my own tarps, straps, and weatherized tire chains? I know that most companies want fast efficient delivery... And many will push you to drive extra hours regardless... The first thing I was taught driving an 18-wheeler was how to run to log books which was totally illegal. 😂 I became an expert at that... But never want to risk it any longer... Because my CDL was expensive and paid by myself out of my pocket. I also think it's a great idea to have an onboard cam.. this might help keep the insurance down. I do have an excellent driving record... So what would you recommend?
It's about time the DOT started cracking down on non-CDL trucking. That facet of trucking has been a shit-show of amateur, fly-by-night losers, thinking they'll make it with a dually, a gooseneck and subscription to U-Ship. Almost all of them wind up broke after a year, thanks to their race-to-the-bottom pricing competition combined with their failure to accurately calculate the real costs of mileage on their rigs.
The entire time dot was adding ignorant regulations for us semi trucks none of you complained. You never thought it would effect hot shot. We tried to get support from hot shots to challenge the new Reg’s then but a lot of them said ‘’it doesn’t effect us’’. Well,it does now. We tried to warn you were next.
