Why I Quit Hot Shot Trucking: Hard Truths Every Driver Must Know

Hot shot trucking is often seen as a profitable and flexible alternative to traditional trucking. Since startup costs are lower, it can be operated independently. Many drivers enter the industry expecting high profits and a manageable workload. 

However, the truth about hotshot trucking can be quite different.

Many hotshot truckers struggle with inconsistent loads, high operating expenses, and demanding schedules. Industry regulations, vehicle maintenance, and broker fees further add to the challenges.

Some hotshot truckers find success; others quit due to financial strain, physical exhaustion, or business complexities.

This article explores why many truckers leave hot shot trucking, the common pitfalls in the industry, and whether it is a worthwhile career choice.

Why Do Many Quit Hot Shot Trucking?

Hot shot trucking is often marketed as an easy entry into the trucking industry. People come into the hot shot trucking industry thinking of four main benefits:

1. Lower startup costs
2. Flexibility
3. Multiple load options
4. Higher earning potential

At the start, hot shot trucking may seem promising, especially when freight rates are high and demand is strong. However, most carriers encounter the following problems and are forced to quit hot shot trucking:

• Hidden costs such as fuel, maintenance, insurance, and load board fees
• Low-paying loads
• Inconsistent loads
• Market fluctuations

These issues decrease profit significantly. Many truckers also face physical and mental exhaustion due to long hours, tight delivery schedules, and unpredictable workloads.

These issues lead the carriers to make the decision to quit their trucking career and look for alternatives. Understanding these struggles can help new drivers make informed decisions before entering the industry.

Why Do Hotshots Fail?

Hot shot trucking has a high failure rate due to financial challenges, market instability, and operational difficulties. Below are the key reasons why many hotshot truckers fail:

1. High Operating Costs
2. Inconsistent Freight Availability
3. Market Fluctuations
4. Poor Business Planning
5. Over-Reliance on Load Boards
6. Regulatory Challenges
7. Wear and Tear on Equipment
8. Payment Delays
9. Physical and Mental Exhaustion
10. Lack of Business Knowledge

Without proper financial management, consistent load sourcing, and regulatory compliance, many hot shot truckers find it difficult to sustain their business.

Is Hot Shot Trucking as Profitable as Expected?

It depends. If your expectations are too high, then this trucking type isn’t for you. But if you are the type of person who has a productive mindset and keeps improving, then hot shot trucking could be as you expected. Let’s break it down:

Load Availability: If you succeed in securing high pay loads consistently, earnings will be as you expected.

Cost Management: The rules of earning and strategically and wisely managing expenses apply here. As there are multiple expenses to track, do not overlook them.

Market Conditions: Seasonal demand and fluctuating freight rates can affect earnings.

Business Strategy: This is a rule of thumb that if a carrier maintains good relations with shippers and brokers earns more, but it is so hard and time-consuming that load boards and hot shot truck dispatching play their role.

Work Ethic & Adaptability: Those willing to learn, adjust to market changes, and refine their business strategies often achieve better financial outcomes.

Does Hot Shot Trucking Affect Health and Lifestyle?

It depends. If you are a consistent person, and better know what you want to do, then it may affect your health slightly. One major challenge—though beneficial in some ways—is finding loads daily or multiple times a day. While semi truck drivers go for long routes and pick high loads, they make less mental effort in finding loads, negotiating, and more.

Here is how hot shot trucking can affect your health and lifestyle:

• Picking more loads than you can easily deliver
• Wasting time on finding loads on multiple load boards
• Taking the stress of not having backhaul
• Stressful negotiations with brokers
• Wait and delays on loading and unloading
• Bad weather conditions
• Expenses tracking difficulties

These issues severely affect hot shot carriers’ health, leading many to quit.

Are Brokers, Load Boards, and Regulations Worth the Hassle?

Although, brokers and load boards play a crucial role in the trucking business, they also have some drawbacks. High broker fees that they charge from both sides and high-paid subscriptions of load boards cut the profitability. You also have stressful negotiations with brokers and waste time on multiple load boards.

This is why drivers always prefer truck dispatching service. More on it later.

Regulatory hurdles in hot shot trucking include  DOT compliance, electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, and weight and licensing restrictions. Strict regulations add complexity, making it essential for truckers to navigate the industry wisely to remain profitable.

What Are the Disadvantages of Hot Shot Trucking?

Hot shot trucking comes with several challenges that can make it difficult to sustain a profitable business. Below are some key disadvantages:

• High fuel costs for pickup trucks
• Frequent truck and trailer maintenance
• Limited load capacity compared to semis
• High competition on load boards
• Lower freight rates due to market saturation
• Stricter weight and axle limits
• No sleeper cab for long hauls
• Load securing challenges with strapping and tarping
• Deadhead miles due to fewer return loads
• ELD requirements for certain setups
• Inconsistent freight availability
• Expensive commercial insurance

What Is the Truth About Hot Shot Trucking?

Let’s explore the reality of hot shot trucking and why it often doesn’t meet expectations:

Hot shot trucking is not the same as fast delivery services: Unlike companies that use vans or large trucks to rush deliveries, hot shot trucking uses medium to one-ton trucks to transport small loads quickly, but not as an emergency service.

Not as Profitable as Many Expect: Inconsistent loads and market fluctuations vary greatly.

High Operating Costs: Fuel, maintenance, insurance, and permits eat into profits.

Heavy Competition: Getting into hot-shot trucking is easier than semis, so the competition is way more intense. 

Stricter Regulations: CDL is not required, but compliance with DOT rules, weight limits, and licensing adds complexity.

Tough on Equipment: Hot shot trucks and trailers experience significant wear and tear.

What Comes After Quitting Hot Shot Trucking?

If you want to quit Hot Shot trucking, apply knowledge from hot shot trucking to a related field. Some options can be:

• Use experience in logistics, load management, and transportation to transition into a different field.
• Leverage skills from hot shot trucking to explore opportunities in dispatching, freight brokerage, or fleet management.
• Shift to a more predictable and profitable trucking career with better earnings and fewer risks, like trucking jobs.
• Shift to high-paying truck types like step deck and flatbed, or reefer.

How do I Earn More if I Keep Working as a Hot Shot trucker?

But if you choose to continue working as a hot shot trucker, here are a few simple and effective solutions to tackle trucking-related challenges.

Hire an expert hotshot dispatcher who handles all your operations, and you focus on driving.

Use free expense management tools to track profit.

Gradually shift to other truck types like box trucks then dry vans, etc.

Conclusion

If hot shot trucking is affecting your health, preventing you from increasing or maintaining your weekly income, and not yielding the expected profit, it may be time to quit.

Or give us a shot and see how we work with you side by side, make a strong plan, and tackle all issues you are facing currently.

 

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