How long can you drive in the hotshot business using a pickup?

Question

How long can you drive in the hotshot business using a pickup?

Answer 1

Depends on the size for one, a standard 6 foot bed, you will hardly get any business for several reasons. 1, size. Most hotshot trucks are 24' straight trucks that can handle up to about 24 standard size pallets (48 inches cubed), and around 10-15k lbs. A pickup truck can not match the interior volume, and can only handle 1-2 pallets. Second, you have to have a cap, no company wants to pay a carrier to subject their goods to weather. they want it covered to protect from rain, snow.. etc, and also to prevent theft or damage.

If you only using a pickup truck, also more than likly will not have a very high cargo libality insurance coverage. Trucking companies usually carry around 500,000 USD worth of coverage to cover any  damage to the cargo while they have possesion. Can you make money using a pickup truck, maybe... depends on the area you live in, but to really succed, get a staight 24' truck with a lift gate, get cargo insurance, and then send out provider packets to get picked up by trucking companies that use owner/operators, or send your info to air charter companies, as they pay top dollar for premium hot shots.. but if you do this, plan on getting out of bed at 2 am, but your only going to drive around 50 mile at the most. not bad for about 300.00

Answer 2

It depends on where you are, what the rules by DOT are and how long you can safely stay awake. Search the net for DOT RULES AND REGULATIONS. There should be an online copy for your state.

Answer 3

until it breaks down....not sure what you are asking

Answer 4

2 months.

Answer 5

How long do yoy want to drive? How much money do you have to spend before the paychecks start to catch up to you is usually the critical question. I have been hotshotting for 6 months and am only now breaking even. For next year I am looking at a gross income of around 70K to 100K with about 45k worth of expenses. I am hoping my net is about 40K overall so I can move into a one ton and a mini float. These guys seem to have the best overall profit in the trucking buisness.

Answer 6

If it requires a CDL, then you are covered under the Hours of Service.  It was 11 hours of driving and a maximum of 14 hours on duty before 28 Dec, 2007.  I don't know if they cut the hours back although I think not.

Answer 7

if the vehicle weight is over 26,000 pounds gross then you can drive for eleven hours following a ten hour break. you may not be on duty for more than fourteen hours consecutively  which includes all driving and non driving time. the total number of hours you can work both driving and on duty is either seventy hours in eight days or sixty in seven days. most drivers use the seventy hour rule. exception after thirty four hours off duty on in the sleeper berth or a combination of those two you reset your clock to zero (clock means your logbook) if you drive in canada the reset requires thirty six hours though. if you drive in mexico you are crazy. if you gross under 26000 pounds and are not otherwise required to have a valid commerical drivers license i.e. the type of freight you are hauling makes a difference. you can drive as long as you want to. hope this helps. yes that means you can get in your Dodge rambony and hook a trailer to it and drive for twenty four hours straight because you know how to drive and ol' Peter L. Hood in the rooster cruiser doesn't know a thing about  crusing his rooster down the road. ol' Pete has two million and counting miles behind the wheel and no accidents no tickets no out of service for the past fifteen years and you know how to drive and he doesn't. that is the way the law is going to look at you the same as they look at him. in most hotshot applications. so good luck and keep the greasy side down.

Answer 8

country music is lame and boring, depressing, and predictable. not fit to feed to a rat.