What hotshot is, and when it fits
A hotshot setup is a heavy-duty pickup truck pulling a gooseneck flatbed trailer, typically with about 40 feet of deck. Because the rig is smaller than a tractor and 48-foot flatbed, it is quicker to get moving and doesn't need a full load to make sense. The best fit is open-deck freight under 10,000 lbs that has to arrive on a specific day.
Hotshot loads are planned as direct moves. The truck that picks up your freight delivers it. There is no terminal, no cross-dock and no handoff to another driver along the way, which means fewer touches on parts that don't tolerate rough handling.
Typical hotshot freight
- Electrical equipment: motors, switchgear, transformers, panels and drives.
- Machine parts: replacement components for a line that is down or about to be.
- Pipe and fittings: short bundles, valves and spools.
- Small equipment: compact loaders, generators, pumps and compressors.
- Building materials: partial loads headed to a jobsite that can't wait for a consolidated delivery.
- Oilfield and energy parts: wellsite components, tooling and replacement parts.
Shipping electrical gear? Our guide to shipping motors and switchgear covers crating, lift points and what receivers check.
Hotshot vs. a full flatbed
| Hotshot | Full flatbed | |
|---|---|---|
| Truck | Heavy-duty pickup, gooseneck trailer | Semi tractor, 48' or 53' trailer |
| Deck length | Roughly 40' | 48' or 53' |
| Best weight range | Under 10,000 lbs | Heavier loads, up to the legal limit for the equipment |
| Strength | Direct, time-critical, partial-size loads | Full loads, long or heavy freight |
If your freight is heavy or long, a full flatbed is usually the better value. If it is light and urgent, paying for a 48-foot trailer to carry 4,000 lbs rarely makes sense. Our Hotshot vs. Flatbed vs. Dry Van guide goes through the trade-offs in more detail.
CDL and non-CDL hotshot, in general terms
Hotshot setups fall into two broad groups. Non-CDL setups keep the combined weight rating of the truck and trailer at or under 26,000 lbs, which limits how much freight they can legally carry once you subtract the weight of the truck and trailer themselves. CDL setups carry higher ratings and can take heavier loads. That's why we ask for an accurate weight: it decides which kind of hotshot can take the load, or whether it belongs on a full flatbed instead.
Before pickup we confirm
- Dimensions and weight of every piece, including crating
- How it loads: forklift, crane or overhead hoist, and where the lift points are
- Whether it needs tarping or protection from weather
- Who unloads at delivery and with what equipment
- Pickup and delivery hours, contacts and any site check-in rules
What to send
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pickup & delivery ZIPs | Sets the lane and transit time |
| Ready time & required delivery time | Confirms whether a direct hotshot move can meet it |
| Weight and dimensions | Decides non-CDL, CDL or full flatbed |
| Commodity and photos | Helps plan securement and protection |
| Loading and unloading equipment | Avoids a truck arriving with nobody to lift the freight |
Our free Open-Deck Load Prep Sheet lists all of it on one page. Or start a quote now.