Hotshot trucking — hauling freight with a heavy-duty pickup truck and a gooseneck or bumper-pull trailer — is one of the most popular ways to enter the trucking industry with lower startup costs. Your carrier packet has some important differences from a standard semi-truck operation.
What is hotshot trucking?
Hotshot trucking typically involves Class 3-5 trucks (pickup trucks up to 26,000 lbs GVWR) pulling flatbed gooseneck trailers. It's used for time-sensitive, smaller loads — oilfield equipment, construction materials, farm equipment, and machinery that doesn't need a full semi but is too large for a cargo van.
Do hotshot carriers need an MC number?
If you cross state lines and haul for compensation, yes. The same FMCSA operating authority requirements apply to hotshot carriers as they do to semi-truck operators. You need a USDOT number and an MC number to operate legally as a for-hire interstate carrier regardless of your vehicle size.
How a hotshot carrier packet differs
Equipment section
Your carrier packet equipment section will show:
- Truck: Your pickup truck make, model, year, and GVWR (must be over 10,001 lbs for FMCSA authority requirements)
- Trailer type: Gooseneck flatbed (most common), bumper pull flatbed, or dovetail trailer
- Trailer length: 20 ft, 30 ft, 40 ft gooseneck
- Max payload: Typically 10,000-16,000 lbs depending on setup
Insurance differences
Hotshot insurance requirements are the same minimums as standard carriers — $750,000 auto liability and cargo coverage. However, you need commercial truck insurance, not personal auto insurance — your personal auto policy will NOT cover you when hauling for compensation even in a pickup truck.
Hotshot-specific insurers include: Progressive Commercial, State Auto, Cover Whale, and many regional carriers. Hotshot premiums are generally lower than semi-truck premiums.
Load types and broker access
Not all freight brokers handle hotshot loads. Look specifically for brokers who post loads on:
- DAT One — filter for "hotshot" or "straight truck" loads
- Truckstop.com — similar filters
- Central Dispatch — specialized for vehicle transport
- uShip — for smaller, specialty loads
Hotshot ELD and HOS requirements
Hotshot carriers are subject to the same HOS and ELD rules as semi-trucks IF your GVWR or combined GCWR exceeds 10,001 lbs AND you operate in interstate commerce. Most hotshot rigs exceed this threshold. The short-haul exemption (150 air miles, return to home terminal same day) can exempt you from logs if your operation qualifies.
Hotshot carrier packet tip
When using TruckerPacket, select "Hotshot / Flatbed" as your equipment type. The equipment section will be formatted for pickup truck + trailer configurations rather than semi-truck + standard trailer. Make sure your trailer dimensions and payload capacity are accurate — brokers match loads to carriers based on these specs.