If you have a pickup truck and want to add another income stream to your life, you might want to look for hot shot loads that you can haul via load boards. Load boards are online platforms that connect freight with a carrier who’s willing to transport the loads. Hot shot loads for pickup trucks tend to be smaller and more time sensitive loads.
Keep reading to learn about seven hot shot load board platforms that are easy to use when looking for paying hot shot loads. And when you’re finished, check out the other articles in our ‘Hot shot trucking’ series:
- How much do hotshot loads pay?
- What is the best non-CDL hotshot insurance?
- Best load boards to get hot shot loads for pickup trucks
- Guide to the best ELD for hotshot trucks
Quicklook: 8 hot shot load boards for pickup trucks
- Best for premium services: Truckstop
- Best for auction-style load bidding: uShip
- Best for load diversity: Trucker Path
- Best for no sign-up searching: Trulos
- Best for longest running freight matching service: Freight Finder
- Best for integrated tools: 123Loadboard
- Best for mobile platform: GoShare
- Best for registered searching: Free Freight Search
What is a hot shot load?
Hot shot loads are loads that a shipper needs to be delivered quickly. Many loads are LTL, which means less than load, referring to loads that won’t fill up an entire container. These loads are typically small enough to fit inside of a box truck, pickup truck or gooseneck trailer.
Companies typically use hot shot trucking services to move cargo between locations. Common niches within hot shot loads include pipeline hauling, RV hauling, livestock hauling and construction equipment hauling.
How do hot shot loads for pickup trucks work?
Private pick-up truck owners looking to get started with hot shot trucking can discover cargo to haul, whether that’s for a side job or a full-time job via the load board platforms. Owner operators may also work on a contract basis with companies or agreements with businesses that frequently need hot shot trucking services.
The standards for hot shot hauling services will differ. Some hot shot trucking jobs require you to travel between states, while others must be delivered on or before a specific time, though the distance is shorter. Finding hot shot truck loads nearby that you can haul is easy due to the abundance of load boards, especially with the help of specific searches and load listings.
Advantages of hot shot trucking
Hot shot trucking offers the ability to become a contractor who also experiences many benefits. Here are some of the advantages of hot shot trucking:
- Opportunity to be self-employed with your own owner operator trucking business
- Flexible work hours
- Ability to be home most evenings
- Allows you to set your own schedule, including holidays
- Can be a profitable, high paying career
- Income upwards of over $100,000 per year
Disadvantages of hot shot trucking
Like any contract work, hot shot trucking also comes with disadvantages. Consider the following disadvantages of hot shot trucking before you turn it into your next career move:
- Unstable work opportunities
- Potential need to pursue regular work
- Pressure to bear all the costs
- Pressure to build a steady client base
Top hot shot load board options for pickup trucks
Hot shot load drivers tend to always be on the lookout for available opportunities. If you want to know how to find hot shot loads, take a look at the following seven hot shot trucking load boards that can give you the chance to start picking up small loads for pickup trucks on your own.
Truckstop
Best for premium services
The Truckstop load board was one of the first online load boards. This load board has a significant network of brokers who post hot shot loads on the platform directly.
You can look to Truckstop for help when it comes to negotiating rates, reporting IFTA information and monitoring partners. Truckstop provides premium services as well, like real time updates, rate analytics and decision-making tools.
The cost of a Truckstop trucker’s membership starts at $39 per month. Advanced services cost $125 per month. Pick-up drivers can refine their searches based on load types, ranging from LTLs to hot shot loads and other semi truck load options.
uShip
UShip is a popular online marketplace that connects shippers with transportation service providers, including hot shot truckers. The system typically works as a bidding platform, where truckers can quote prices for loads they’re interested in hauling.
Catering to both individual consumers and businesses, uShip offers more opportunities for smaller, one-off shipments suitable for pickup trucks than many traditional load boards. Truckers are able to communicate directly with shippers before booking, which can be facilitated via the load board’s mobile-friendly and consumer-oriented interface.
Instead of using subscription models or charging per-load fees, uShip typically receives a percentage of load prices.
Trucker Path
Best for load diversity
Trucker Path is a load board that offers a hot shot pickup truck driver free, unlimited access to more than 150,000 loads on a daily basis. The platform has a mobile app that is available for IOS and Android users alike.
Truckers can refine their search results with the app, which allows you to specify the weight, load, route and credit scores of brokers. The load board also offers other types of loads in addition to hot shot loads.
Truckers need to subscribe to the trucker path load board before they can access live load updates, live load alerts and the visibility of bids. Trucker path membership plans are affordable, seeing as they start at $16.67 per month.
Trulos
Best for no sign-up searching
Trulos is a free load board that offers an all-in-one service that’s specifically designed for owner operators.. The platform’s premium features include fast searches, route finders and freight estimations.
Members of the Trulos load board have easy access, the ability to book hot shot loads and the option to communicate directly with shippers. Drivers can find more hot shot loads with the help of Trulo’s specialized LTL board and regional search tools.
Freight Finder
Best for longest running freight matching service
A great free load board to find hot shot loads for pickup trucks is Freight Finder. Drivers do not need to register or log in to search for freight on Freight Finder because this load board only offers load listing.
Drivers are responsible for contacting the businesses that list the cargo they want to haul. There are more than 15 different vehicle and load search options available to drivers on Freight Finder. Drivers can find specialized loads by choosing hot shot loads, their preferred origin and the destination cities.
123Loadboard
Best for integrated tools
123Loadboard has an extensive network of brokers who post loads that need to be transported. The platform has a wide range of features, including broker credit checks, information on posted loads and other details that provide more clarity on the expenses that are associated with each individual load.
123Loadboard offers a free 10-day trial. Drivers must subscribe to access the platform on a continual basis once the free trial period has ended. The monthly subscription charge is between $35 and $55. The site is also packed with integrated tools, like multi-haul planning software.
GoShare
Best for mobile platform
Drivers can interact with people and companies alike that post cargo by using the GoShare app, which is available on Apple and Android devices. Hot shot pick-up drivers can find LTL, movers-on-demand, middle-mile-on-demand and final-mile-on-demand loads via GoShare.
Drivers must apply to be a member of the GoShare delivery and moving crew. GoShare drivers are independent contractors with GoShare and can accept or reject hot shot jobs.
Free Freight Search
Best for registered searching
As the name implies, Free Freight Search is a free and easy-to-use load board. Free Freight Search does require you to register before viewing available load listings, even if you are opting for the free service. Over 135,000 truckers and brokers have registered on the Free Freight Search website in order to use the site’s limitless and free search feature.
The membership packages with premium features are quite expensive. They range from $360 and $1,788. Free Freight Search is also a valuable, additional service for hot shot drivers who are searching for nearby hot shot freight. With the free alert feature, you can be notified when a new load that meets your preferences is added.
Starting a hot shot business with a pickup truck
If all of this sounds good so far, it may be time to consider opening a business of your own. Here’s a high-level overview of the key steps to help you secure hot shot loads for pickups.
1. Learn about the trucking industry
- Understand the hot shot trucking industry
- Identify target markets and potential clients; you could specialize, for example, in small loads for pickup trucks, specific types of freight, or express deliveries
- Develop a business plan
2. Figure out the funding
- Determine startup costs
- Explore financing options if needed
3. Get the legalities out of the way
- Register your business (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.)
- Obtain necessary licenses and permits
- Get a USDOT number and MC number if operating interstate
4. Invest in the right equipment
- Invest in a reliable pickup truck for hot shot loads (typically 3/4 ton or one-ton)
- Purchase a trailer suitable for your intended cargo
- Consider additional equipment like tarps, straps, and chains
5. Find adequate insurance coverage
- Obtain commercial auto insurance
- Get cargo insurance to protect shipments
- Consider general liability insurance
6. Organize back-office processes
- Set up accounting and invoicing systems
- Establish pricing structure
- Create safety and maintenance protocols
7. Market yourself
- Build a website and social media presence
- Network with potential clients
- Consider joining load boards or freight broker platforms
8. Remain compliant
- Understand and follow applicable regulations
- Maintain accurate records and logs of hot shot runs
9. Expand and grow
- Build a reputation for reliability
- Consider adding more vehicles or drivers as business expands
Find hot shot loads quickly and easily
So now you know how to get pickup truck hot shot loads. Whether you’re just starting out or are looking for one-off jobs in between work for regular customers, load boards are one of the best, most reliable ways to keep business moving.
Not all load boards are free, but they can be worth the subscription fee if you know how to use them. Register for one of the top seven hot shot load boards for pickup trucks to access the best paying hot shot freight for you.
FAQ
Yes. Typically, medium-class trucks, like super-duty pickup trucks, are used to haul hot shot trucking loads.
Hot shot load pay rates range from $1.50 to $2.00 per mile.
Medium-duty to one-ton trucks that fall under Class 3, Class 4 or Class 5 are the optimal size to carry hot shot loads for pickup trucks.
Time-sensitive or high-value loads typically pay the most for hot shot trucking, like expedited manufacturing parts or emergency supplies. Specialized or oversized loads that require specific equipment or handling can also command premium rates.
The most common trucks for hot shot trucking are 3/4-ton or one-ton pickup trucks, like the Ford F-250/F-350, Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, or Ram 2500/3500. These trucks are often paired with gooseneck or flatbed trailers to maximize versatility and payload capacity.
The most common hot shot loads are typically time-sensitive less-than-truckload freight that doesn’t require a full semi-trailer. This often includes construction materials, farm equipment, automotive parts, and other industrial goods that need rapid point-to-point delivery.
