After reviewing Arizona Hot Shot trucking providers based on key factors like cost, reliability, and customer reviews, we chose Fresh Freight Expedited, LLC as the top company.
Take a closer look at Fresh Freight Expedited, LLC and our other top picks to find a Hot Shot company in Arizona that can meet your urgent delivery needs.
Top Hot Shot Trucking Companies in Arizona
Why Trust FreightWave Ratings?
There’s a reason we’re one of the world’s leading authorities on the global freight market. Our expert team has an in-depth understanding of the industry and is up-to-date on employment trends, regulations, and other insights into the trucking workforce.
We conduct thorough research and data analysis to develop our recommendations for the best trucking companies in Arizona. Every Arizona trucking firm is closely scrutinized based on its service range and capabilities. Our team also verifies companies’ safety records and regulatory compliance and looks at what real users have to say about their experience.
From there, we narrow our focus to select only those top-performing and highest-rated firms to give you an informed and up-to-date list of the best trucking companies in Arizona for your commercial shipping needs.
Fresh Freight Expedited, LLC
7580 N Dobson Road Suite 320, Scottsdale, AZ, 85256- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Produce
- General
- Livestock feed
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Hot shot
Fresh Freight Expedited, LLC (DOT: 3013283) is a reputable trucking company in Arizona, boasting a commendable Google rating of 4.5. They specialize in providing reliable full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) services and are proficient in handling an array of cargo, including beverages, fresh produce, general freight, grain feed hay, meat, paper products, and refrigerated food.
Fresh Freight Expedited supports commercial shipments with a fleet of 15 trucks and 30 trailers, ensuring timely deliveries. They offer services like team driving and expedited driving, enhancing transit speed and efficiency. Additionally, they provide health, dental, vision, and disability insurance, along with paid time off, reflecting a commitment to employee welfare. Their fairly low scores in violations and unsafe driving underscore their strong safety focus.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 1.32
- Driver fitness: 0.46
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.08
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.18
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 15
- Miles driven: 1,418,694
Empire Transport
1725 S Country Club Drive, Mesa, AZ, 85210- Fleet size: 100+ Corp Only
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $7,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Construction equipment
- General
- Liquids & gases
- Machinery & large objects
- Vehicles
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Auto carrier
- Conestoga
- Container
- Step deck
- Hopper bottom
- Lowboy
- Oversized
- Pneumatic
- Power only
- Sprinter van
- Tanker
- Dump trailer
- Hot shot
- B-train semi
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
- Alcohol-insured
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
Empire Transport (DOT: 44064) is a prestigious trucking company, established in 1950, based in Arizona. With a substantial fleet of 1430 units, they specialize in various shipping services including reefer, conestoga, and dry van transport. They skillfully manage the transportation of cargo such as construction materials, drive/tow away vehicles, general freight, liquids/gases, machinery, motor vehicles, and passengers.
Empire Transport offers comprehensive support for commercial shipments including power-only services, drayage, cross-docking, and step deck transport. They also provide specialized drivers for hazardous materials and oversized loads. Additional perks include guaranteed home time, paid time off, and ongoing training programs. The company’s dedication to safety is reflected in its satisfactory safety rating and moderate safety scores.
Safety
- Crashes: 13
- Unsafe driving: 0.07
- Driver fitness: 0.03
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.01
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.1
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 1
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 810
- Revenue: $1,232,673,000
- Miles driven: 13,600,000
Overley’s Est 1959
18616 S Lindsay Road, Gilbert, AZ, 85297- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- Construction equipment
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
- Liquids & gases
- Machinery & large objects
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Auto carrier
- Step deck
- Oversized
- Power only
- Sprinter van
- Hot shot
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Cross-border
- Alcohol-insured
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
Overley’s Est 1959 (DOT: 756336) is a reputable trucking company based in Arizona, known for its commitment to delivering a variety of specialized freight services. With a modest fleet size that includes flatbed, box trucks, and dry vans, the company is adept at handling diverse cargo types such as building materials, dry bulk commodities, construction materials, general freight, and oversized machinery. Their fleet is updated with an average age of just three years, ensuring reliability and efficiency in their operations.
Overley’s emphasizes safety and driver well-being, offering benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans. They support commercial shipments with specialized services like hazardous materials transportation, cross-docking, power-only options, and dedicated routes. Additional support includes expedited and hot shot services, guaranteed home time, and flexible scheduling. The company maintains a satisfactory safety rating, with no crash fatalities or injuries reported, highlighting their dedication to safe and dependable transportation solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 4.3
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 3.45
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 41
- Revenue: $506
- Miles driven: 836,180
SMD Logistics, Inc.
17815 South Hwy 95, Somerton, AZ, 85350- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $750,000
Cargo Types
- Farm supplies
- Produce
- General
- Machinery & large objects
- Vehicles
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Power only
- Hot shot
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Hazardous materials
SMD Logistics, Inc. (DOT: 1037092) is a versatile trucking company offering a range of specialized transportation services. They handle various types of cargo including agricultural/farm supplies, fresh produce, general freight, machinery large objects, and motor vehicles. Their extensive services also encompass dry van, flatbed, hot shot, power only, and hazardous materials transport, catering effectively to diverse shipping requirements.
SMD Logistics supports commercial shipments with team drivers, dedicated routes, and cross-border services, ensuring reliable and efficient delivery. They provide a comprehensive suite of benefits for drivers, such as health and disability insurance, retirement plans, guaranteed home time, and per diem payments. With a total of 104 trucks and dedicated drivers, SMD Logistics stands out as a robust solution for business owners seeking dependable and wide-ranging trucking services in Arizona.
Safety
- Crashes: 3
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.33
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.13
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.61
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 70
- Revenue: $5,003
- Miles driven: 1,831,269
How Safety Ratings Work in Arizona
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Compliance, Safety & Accountability (CSA) program evaluates trucking companies using BASICS (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories)
Here’s a look at what each of the BASICS cover:
- Crashes: Trucking companies are required to report any accidents that result in injury or death. The FMSCA uses these state-reported crashes to determine any patterns of crash involvement and potential behaviors contributing to that pattern.
- Unsafe driving: This CSA category covers behaviors like texting and speeding that can lead to accidents
- Driver fitness: The FMCSA requires trucking companies to keep up-to-date records on their drivers. That includes identification and paperwork like CDLs, annual driving reviews, and any relevant medical certifications or documentation. Violations of this category will result in lower overall safety scores.
- Hours-of-service compliance: The FMCSA cites truckers and trucking companies that do not follow or enforce hours-of-service regulations that limit how much time a large commercial vehicle operator can be on the road without rest.
- Vehicle maintenance: Truckers are responsible for completing inspections before hitting the road on a route. They must also log any issues and have repairs to those identified problems completed before operating the truck.
- Controlled substances: As with all vehicle operators, truckers must be sober behind the wheel. This category accounts for violations issued to a trucking company’s driver(s) for being under the influence of or in possession of alcohol and street drugs or prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines that could impair judgement.
- Hazardous materials violations: Trucking companies and their drivers must exhibit proper loading and handling of hazardous materials, including labeling these items correctly, ensuring packaging meets regulations, and follows all restrictions and rules for the vehicle type.
Companies scoring a zero for any or all of the above categories did not receive any citations or other violations within a given month. Essentially, any trucking company that has multiple zeroes in these categories can likely be considered a safe freight shipper in compliance with all FMCSA standards and regulatory requirement.
Choosing the Right Arizona Hot Shot Trucking Company for Your Shipments
Keep these factors in mind when you’re looking for an Arizona Hot Shot carrier for your business’ small, time-sensitive loads:
- Response time and availability: A Hot Shot carrier known for rapid response times that has the capabilities needed to handle urgent, last-minute shipping needs.
- Specialty services: If you have unique requirements — like temperature control or fragile cargo — choose a Hot Shot carrier with specialized equipment or handling capabilities.
- Load size and equipment variety: Hot Shot trucks come in various sizes and configurations, so make sure the Arizona carrier you use can handle your load type, whether it’s palletized goods, machinery, or specialty items.
- Regional and long-haul capabilities: Some Arizona Hot Shot carriers focus on local or regional routes, while others offer long-haul services. Make sure you pick one that can accommodate all your routes.
- Customer service and support: Reliable customer service is crucial for handling any changes or issues with urgent deliveries, giving you peace of mind and control over your shipments. Use a Hot Shot that offers reliable tracking tools so you can monitor your shipment while en route.
- Driver safety: Experienced Hot Shot drivers understand the urgency of expedited shipping and are skilled at managing loads for timely, safe delivery. Check Arizona carriers’ safety ratings to see their record of violations and accidents.
FAQs: Arizona Hot Shot Trucking Companies
What are the advantages of using Hot Shot trucking for urgent deliveries?
The main advantage of Hot Shot shipping on urgent delieveries is that it provides fast, direct transport for small, time-sensitive loads without needing a full trailer. Hot Shot is also a cost-effective and flexible way for Arizona businesses to handle last-minute shipping.
How is Hot Shot trucking priced compared to other trucking services?
Hot Shot pricing in Arizona is generally based on load size, distance, and urgency. It’s usually more affordable for smaller loads than full truckload options.
What types of vehicles are commonly used in Hot Shot trucking?
Medium-duty pickup trucks with trailers, such as goosenecks or flatbeds, are most commonly used for Hot Shot shipping. These vehicles are versatile, allowing for quick loading and efficient handling of various cargo types.
