Hot shot loads: what they are, where to find them
By Gustavo · Updated October 2026
"Hot shot load" covers a lot of freight. What ties it together is size and timing: too much for a pickup bed, too little or too urgent for a full semi load. If it fits on a flatbed behind a one-ton or a 5500 and someone needs it soon, it's hotshot freight.
Examples with weights
| Load | Typical weight | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Pallets of pump parts | 1,500 to 4,000 lb | Any hotshot |
| Compact track loader | 8,000 to 10,000 lb | CDL rig, ramps |
| Mini excavator | 5,000 to 12,000 lb | Depends on model |
| Steel tubing, 20 ft | 6,000 to 12,000 lb | Gooseneck |
| Two cars on a wedge | 6,000 to 9,000 lb | Car hauler |
| Lumber partial | 5,000 to 10,000 lb | Gooseneck |
Equipment weights vary by make and model. Look up the exact unit and add attachments before you agree.
Where hot shot loads come from
- Oilfield and energy. Parts, pipe, valves and small equipment, often urgent.
- Construction. Equipment moves between jobs, materials to sites, rental returns.
- Agriculture. Implements, parts in harvest season, hay in some regions.
- Manufacturing. Machines and parts between plants, expedited when a line is down.
- Dealers and auctions. Equipment and vehicles to buyers.
How to find hotshot loads
- Load boards. The fastest start. Search flatbed and partial posts, not just "hotshot." See hotshot load boards.
- Broker relationships. After a few good loads, ask the broker what else they move on your lanes. Repeat brokers often call before posting.
- Direct shippers. Equipment dealers, rental yards, fabrication shops and supply houses near you. Visit, call, leave a card.
- Apps. Many boards have apps; some are app-first. See hotshot loads app.
- Dispatch. A dispatcher works all of the above for you.
Hotshot loads for beginners
New authorities face two walls: brokers who want 30 to 90 days of history and a learning curve on pricing. Start with brokers who accept new MCs, keep your carrier packet ready (authority letter, insurance certificate, W-9), and pick loads that fit your rig easily rather than squeezing the last pound. Run the numbers on every load. A cheap load to "get started" teaches you nothing except how to lose money.
Check every load before you say yes
- Actual weight, in writing. Posted weights are often estimates.
- Dimensions. Length, width and height, so you know it fits and stays legal.
- Loading and unloading. Forklift, crane, ramps or drive-on.
- Securement. Chains or straps, how many, edge protection, tarps.
- Windows. Pickup and delivery times that fit your hours of service.
- Broker credit and days to pay.
- Where it leaves you. Is there freight going out of the delivery area?
Seasons and regions
Hot shot freight moves with the economy around you. Construction picks up in spring and slows in winter in the north. Harvest brings farm equipment and parts in late summer and fall. Oilfield work follows drilling activity, which rises and falls with energy prices. Year-end brings rush shipments as companies close out budgets. Know your region's calendar, and plan lanes that connect busy areas instead of fighting for the same posts as everyone at home.
Pricing a hot shot load
Most hot shot loads pay a flat rate. Add loaded and empty miles, multiply by your cost per mile, add your margin, and you have a target. The hotshot rate calculator does it in seconds. If a broker won't get near your floor, pass. Another load is coming, and taking a loss to stay busy only makes the truck tired.
Non-CDL and CDL loads
A non-CDL rig sees a smaller share of posts because of weight. That makes filtering and broker relationships even more important. Our non-CDL hot shot loads guide covers that side in detail. A CDL rig with a 40 ft gooseneck can take most hotshot freight, but competes with more trucks for it.
How dispatch finds loads
With hotshot dispatch, we work the boards and the phones, filter every post by your ratings and deck, counter the rate and plan the next load before you deliver. You approve every load, and the broker sends the rate confirmation straight to you. More about hotshot work in general is in our hotshot guide.
Questions people ask
Q01What is a hotshot load?
A load that is too small or too urgent to wait for a full semi truckload, moved on a hotshot rig: usually a one-ton or medium-duty truck pulling a gooseneck or bumper pull flatbed.
Q02How do I get hotshot loads as a beginner?
Get your authority and insurance active, set up a carrier packet, and start with a load board while you call brokers who work with new carriers. Take loads that fit your rig and build relationships with the brokers who pay on time.
Q03Where can I find free hot shot loads for a gooseneck?
Some load boards have free tiers, and brokers don't charge carriers for loads. The real cost is your time searching and calling. Direct shippers and repeat brokers are free sources once you've built them.
Q04How heavy are hot shot loads?
Anything from a few hundred pounds of parts to about 16,000 lb or more on a CDL rig with a 40 ft gooseneck. Non-CDL rigs are limited to what keeps them at or under 26,000 lb combined.
Q05Do hot shot loads pay well?
Urgent and hard-to-cover loads often pay well. Light partials on busy lanes often don't. Price every load against your cost per mile, with the empty miles counted.