Hotshot trucking can be an attractive way to enter the freight industry without buying a Class 8 tractor and 53-foot trailer.

Instead, hotshot operators typically use heavy-duty pickup trucks paired with flatbed, gooseneck or similar trailers to haul smaller and often time-sensitive loads.

• Customers may need construction equipment delivered to a jobsite.
• An oilfield operator may urgently need machinery or pipe.
• A manufacturer may have one piece of equipment that cannot wait several days for conventional less-than-truckload service.

That is where hotshot operators come in.

If you already own suitable equipment, one of your biggest decisions is whether to operate your own hotshot trucking business under your own authority or lease your pickup truck and trailer to an established carrier.

Leasing on can be attractive because the carrier may provide access to freight, dispatch support, billing systems, insurance programs and operating authority.

But not every trucking company that advertises for owner-operators accepts traditional hotshot equipment.

You need to know exactly what equipment the carrier accepts before applying.

How Does Leasing On With a Hotshot Trucking Company Work?

When you lease on, you remain the owner of your truck and usually operate as an independent contractor, but your equipment is leased to the authorized motor carrier.

The carrier typically provides access to freight under its operating authority. Depending on the company, it may also provide:

• Dispatch services
• Load boards
• Billing and settlements
• Fuel programs
• ELD systems
• Cargo insurance arrangements
• Permits and plates
• Back-office support

In return, the carrier keeps an agreed percentage of the freight revenue or makes specified deductions from your settlements. You still need to think like a business owner.

Truck payments, fuel, tires, maintenance, trailer repairs, insurance, taxes, deadhead miles and downtime can consume a substantial portion of gross revenue.

Best Hotshot Trucking Companies to Lease On With

1. Landstar

Landstar remains one of the more interesting options for an experienced hotshot owner-operator because the company specifically recognizes hotshot equipment within its owner-operator program.

For a conventional hotshot setup, Landstar currently requires at least a one-ton dually with a gooseneck ball coupler.

Its stated hotshot trailer requirements include a minimum trailer length of 24 feet, although approximately 35 to 40 feet is recommended.

The trailer also needs suitable tandem axles, brakes and loading ramps or dovetail capability.

This is important because Landstar is not simply advertising generic “owner-operator jobs” and then expecting you to show up with a tractor-trailer.

It has actual specifications for pickup-and-gooseneck hotshot combinations.

Landstar owner-operators, known as BCOs, can access freight through the company’s load board and relationships with independent agents.

The company also emphasizes operator choice rather than conventional forced dispatch.

Best suited for: Experienced CDL hotshot operators who want access to a large freight network while retaining significant control over which loads they accept.

2. ACME Truck Line

ACME Truck Line is one of the strongest companies to investigate if you want genuine hotshot and open-deck freight rather than merely a conventional tractor-trailer lease.

The company says it moves more than 4,000 loads of hotshot, flatbed and heavy-haul freight each week.

Another interesting feature is its business model. ACME says it owns no trucks and relies on leased equipment.

That means independent operators are a fundamental part of its operation rather than an afterthought competing against a large company fleet for loads.

The company has dispatchers and commission agents working to find freight and backhauls and offers fuel cards, cash advances and insurance programs.

ACME has traditionally had especially strong freight activity around the Gulf Coast and energy-producing areas, although its network extends beyond that region.

Best suited for: Hotshot operators interested in industrial, oilfield, construction and open-deck freight, particularly those operating around Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

3. American Eagle Transport – Bennett Family of Companies

American Eagle Transport is part of the Bennett Family of Companies and is particularly relevant if you want to work around the energy industry.

Bennett currently maintains a dedicated recruitment path for American Eagle – Hot Shot operators.

American Eagle specializes in transportation for oil and gas operations, including hotshot, heavy haul, personnel transportation and specialized freight.

Its network is especially strong around Texas, Louisiana and other major oil-and-gas regions.

This can be attractive because oilfield hotshot work is often driven by urgency.

If a drilling or production operation is waiting for a critical component, getting that equipment to the site quickly can be more important than finding the cheapest possible transportation.

Bennett’s recruiting system accepts applicants who own heavy-duty pickups as well as operators with larger equipment.

Best suited for: Experienced hotshot operators who want oilfield and energy-related freight, particularly across the Gulf Coast and nearby producing regions.

4. Diligent Delivery Systems

Diligent Delivery Systems is worth considering if you want a combination of hotshot, expedited and local or regional delivery opportunities.

The company operates hotshot and on-demand express services and recruits independent contractors and owner-operators. Its accepted equipment is unusually broad and currently includes:

• Pickup trucks with open beds
• Pickup trucks with pipe racks
• Cargo vans
• Box trucks
• Flatbeds
• Stake beds
• Trailers and goosenecks
• Tractor-trailer combinations

That makes Diligent particularly interesting if your equipment does not fit the more rigid specifications of some traditional hotshot carriers. The company operates local, regional and nationwide markets.

It also provides dedicated-driver, healthcare-delivery, hotshot and over-the-road freight services.

Best suited for: Operators who want flexibility and may have a pickup, gooseneck, flatbed or other smaller commercial vehicle rather than a traditional semi.

5. Adams Freight & Logistics

Adams Freight & Logistics is a smaller carrier, but its owner-operator program is specifically built around the kind of equipment many readers mean when they say “hotshot trucking.”

The company leases:

Three-quarter-ton and one-ton pickup trucks paired with approximately 30- to 40-foot gooseneck trailers.

It currently advertises a 75 percent share of linehaul revenue to the owner-operator and says settlements are normally made within 48 to 72 hours after delivery once the required paperwork is submitted.

The company also publishes its regular deductions instead of simply advertising a gross percentage without explaining what comes out afterward.

Its hotshot freight includes machinery, oilfield equipment, construction materials and general freight.

The company’s main operating area is east of the Rocky Mountains, with particularly strong activity across Texas, the Gulf Coast, Southeast and Midwest.

It accepts CDL and qualifying non-CDL configurations, although your equipment and licensing must remain within the legal limits applicable to the combination you operate.

Best suited for: Owner-operators who already own a 3/4-ton or one-ton pickup and gooseneck trailer and want a smaller carrier with dedicated hotshot operations.

6. Fairmount Global Freight

Fairmount Global Freight is another carrier built specifically around expedited hotshot freight rather than treating it as a side service.

The company’s fleet includes one-ton dually trucks with approximately 40-foot gooseneck flatbeds. It hauls freight such as:

• Machinery
• Construction equipment
• Steel and metals
• Agricultural equipment
• Oil and gas equipment
• Time-critical industrial parts

The carrier operates expedited routes throughout the lower 48 states and says owner-operators receive weekly settlements.

This is a relatively smaller company than Landstar or ACME, which has both advantages and disadvantages.

A smaller carrier may provide more direct communication with dispatch, but it may not have the freight density of a much larger network in every market.

Before leasing on, ask specifically how many hotshot loads the company regularly moves through the states where you intend to operate.

Best suited for: One-ton dually and 40-foot gooseneck operators looking for dedicated hotshot and expedited freight.

7. RoadMasters – Bennett Truck Transport

RoadMasters is another Bennett operation currently appearing in the company’s recruiting system with a dedicated RoadMaster – Hot Shot category.

The wider RoadMasters operation specializes heavily in manufactured housing, modular buildings and specialized open-deck transportation.

That makes it different from a conventional general-freight hotshot company.

Depending on your equipment and experience, opportunities may involve specialized transportation rather than simply picking random partial loads from a load board.

Bennett’s recruitment system also accommodates heavy-duty pickup owners.

Because the exact equipment and freight requirements vary considerably by division, speak with the recruiter specifically about the hotshot program rather than applying for a general RoadMasters position and assuming your pickup-and-gooseneck combination qualifies.

Best suited for: Operators interested in specialized open-deck transportation and those willing to work within the broader Bennett network.

Other Expedited Carriers Worth Considering

The following companies are legitimate owner-operator carriers, but they should not be confused with traditional pickup-and-gooseneck hotshot operations.

They become relevant if you are willing to use different equipment.

8. Load One Transportation

Load One specializes in expedited freight. Its owner-operator opportunities include straight trucks, specialized flatbed equipment and other expedited configurations.

The company currently advertises percentage-based compensation of approximately 67 to 70 percent depending on the operation, with 100 percent of the fuel surcharge passed through.

It also provides weekly settlements and says there is no forced dispatch. However, a traditional pickup-and-gooseneck owner should confirm equipment acceptance before purchasing anything specifically to lease onto Load One.

Best suited for: Operators interested in expedited trucking who may be considering straight trucks or larger specialized equipment.

9. FedEx Custom Critical

FedEx Custom Critical is one of the best-known names in expedited transportation.

Its fleet consists entirely of independent contractors and currently includes small straight trucks, large straight trucks and tractor-trailers.

It specializes in time-critical and specialized freight. However, it should not be presented as a conventional hotshot pickup company.

In fact, FedEx Custom Critical currently states that its cargo/sprinter van fleet is at capacity and it is not adding those vehicles.

Its current opportunities are more relevant to straight-truck and tractor owners.

Best suited for: Experienced expedited operators who are prepared to run qualifying straight trucks rather than conventional pickup-and-gooseneck hotshot equipment.

10. Mercer Transportation

Mercer Transportation operates entirely around owner-operators and specializes heavily in flatbed, step-deck and specialized freight.

The company has thousands of customers and a large nationwide owner-operator network.

Operators can select freight through its load board or work with a personal load coordinator. Mercer also emphasizes no forced dispatch.

Again, you should not assume that a conventional one-ton pickup and gooseneck will qualify merely because Mercer moves flatbed freight.

Its core open-deck fleet is built around larger commercial equipment. However, it can become relevant as your hotshot business grows into larger flatbed equipment.

Best suited for: Experienced owner-operators moving from hotshot equipment into larger open-deck and specialized trucking.

Hotshot Lease-On Companies Compared

What Should You Ask Before Leasing On?

Do not choose a carrier simply because its advertisement shows an impressive gross-revenue figure.

Ask for a complete explanation of how settlements work.

You should understand:

• What percentage of linehaul you receive
• Whether you receive 100 percent of the fuel surcharge
• Insurance deductions
• ELD charges
• Plate and permit deductions
• Trailer charges
• Escrow requirements
• Factoring or administrative fees
• Chargebacks
• Detention and layover payments
• How frequently settlements are paid
• Whether dispatch is forced
• How many loads actually originate near your home area

A carrier offering 85 percent of gross is not necessarily better than one offering 75 percent.

You need to know 85 percent of what, with which expenses deducted afterward.

Also ask what happens when you deliver somewhere with no return freight.

Deadhead is one of the easiest ways to turn an apparently profitable hotshot load into a poor one.

Do You Need Your Own MC Number When You Lease On?

Generally, a true owner-operator leased to an authorized interstate carrier can operate under that carrier’s authority rather than obtaining separate operating authority for those leased operations.

The arrangement should be covered by a written lease.

That is one of the attractions of leasing on for someone who wants to begin hauling without immediately building an independent carrier operation from scratch.

However, leasing on does not eliminate your responsibility to follow the safety, licensing, hours-of-service, equipment and other rules that apply to your operation.

Do You Need a CDL for Hotshot Trucking?

Not every hotshot combination automatically requires a CDL. But many serious hotshot setups do.

Under federal CDL classifications, a Class A CDL generally applies when the combination has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of at least 26,001 pounds and the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds.

That is why a one-ton dually with a large gooseneck trailer can easily move into CDL territory.

Do not simply buy a truck advertised as a “non-CDL hotshot setup” and assume you are compliant.

Look at the actual vehicle and trailer weight ratings and the freight you intend to haul.

Hazardous materials and certain other operations can create additional requirements.

Conclusion

The right company to lease onto depends more on your truck, trailer, experience, freight preferences and operating region than on the state where you live.

For a conventional one-ton dually and gooseneck setup, companies such as Landstar, ACME, American Eagle, Diligent, Adams Freight & Logistics and Fairmount Global Freight are more relevant starting points than a generic list of tractor-trailer carriers.

Compare the actual lease, deductions and freight available in the lanes you want to run before signing.

A recognizable company name means very little if you spend half your week driving empty.