Melvin (left) and Ronnie Brooks of Brooks Transport Inc.

Hotshot haulers are those folks in dually pickups and cab-and-chassis Class 3, 4 and 5 trucks pulling deck freight, RVs, boats and other trucks. Chances are you know a few of them. You might be one yourself when over-the-road freight is slow.

The barriers to entry into the hotshot business are pretty much the same as for Class 8. Registration, licensing, insurance, regulations – all are roughly equivalent in hurdles and cash. But the myth of easy entry seems to drive interest in hotshotting, by far the most common query topic received by Overdrive.

Sure, equipment and operating costs are lower. Anecdotal evidence suggests you can run a hotshot truck for as little as 60 cents a mile in total (fixed and variable) costs, compared to about 90 cents to $1.10 for many Class 8 hauls.

But the cost of a dually can be as much as $50,000, depending on specs, and you’ll need to replace it sooner than you would a Class 8 if you’re running hard. Moreover, because your hauling power is smaller, rates generally are lower and deadheading is common.

Hotshotters are a more local or regional variant of the national expediters leased to carriers such as FedEx Custom Critical – though you might find some there, too, driving Sprinter vans or small trucks. Independents are distinguished by their relationships with local shippers, a focus on customer service based on availability and, above all, speed.