re: Hot Shot driving

Something you have to consider when you hear about these per mile rates. Say you have a 1000 mile trip somewhere that pays you $3 per mile. That seems like big money, but you have to consider that you might wind up in BFE, where there are no other loads going anywhere. So you might have to deadhead 500 miles to get another load. You would pay fuel costs and spend a day of your time getting to that other load.

Also consider your insurance costs at $600- $700 a month minimum just starting out.

Also consider your maintanance costs. You will have things wear out and break on a truck that you are putting a lot of miles on pulling a bunch of weight. And if your truck is in the shop getting repaired, you sit and don't make any money.

I've looked into going Independent Contractor with a semi truck and some of the same issues are applicable to a smaller truck used for hot shot.

Before you start, have a $10k nest egg or line of credit in case you need it.

When you talk to the company recruiters, take everything they say with a grain of salt. They get paid to fill seats. They will often embellish the positives and downplay the negatives.

You can make a bunch of money doing this, but there are a lot of people that get into this and fail.

See if you can find someone who has a truck leased on with a expediting company who needs a driver. Go to work for him and learn the ropes and see if you like it. In many ways its not a job, but a lifestyle.