DOCK 01HOTSHOT DISPATCH
Hot shot dispatch service built around tight pickup windows and weight limits
Dispatch for hotshot loads that do not wait: urgent tenders, partials and equipment moves. We quote fast, check the weight against your truck and trailer before you say yes, and negotiate every rate. 7% of gross, no contract.
YOUR SETUP
Get my hotshot loadedDOCK 02WHY HOTSHOT IS DIFFERENT
Why hotshot dispatch is different
Short notice is normal
Hotshot freight is often booked hours before pickup. The truck that answers first and confirms fast tends to get the load.
Weight decides everything
Your truck and trailer ratings set what you can legally haul, and for non-CDL setups, what you can haul at all.
Partials and odd freight
Equipment, machinery, building materials, parts. Each load has its own dimensions, securement and loading needs.
Not only oilfield
Hotshot work is often tied to the oilfield, but construction, agriculture, equipment dealers and expedited parts all move on hotshots now. When one sector slows, we look at the others.
DOCK 03CDL LINE
Non-CDL hotshot dispatch and the 26,001 lb line
A hotshot combination needs a Class A CDL when two things are true: the combination is rated or weighs 26,001 lb or more (whichever is greater), and the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb. Set your own truck and trailer below.
CDL LINE GAUGE
EXAMPLEBLACK MARK = 26,001 LB
CDL (Class A) needed
The greater of rating and actual weight is 28,000 lb, and the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb. Hazmat that needs placards changes this.
Cargo capacity by rating: 15,000 lb. This load leaves 9,000 lb of headroom.
Estimate from your numbers. Use the manufacturer's GCWR if your truck lists one, and check state rules before you rely on it.
That is why the trailer rating matters as much as the truck. A non-CDL hotshot is usually set up one of two ways: a lighter trailer rated 10,000 lb or less, or a combination rated under 26,001 lb in total. Each limits payload, so we only offer loads that fit inside your numbers.
Non-CDL does not mean unregulated. A hotshot combination of 10,001 lb or more running for hire across state lines is a commercial motor vehicle: USDOT number, operating authority and the rest of the safety rules still apply.
SOURCE:eCFR, 49 CFR 383.5, OCT 2026;eCFR, 49 CFR 390.5, OCT 2026
DOCK 04WHAT WE DO
What a hotshot dispatcher does for you
Quote it fast. Check the weight. Then book it.
01 / FAST QUOTING
Urgent tenders go to whoever confirms first. We check the load against your truck and answer while it is still open.
02 / WEIGHT AND SIZE CHECK
Weight, dimensions and deck length checked against your setup before the offer reaches you.
03 / SECUREMENT ON PAPER
Tarps, straps, chains or edge protection the shipper expects, written on the rate con.
04 / EVERY RATE NEGOTIATED
Short-notice freight can pay a premium. We ask for it on every load.
05 / CHECK CALLS AND PAPERWORK
Broker updates, carrier packets and delivery confirmations, so you can drive.
06 / THE NEXT LOAD
Planned before this one delivers, so you are not running home empty.
DOCK 05FREIGHT
Dispatch for hotshot loads: what we book
| Freight | What it usually needs |
|---|---|
| Construction equipment and materials | Ramps or a dovetail, chains and binders, sometimes a site contact |
| Oilfield parts and supplies | Fast acceptance, early pickups, site access rules |
| Agricultural equipment | Width and height checked, seasonal timing |
| Dealer and auction equipment moves | Loading help or ramps, pickup windows |
| Expedited parts and partials | Quick pickup, direct runs, tracking updates |
| Building materials and steel bundles | Straps or chains, edge protection, tarps if asked |
Trailer length and the loads it opens
Brokers post the deck length a load needs. A longer gooseneck deck fits more freight, a shorter one is lighter and may keep a non-CDL combination under its limits. There is no single right length; we filter offers by the deck you actually run. Hitch type matters too: a gooseneck puts trailer weight over the truck's rear axle and suits heavier loads, while a bumper-pull trailer is lighter and simpler to hook up.
What to ask hotshot dispatch companies
- Do they check every load's weight against your truck and trailer ratings before offering it?
- Can they work non-CDL limits, or do they just forward board posts?
- How fast do they answer urgent tenders, and who covers your truck when your dispatcher is off?
DOCK 06THE WEEK
Getting more paid miles out of a hotshot week
This is where a hot shot dispatch service earns its fee. A hotshot week pays on loaded miles, so the plan matters as much as the rate on any one load.
Judge loads by rate per total mile
A strong rate per loaded mile can still lose money after a long deadhead to the pickup. We count the empty miles in before we call you.
Stack partials headed the same way
When your deck and ratings allow it, two partials going the same direction can pay better than one full load. Weight and securement come first.
Plan the return before you leave
A one-way urgent run is only good if the next load starts near where it ends. We look at what moves out of the delivery area before booking.
Skip the short hop with the long drive back
Some quick local loads pay well per mile but strand the truck. If it does not fit the week, we tell you why and keep looking.
HOTSHOT RATE CONFIRMATION
Example numbers to show the math, not a rate we promise on this lane.
DOCK 07FEE
What hotshot dispatching services cost
Hotshot dispatching services cost 7% of gross with us, the same as a single box truck. Hotshot loads are often small and urgent, and each one needs its own weight check and quick confirmation, so the work per dollar booked is higher than on a full semi load. With 2 or more trucks it is 4% (limited-time rate).
All dispatch fees · Rate per mile calculator · Fuel advances
DOCK 08FAQ
Hotshot dispatch questions
Q-01How much does hotshot dispatch cost?
7% of gross load revenue for a single hotshot, charged only on loads you haul. If you run 2 or more trucks on one authority that is 6+ months old, it is 4% (limited-time rate). No setup fee, no minimum, month-to-month, cancel with 30 days notice.
Q-02Can you dispatch non-CDL hotshots?
Yes. A combination does not need a Class A CDL when its trailer is rated 10,000 lb or less, or when the combination is rated and loaded under 26,001 lb. We keep your ratings and empty weights on file and only offer loads that fit inside them.
Q-03What loads do hotshot dispatchers book?
Construction equipment and materials, oilfield parts, agricultural equipment, dealer and auction moves, expedited parts and partials, and building materials. What fits you depends on your deck length, ramps, ratings and whether you need a CDL.
Q-04Do you need a 40 ft trailer for hotshot loads?
No. Brokers post the deck length each load needs, and plenty of loads fit shorter decks. A longer deck opens more freight but adds weight, which matters most for non-CDL setups. We filter offers by the trailer you run.
Q-05How do you handle overweight quotes?
We do not offer them. If a load would put your combination over its ratings, it does not reach you, whatever it pays. Legal weight is checked before the offer, not at the scale.
Q-06Do you dispatch hotshots for new MCs?
Yes. A hotshot on a new MC pays 7%, the same rate it pays after month 6. Some brokers will not tender to a fresh authority, so early on we look for the ones that do and get your packets approved.
Q-07What does a hot shot dispatch service do?
It finds, negotiates and books freight for a pickup truck pulling a flatbed or gooseneck trailer, usually urgent or partial loads. The dispatcher handles the boards, broker calls and paperwork; the driver approves each load and drives.
Your hotshot, quoted while the load is still open
About 2 minutes to apply. Tell us your ratings once and every offer fits them.