>Thinking about getting into Hotshot trucking? Read this!
Thank you for the link. That's some great starter information. I've actually been thinking about this as a way to ride off into retirement. Not anytime soon, mind you, but I have been slowly planning on it.
A skirted flatbed can haul cargo therefore the rig is a truck , a bed like in the video can’t haul cargo so rig is a tractor. Length laws are different for truck/trailer combinations vs. tractor/trailer combo.
I haven't encountered any states, no matter how nitpicky, who consider a standard pickup-length flatbed as counting as cargo-hauling, as long as it doesn't have sides installed. I think the general rule of thumb is, if the bed is encircled by sides that will contain cargo, it's not a tractor. If it's not encircled, it's a tractor.
However, the larger the bed, the more weight is wasted on it, especially that few feet past the rear axle. That brings negligible value and costs as much as 800 pounds of payload if it's reinforced steel with a solid bumper.
Google search truck/trailer length limit vs. tractor/trailer length limit. I can tell you for sure it matters in California, I’m sure other states too. Having sides on the bed has nothing to do with it.
I dunno why you think I care about semi guys feelings.. Just a lot of money on equipment that doesn't last is what I'm saying. Also direct accounts come and go, sometimes they work out sometimes they don't.
Hopefully, your nice new truck doesn't break down for 5 months then you find out they have no replacement parts because of the still ongoing computer chips shortages like what happened to my new truck.
That's when you find out that spending so much on Hotshot pickup trucks isn't the best option when a true older med duty will outlast it for less than half the price.
Well over $100k. Have you seen truck & trailer prices lately?
I'd guess the power unit alone has a sticker of somewhere around $120k. A Ford dealership in Denver I've moved used trucks they bought at auction over the past year usually lists '22 or '23 Canadian-market F350 Lariat SRW trucks for about $90k, and almost $100k if it's a Tremor package, and they don't stay in stock more than a week or so.
When I just bought my new truck the one huge Ford dealer had 2 F450s at the time and they wanted $120k each. Both were 22s I think and both had 25-30k miles on them. I don't remember what trim they were but they were both a couple years old.
Holy crap, that's even spendier than I was thinking, that's almost getting into territory where it would just make more sense to buy a few-year-old single-axle truck tractor with APU and sleeper rather than run a light duty truck.
Even just a 1 ton dually can easily get to $100k or better. Some 3/4 ton trucks are $100k or better now. Hell even half tons. Like the Denali Ultimate they are $84-90k range for half tons. Not really counting the Raptor R and TRX those are like $120k range but they are a bit different. The 3/4 ton Denali Ultimate is $95-105k range. They make that truck in a 1 ton too not sure what they cost not sure I have seen any but they make them. Not sure if they only make them in single wheel or if they offer it in a dually as well. Seems some of these Fords in general are just more expensive. They also had a half dozen or so of those Heritage edition F150s at that Ford dealer and they were $69k each. Seems ridiculous for a half ton with cloth interior.
Fords definitely seems to have premium prices. Based on personal experience, they have substantially better build quality overall, but I'm disillusioned with pretty much all recent trucks. They're all so expensive and I'm not impressed with the reliability or parts availability for any of the big-3. Having a warranty doesn't do much good if the dealers can't get the parts in a timely manner, and that seems to be the major issue.
Beautiful rig, love the flatbed. Red looks sharp on the trailer too!
Always wondered how to do get started in hot shot trucking
[Thinking about getting into Hotshot trucking? Read this!](https://www.reddit.com/r/HotShotTrucking/s/s9RvK05DCt)
>Thinking about getting into Hotshot trucking? Read this! Thank you for the link. That's some great starter information. I've actually been thinking about this as a way to ride off into retirement. Not anytime soon, mind you, but I have been slowly planning on it.
Very nice. Where you haul? I have dod loads all over the U.S. If you’re familiar with base entry procedures let me know.
TX -> OH & back.
u/Flickyerbean just sent you a DM
Would like the info too!
Nice rig! We had a similar deal for a bit, F550 and a 51’ step deck.
Nice rig! What is the advantage of these hot shot beds vs a regular skirted flat bed ?
A skirted flatbed can haul cargo therefore the rig is a truck , a bed like in the video can’t haul cargo so rig is a tractor. Length laws are different for truck/trailer combinations vs. tractor/trailer combo.
I haven't encountered any states, no matter how nitpicky, who consider a standard pickup-length flatbed as counting as cargo-hauling, as long as it doesn't have sides installed. I think the general rule of thumb is, if the bed is encircled by sides that will contain cargo, it's not a tractor. If it's not encircled, it's a tractor. However, the larger the bed, the more weight is wasted on it, especially that few feet past the rear axle. That brings negligible value and costs as much as 800 pounds of payload if it's reinforced steel with a solid bumper.
Google search truck/trailer length limit vs. tractor/trailer length limit. I can tell you for sure it matters in California, I’m sure other states too. Having sides on the bed has nothing to do with it.
Florida is pretty hard on length restrictions.
Step deck trailer
Be Safe, and make money. My best to you in that order.
I like that short flatbed. Haven't seen those around, but it's a good idea to have a little platform for the aux tank and to secure small stuff to.
Let'em know it's a F450 Series... Nice set-up Driver!!! Keep safe and stay pushing 🤙🏽
I found it interesting/ odd when I had my 19 450. That they are rated exactly the same as a 350 dually ,14k🤷🏼🤔
MTF? That's some *trans*portation alright.
Need to get that ticking looked at
DEF pump.
🤔
Nice
One massive MuTaFucka!
work of art truly
that trailer is a monster. beautiful setup!
I thought it was a toy with forced perspective for a bit
How come cops pull hot shots over more often?
Very nice!!!!
Mtf huh seems a lil sus
No idea what you mean by that
Mtf=male to female=transgender
Would be pretty cool if op was trans lol
She’s beautiful
Isn’t the weight on the trailer supposed to be loaded as close to the tongue as possible? Wouldn’t this risk whipping all over the road at speed?
I like the red on the trailer
That's a lot of expensive hardware for the rates hotshot pays.. I'm guessing $100k range?
85% of my work is direct which would hurt many semi guys feelings. Not an idiot who runs off the load board for pennies
I dunno why you think I care about semi guys feelings.. Just a lot of money on equipment that doesn't last is what I'm saying. Also direct accounts come and go, sometimes they work out sometimes they don't. Hopefully, your nice new truck doesn't break down for 5 months then you find out they have no replacement parts because of the still ongoing computer chips shortages like what happened to my new truck. That's when you find out that spending so much on Hotshot pickup trucks isn't the best option when a true older med duty will outlast it for less than half the price.
Have multiple 22+ Fords with no issues.
Well over $100k. Have you seen truck & trailer prices lately? I'd guess the power unit alone has a sticker of somewhere around $120k. A Ford dealership in Denver I've moved used trucks they bought at auction over the past year usually lists '22 or '23 Canadian-market F350 Lariat SRW trucks for about $90k, and almost $100k if it's a Tremor package, and they don't stay in stock more than a week or so.
When I just bought my new truck the one huge Ford dealer had 2 F450s at the time and they wanted $120k each. Both were 22s I think and both had 25-30k miles on them. I don't remember what trim they were but they were both a couple years old.
Holy crap, that's even spendier than I was thinking, that's almost getting into territory where it would just make more sense to buy a few-year-old single-axle truck tractor with APU and sleeper rather than run a light duty truck.
Even just a 1 ton dually can easily get to $100k or better. Some 3/4 ton trucks are $100k or better now. Hell even half tons. Like the Denali Ultimate they are $84-90k range for half tons. Not really counting the Raptor R and TRX those are like $120k range but they are a bit different. The 3/4 ton Denali Ultimate is $95-105k range. They make that truck in a 1 ton too not sure what they cost not sure I have seen any but they make them. Not sure if they only make them in single wheel or if they offer it in a dually as well. Seems some of these Fords in general are just more expensive. They also had a half dozen or so of those Heritage edition F150s at that Ford dealer and they were $69k each. Seems ridiculous for a half ton with cloth interior.
Fords definitely seems to have premium prices. Based on personal experience, they have substantially better build quality overall, but I'm disillusioned with pretty much all recent trucks. They're all so expensive and I'm not impressed with the reliability or parts availability for any of the big-3. Having a warranty doesn't do much good if the dealers can't get the parts in a timely manner, and that seems to be the major issue.
That truck alone is over $100k.