At long last, it is time to get your product to your customers; yet, you’ve run into a slight issue. What you want to ship doesn’t need an entire semi-truck, but shipping in individual packages is remarkably inefficient.
Luckily, there are Hot Shot carriers.
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What Are Hot Shot Carriers?
Originating from the Texas oilfields in the 1960s, early hot shot drivers would wait outside oil part manufacturing companies for equipment needed at the drilling rigs at the highest possible speed. As soon as their trailer bed was full, they’d race down to the rigs to make the delivery before circling back for their next pull.
In today’s trucking world, hot shot carriers or drivers refer to freighting services that use Class 3-5 trucks to complete deliveries. In combination with the trailers they pull, these trucks operate with the same goal they did back in Texas: the expedited and dependable delivery of their client’s goods to a specific location.
Why and When Would I use them?
Don’t let anyone fool you; big rigs still own the shipping world and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. However, hot shot carriers service a specific niche that makes them an invaluable part of any company.
Designed to ship less than a truckload (LTL) of goods, hot shot trucking is perfect for when you need to move a small amount of cargo. With their role in mind, let’s examine some pros and cons of hot shot shipping.
Pros
Aside from the cost, hot shot truckers have unique capabilities that allow them to deliver to places where big rigs might struggle. The nature of the mid-class trucks that hot shot drivers use enable them to travel to job sites, narrow streets, offroad, or even out of the way locations for deliveries.
This offers some clear benefits to specific industries. Both agriculture and construction can quickly transport tools, equipment, or goods from one location to the next with almost no hassle. Medical equipment providers and users can quickly obtain the tools they need to run their business. Even research labs tucked away in remote locations have discovered the usefulness of having cargo delivered to them directly.
Expedited Schedule
One of the key draws for most customers is the expedited nature of hot shot trucking. Most businesses will grab your delivery information during the introductory call and have a driver heading your way within a few minutes.
From that point, it’s a simple process of delivering whatever you shipped with no stops in between. An oft unacknowledge perk of hot shot drivers is that they are solely responsible for one customer’s cargo at a time. There are no on the way stops, just a direct path.
This speed is a detail that affects every step of the delivery process. Whether the truck is picking the delivery up, dropping it off, or coming back for round two, they will be doing so at an accelerated rate compared to big rig drivers.
Better Service for Your Customers
There is nothing worse to a customer than delayed or mistimed deliveries, and achieving schedule adherence is difficult for any company. Employing hot shot carriers allows you to ensure that your deliveries are on time and that they are there when your customer needs them. With the help of these services, the trust that your customers have in you is reinforced by knowing that they will receive what they ordered, at the time they scheduled it, and that they won’t have to wait long.
As a doubled bonus, this speed of service encourages increased productivity and efficiency at your own business. There is no room for error or slowing down when you can ship out a customer’s order later that day.
Cons
Due to the nature of class 3-5 vehicles, hot shot drivers cannot carry as much product as their Class 8 brethren. Where this might not be an imminent issue, it’s something to take into account.
One must examine the weight of what you wish to ship. Drivers are not allowed to take more than 10,000 lbs of a product unless they have a CDL license; most hot shot companies require CDL licenses at this point, but it could create an issue driver to driver.
The issue of cargo space is counteracted by the nature of hot shot driving itself. Rarely would you use a hot shot carrier to carry that much equipment that far anyway. When utilized for their proper job, hot shot space rarely becomes an issue.
Limited Range
As a general rule, hot shot drivers tend to be more localized instead of the nationwide nature of big rig drivers; that is not to say that there are not nationwide hot shot drivers, merely that they’re a rarer commodity.
Once again, this con has two sides. Often, hot shot drivers are not needed for long-range trips because their niche is short, fast, expedited delivery. Secondly, the cost of hiring a hot shot driver to cross the nation would become inefficient.
Where Do I Find Hot Shot Truckers?
When it comes to finding hot shot truckers to hire, there are a few options:
1. National LTL Boards
These boards serve as a forum for hot shot drivers who are looking for work. Merely posting your freight and your rate will have drivers heading your way shortly.
2. Utilizing Local Freelancers
In most communities there are freelance hot shotters who are individuals looking for work. Most of these workers live or die by their clientele list, so you’re almost guaranteed to find loyal, hard-working hot shot drivers that you can build a relationship with.
3. Hot Shot Companies
Naturally, entire companies have grown to fill this need in the economy. Hot Shot Carriers companies have a trusted reputation and have been proven to be among the best of the best. Hiring these companies is often the most efficient way to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Hitting the Open Road
Hiring a hot shot carrier is a wise business choice that can significantly impact your business. Hot shot carriers are not the right answer for every problem, but they are among the smartest and most efficient service providers around.
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