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![]() If you have a relevant portfolio, you can show it to improve your chances of getting a good lead. When you contact them, introduce your business and then ask questions about their trucking needs. You can then contact them by knocking on their doors or cold calling. To start, you need to do some research to know the shippers in your area, what they ship, and to where. Prospecting may take time to work at the start but many hotshot businesses use this strategy as it produce great leads that oftentimes develop into a long-term business relationship. If you are interested, contact your city or state government for more details. Sometimes, the government agency may also have specific requirements for a flatbed trailer to handle specialized loads. Being a government contractor does require a few extra requirements, including registering to be one. Good news is, no matter where in the country you are, there is a government agency nearby. More often, the government outsource their staffing needs, and transportation is no exception. Some charge as low as 5% of what the load will pay while many charge between 10-15%. In many cases, they also take care of other administrative tasks such as invoicing, billing, collections and other paperwork.ĭispatchers charge different fees. They have connections and negotiating skills to help you keep your hotshot trailer loaded at a competitive rate. Looking for loads or negotiating with shippers can be tedious, time consuming and stressful and that is where dispatchers can help you. You can also hire a dispatcher to get your business up and running. However, stiff competition for truckers especially on popular lanes drives the rates down which in turn reduces your profit margin. On one hand, it helps the industry’s new comers get started in the business. Working with load boards has pros and cons. Some load boards offer free access while others charge subscription fee. The basic features of a load board may include load matching, credit information, FMCSA verification and mobile access. Most load boards have a sophisticated and easy-to-use interface, allowing all users to filter their searches based on specific criteria. Load boards (sometimes referred to as freight boards) are an online marketplace where shippers, freight brokers and truckers can post and search for loads. ![]() You can easily find one by searching online or asking for referrals from other truckers in your area. There are more than 20,000 licensed freight brokers in North America. The best thing about them is that they do most of the legwork including negotiating the rates. Here are six places where you can find loads:įreight brokers are the middle men that connect shippers to truckers and they can help you out especially if you are just starting out. If you are new to this business, one of your hurdles will be finding regular loads. Without loads, there will be no hotshot business. ![]() Profitable loads fuel the hotshot industry. ![]()
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