Hotshot CDL Requirements
Hotshot CDL Requirements
DAT Authority makes it easy to meet your hotshot CDL requirements and get on the road.
Are you wondering “What license do you need for hotshot trucking?” If so, you’re not alone. Get the answers on hotshot driver license requirements so you can start carrying hotshot freight with confidence.
- Launch your own hotshot trucking business in no time.
- Get your paperwork in order without any stress.
- Build connections and grow your freight network.
Launch your own hotshot trucking business in no time.
Let the experts at DAT Authority handle all your hotshot CDL requirements so you can focus on building your business.
Keeping track of hotshot driver license requirements while also navigating the intricacies of starting a new business is tough. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone.
While there are no specific hotshot CDL requirements, there are a lot of requirements for gaining operating authority. DAT Authority makes it easy for new hotshot truckers to hit the ground running and build staying power, helping with your paperwork to ensure it’s filled out quickly and accurately so you don’t have to worry about getting any license needed for hotshot trucking.
Get your paperwork in order without any stress.
DAT Authority will handle the paperwork so you can get your operating authority with ease.
Unless you’re hauling large loads, there are no special hotshot CDL requirements. But to become an independent hotshot trucker, there are other steps you must take, like acquiring your operating authority. Without it, you can’t legally haul freight for money, making it a license needed for hotshot trucking in function if not name.
The federal and state approval process can last a minimum of five to seven weeks. Add in other registration fees, BOC-3 paperwork, and insurance policies, and you’re looking at a time-consuming, often-confusing process. With DAT Authority, you can pass off that confusion to the experts. We’ll handle the paperwork so you can meet your hotshot driver license requirements with ease.
Build connections and grow your freight network.
DAT offers the perfect platform for hotshot carriers to hit the ground running.
Success is about more than just meeting hotshot CDL requirements. With a subscription to DAT One, your hotshot trucking business can soon be on the fastrack to success. DAT One is the all-in-one solution for all of your hotshot trucking needs. With the biggest load board in the industry, DAT gives you access to the most freight options, trucker tools, and quality partners in the business. It’s no wonder hotshot truckers, whether they’re just starting out or are long-established, trust DAT One to accelerate their path to profitability.
"Some say it's simple to get your authority, and that you should save your money and do it yourself. Other people, including myself, are not sure where to even begin. I used a service provided by DAT to get my authority. It was important to me that it was done right the first time, by people who have done this before."
- Chad Boblett - Boblett Brothers Trucking
"They took me by the hand an led me through all of the diffiult and confusing steps to ensure that I started off on the right food. I cannot say it any clearer than these folks know what it's all about."
- Gregg Knight, LTL Trucking
Sometimes shippers and brokers find themselves in a pinch, and have cargo that needs to be transported on short notice. That’s where hotshot trucks come into the picture.
Hotshot trucking involves the transportation of time-sensitive loads that usually tend to be smaller in size. Heavy machinery, agricultural equipment, and construction materials are examples of common hot-shot cargo. Hotshot truck drivers often use box trucks, removable gooseneck trailers, or super-duty pickups with trailers that are 40’-50’ in length, as opposed to heavy-duty, Class 8 semis.
Remember: if you want to start hauling this freight, you’ll need to meet hot license requirements by getting your operating authority.
Hotshot trucking can be an excellent entry point for carriers just breaking into the business. Many truckers who harbor aspirations of someday transporting larger freight or running their own fleet of semis are wise to first cut their teeth in hotshot trucking.
Hotshot driver license requirements are relatively straightforward. All you need is a regular driver’s license, your Department of Transportation Medical Card, and operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to start moving freight legally across state lines. In short, there’s no specific license needed for hotshot trucking, but you do need to meet the general trucking requirements.
Of course, without the right help, each of these steps can take weeks to execute. The experts at DAT Authority provide back office support for all things hotshot trucking, handling the paperwork for you and making it easy for new hotshot truckers to get started.
The short answer is no. Beyond meeting general trucking and hotshot CDL requirements like obtaining your MC number, driver’s license, and medical card, there are other steps you’ll want to consider taking before your hotshot truck is ready to hit the open road.
Luckily, you don’t need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive a hotshot truck as long as you transport loads that weigh less than 10,000 pounds. But you may still need liability insurance or specific equipment according to your particular line of business.
The good news? From handling paperwork for authority, to helping you obtain any necessary federal permits and ensuring you always stay compliant with potential state DOT hotshot CDL requirements, DAT Authority provides truckers nationwide with the round-the-clock operational support they need to get going and thrive over the long-haul.
Depending on your specific circumstances (like your location, if you have specific types of hotshot freight you want to carry, if you’re looking at interstate vs. intrastate work, etc.), there will be some differences to how you approach getting your hotshot trucking business off the ground. However, there are some basic steps you’ll want to follow no matter what:
- Create an LLC in your state.
- Obtain a Tax ID number.
- Open a business banking account.
- Pass your DOT physical and get your DOT Medical card.
- Get your CDL (if you plan to haul more than 10,000 pounds of cargo) and MVR (Motor Vehicle Record).
- Obtain permission from state and federal authorities (USDOT Number)
- Get TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Credential), which is helpful for ports and military cargo.
- Acquire your hotshot trucking equipment.
- Build your freight network.
This may seem like a lot to handle on your own. Luckily, with DAT Authority, you can meet your hotshot CDL requirements and get your business started with ease. With a proven track record that spans more than 44 years, the expert team at DAT Authority specializes in helping hotshot truckers successfully launch their own businesses.
Of course, once you’ve set up your hotshot trucking business, the real work begins. Whether you start out with a single hotshot truck or eventually end up running a large fleet, high-quality loads remain the lifeblood of all trucking businesses.
The best way to win new, lucrative hotshot jobs and build connections at the same time is through a freight load board. DAT One is the most popular load board for hotshot truckers. For a flat monthly rate that comes without hidden fees, you can leverage the most powerful on-demand freight marketplace in the industry. DAT’s load board posts more than 400 million loads annually across 70 different types of freight — giving you the business opportunities you need to hit the ground running.
Breaking into the hotshot business doesn’t have to be so difficult. DAT Authority empowers hotshot truckers to get their independent business up and running as quickly as possible — and find success fast.
DAT Authority handles all your administrative work from the start. New hotshot truckers can obtain their operating authority quickly and pass off paperwork duties to an expert team that has their back. DAT Authority files your state and federal permits and helps you get your DOT registration and MC number without delays.
With DAT Authority you can minimize downtime, take advantage of expert guidance, and maximize your time spent on the road.
Make a splash from day one with DAT!
DAT offers the best way to grow your business from a single hotshot truck to a fleet of fifty vehicles and beyond. While DAT Authority helps take care of everything you need to get started as a hotshot trucker, DAT One’s super-database connects you to the biggest freight network in North America so you can hit the ground running.