Is this just for hot shot trucking?

Yes — this guide is specifically for hot shot trucking (pickup truck + flatbed trailer setups). If you're looking at full semi operations (dry van, reefer, flatbed), our New Authority Startup eBook covers that.

Do I need this if I already have the New Authority eBook?

The eBook covers the general process of starting any trucking company. This guide goes deep on hot-shot-specific topics: which pickup truck to buy, gooseneck vs bumper pull trailers, hot shot rate expectations, securement equipment, and hot-shot-specific load boards.

What format are the files?

The guide is a PDF (works on any device). The cost calculator is an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) that works in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet app. Both are instant download.

Is this included in the $89.99 Bundle?

No. The Hot Shot Startup Guide is a standalone product. The Bundle includes our 6 core products for general owner-operator businesses. They complement each other but are sold separately.

What if I decide hot shot isn't for me?

That's actually the best possible outcome — you saved yourself $25,000+ in startup costs by running the numbers first. The guide and calculator are designed to help you make an informed decision, not just confirm one you already made.

Can I use the spreadsheet on my phone?

Yes. It works in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel on both iPhone and Android. For the best experience we recommend a tablet or computer, but phone works.

🚚 22-PAGE PDF + EXCEL STARTUP COST CALCULATOR

START YOUR HOT SHOT BUSINESS WITH THE REAL NUMBERS

The complete playbook for launching a hot shot business — with real costs, real rates, and a spreadsheet that does the math for you.

10 chapters covering truck selection (F-350 vs Ram 3500 vs Silverado 3500), trailer options, MC authority, insurance, load boards, rate negotiation, and a 90-day launch plan. Plus a 3-tab Excel calculator for your startup costs, monthly expenses, and profit scenarios.

$29.99 · Instant Download · PDF + Excel

Get the Hot Shot Playbook — $29.99 →

✅ 22-page guide + 3-tab cost calculator spreadsheet

✅ Real startup costs: $15K–$45K breakdown

✅ Works in Excel & Google Sheets

SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING

This isn't a generic business guide with recycled advice. Every number is specific to hot shot trucking — the trucks, the trailers, the insurance costs, and the rates per mile. The included spreadsheet lets you plug in YOUR numbers and see if the math works before you spend a dollar.

TAB 1 Startup Cost Calculator

Hot shot trucking startup cost calculator showing truck, trailer, authority, insurance, equipment costs with yellow input cells and auto-calculated totals

Every startup expense itemized: truck, trailer, authority fees, insurance, equipment, and emergency fund. Enter your real numbers in the yellow cells — totals calculate automatically. In this example: $20,269 cash needed to start, $57,269 total investment including financed amounts.

TAB 2 Monthly Costs & Break-Even Rate

Monthly operating costs spreadsheet showing fixed costs, variable costs, and break-even rate per mile calculation

Fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, ELD, load board) plus variable costs (fuel, maintenance, tolls) — totaled automatically. The key number: your break-even rate per mile ($0.75/mi in this example). Never accept a load below this.

TAB 3 Profit Scenario Calculator

Profit scenario calculator showing take-home pay for slow, typical, and strong months at different rates and miles

Model three scenarios: slow month (5,000 miles), typical (8,000), and strong (10,000). See gross revenue, expenses, taxes, and take-home for each. In this example: $1,514/mo slow → $6,614/mo typical → $12,014/mo strong.

EVERYTHING INSIDE THE GUIDE

What Is Hot Shot Trucking?

Hot shot vs full semi comparison table: startup cost, RPM, CDL requirements, payload, insurance, fuel efficiency. Plus who hot shot is right for — and who should skip it.

Startup Costs: The Real Numbers

Every expense from truck to tarps. Low and high estimates for each line item. Where to save money and where you should never cut corners.

Realistic range: $25,000–$45,000 (not the $10K YouTube claims)

Choosing Your Truck

F-350 vs Ram 3500 vs Silverado 3500: towing capacity, fuel economy, used prices, maintenance costs, and resale value compared side by side.

Choosing Your Trailer

Gooseneck vs bumper pull, what to check when buying used, and the complete securement equipment list with quantities and costs.

Getting Your Hot Shot Authority

Step-by-step MC/DOT application: USDOT number, MC authority ($300), BOC-3, UCR, IFTA, insurance filing. Plus: do you need a CDL?

Insurance for Hot Shot Carriers

Required coverage breakdown (liability, cargo, physical damage, bobtail), real annual costs ($6K–$12.5K), and 6 ways to get the lowest rate.

Finding Hot Shot Loads

Load board comparison (Truckstop vs DAT vs 123Loadboard vs uShip), plus how to build direct shipper relationships and vet every broker.

Rates and Profitability

2026 hot shot rates by freight type ($1.50–$4.00/mile), a complete monthly profit scenario at 8,000 miles, and your break-even calculation.

Realistic take-home: $6,300/month at typical rates and miles

Your First 90 Days

Week-by-week action plan: weeks 1–3 (setup), weeks 4–6 (first loads), weeks 7–12 (build momentum). With specific mile and revenue targets.

10 Mistakes That Kill Hot Shot Businesses

Buying too much truck, skipping insurance, not knowing CPM, taking every load, no emergency fund, ignoring taxes, running overweight, and more.

🛡️

10X Guarantee: Save $300+ or Your Money Back.

If this guide doesn’t prevent at least $300 in startup mistakes — 10 times what you paid — email us for a full refund. You keep it. One-time purchase — no subscriptions, no recurring fees. You get the 22-page PDF guide plus the 3-tab Excel cost calculator immediately after purchase. Works in Excel, Google Sheets, and any spreadsheet app. If you have any issues, email us at and we'll make it right.

RUN THE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU SPEND A DOLLAR

The #1 reason hot shot businesses fail: they start without knowing their numbers. The truck payment is too high, the insurance eats their margin, and they're running loads at a loss without realizing it. This guide + calculator shows you exactly what it costs, what you'll earn, and whether the math works for YOUR situation — before you commit.

$29.99 for a 22-page guide + cost calculator that could save you $20,000+ in mistakes.

Get the Hot Shot Playbook — $29.99 →

Also starting a full trucking business? The Owner-Operator Profit System covers taxes, financials, IFTA, broker setup, and business planning — everything outside of hot shot.

View the Profit System — $89.99 →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Not always. If your truck + trailer + load combined GVWR is under 26,001 lbs, you don't need a CDL. Most hot shot setups fall right around this threshold. However, having a CDL opens more freight, gets you lower insurance rates, and gives you a fallback if hot shot doesn't work out. The guide covers this in detail.

The realistic range is $25,000–$45,000 for most new hot shot operators buying a used truck and used trailer. If you already own a capable truck, knock $15,000–$30,000 off that. The included spreadsheet lets you plug in your exact numbers and see your total investment.

Best overall: Ram 3500 with Cummins diesel (most reliable engine, best fuel economy under load). Best budget: Chevy Silverado 3500 (lowest purchase price, Allison transmission is bulletproof). Best resale: Ford F-350. The guide has a full comparison table with towing specs, used prices, and maintenance costs.

At 8,000 loaded miles/month and a blended rate of $1.85/mile, you're looking at roughly $6,300/month take-home after expenses and taxes. Your first 3 months will likely be 50–70% of that while you build broker relationships. The spreadsheet's Profit Scenario tab lets you model slow, typical, and strong months.

The guide is a 22-page PDF (readable on any device). The startup cost calculator is an Excel spreadsheet that also works in Google Sheets. All formulas are pre-built — enter your numbers in the yellow cells, everything else calculates automatically.

Email us at . We stand behind everything we sell.