Coming into the truck driving industry there are several terms and ways of shipment to learn. It is important as a driver to be informed and understand exactly what your customer needs from you in order to get their shipment delivered. Hot shot trucking generally refers to any load that is considered smaller than a truck load and can be transported using several different forms of transportation not just a large semi-truck. This type of service can be hard to profit from especially for drivers.
There is one main problem with this form of trucking which is that loads can be too heavy to be effectively carried by parcel carriers. Using the carriers is extremely inexpensive but handled independently can be extremely expensive. However, hot shot trucking will transport items for a customer regardless of how large or small the load is. They will have to choose between travelling with a half empty truck or waiting until its full. The difference between hot shot service and regular shipping is just that, that hot shot drivers will take shipments in a half full truck while regular shipping companies will not. Thus, with hot shot trucking there is much more of a guarantee for the customer that these items will be delivered on time rather than by a regular carrier.
Companies that choose to take advantage of hot shot services really have an advantage over regular courier companies since they have more resources and can be more effective in handling shipments. They will also hire drivers who are salaried or who operate on a flat rate for a shipment rather than a rate per mile fee which is what most regular shipment company drivers do. Most drivers who are in the hot shot industry are excited and happy to be in this line of work.