TraceDispatch

Link 01Hotshot

Hot shot dispatch service that checks the broker before the hookup

Hotshot freight moves fast. A broker posts an urgent partial at 6 a.m., three trucks call in ten minutes, and the load is gone. That speed is exactly why hotshots get burned: a quick yes to a broker nobody checked, a rate that looked good until the deadhead, payment terms nobody read. Our hot shot dispatch service keeps the speed and adds the checks.

We call on loads quickly, check the broker's public record and contact details, work out the all-in rate per mile with deadhead, and get the terms in writing. Then the offer comes to you. You confirm or refuse, the broker sends the rate con to you, and the broker pays you directly.

Keep my hotshot movingCDL and non-CDL. Same fee as every truck.
  • Before any hotshot offer reaches you
  • Broker authority and bond active
  • Phone and email match the public record
  • Weight checked against your combination
  • All-in rate per mile with deadhead
  • Payment terms and quick pay fee
  • Detention and TONU in writing

Link 02Three offers, one truck

Three offers, one truck: which one actually pays?

Hotshot owners often get two or three offers within minutes for the same truck. The highest rate is the easy pick and often the wrong one. Here are three EXAMPLE offers from generic brokers. Change any number: rate, loaded miles, deadhead to the pickup, payment terms or quick pay fee. The sheet works out the all-in rate per mile and what you keep per mile after our fee.

EXAMPLE: three offers, one hotshot

Broker A
All-in per mile
$2.38
Net after fees
$1,377.50
Net per mile
$2.26
Paid in
30 days
Broker B · best per mile
All-in per mile
$2.53
Net after fees
$1,187.50
Net per mile
$2.40
Paid in
15 days
Broker C
All-in per mile
$2.13
Net after fees
$1,520.00
Net per mile
$2.03
Paid in
45 days

All-in per mile counts deadhead. Net subtracts our 5% and any quick pay fee; fuel and truck costs not included.

Why deadhead decides most hotshot offers

Hotshot loads are often shorter than van or flatbed runs, so a 100-mile deadhead takes a much bigger bite out of the trip. A $1,600 load with 140 empty miles can pay less per mile than a $1,250 load that's right down the road. We always show the all-in number, loaded plus empty, so you're comparing what the truck actually drives. You can check any load yourself with the rate per mile calculator.

Why payment terms matter more for small trucks

A hotshot runs on tight cash: fuel, tires and a truck payment don't wait 45 days. A slightly lower rate paid in 15 days can be worth more than a higher one paid in 45, especially if the alternative is a 5% quick pay fee. Tick quick pay on the sheet to see how much each broker's fee costs you on the same load.

How we present offers to you

When more than one broker wants your truck, you don't get three phone calls. You get one message with the offers side by side: lane, pickup window, weight, rate, loaded and empty miles, all-in per mile, payment terms, quick pay fee, and whether detention and TONU are written in. If a broker has paid late on our carriers' loads before, we say so. If the lower offer drops you somewhere with a better reload, we say that too. You reply with the one you want, we lock it in with the broker, and the rate con reaches your email a few minutes later. Hotshot loads go fast, so we keep the message short and the decision quick.

Link 03CDL vs non-CDL

CDL vs non-CDL hotshot: what changes

The weight line

A combination vehicle needs a Class A CDL when its gross combination weight rating is 26,001 pounds or more and the trailer's rating is over 10,000 pounds . A single vehicle needs a CDL at 26,001 pounds or more . Many non-CDL hotshots run a pickup and gooseneck combination rated under that line, which caps how much freight they can haul. The ratings on the door stickers decide it, not the actual weight on a given day.

Drug and alcohol testing

DOT drug and alcohol testing under Part 382 covers employers of drivers who must hold a CDL, and a one-person CDL carrier counts as both employer and driver . So a CDL hotshot needs a testing program and a consortium; a non-CDL hotshot under the threshold doesn't fall under Part 382, though some brokers and shippers have their own requirements.

What changes with brokers

Brokers need to know which you are. A non-CDL truck can't take a load that pushes the combination over its rating, and some freight simply won't fit the payload. CDL hotshots can take heavier partials and some loads that would otherwise go to a full flatbed. We list your ratings and CDL status in your packet, so offers fit the truck from the start.

What doesn't change

The way we dispatch. Both get the same broker checks, the same written terms, the same fee and the same rule: nothing is booked without your yes. If you're planning to move from non-CDL to CDL, tell us; we'll show you which loads and brokers open up so you can judge whether the upgrade pays for itself.

One more thing to plan for: weight adds up fast on a hotshot. Your truck, trailer, fuel, gear and driver all count before the freight goes on. We ask for your empty weight once and use it on every load we consider.

Link 04What brokers ask in setup

What hotshot brokers ask for in setup

Hotshot brokers handle lots of small, urgent loads, so they set rules that let them approve carriers quickly without getting burned. Many set a minimum authority age, minimum cargo coverage and sometimes an equipment list with exact deck length. The thresholds differ from broker to broker and change over time, so we ask each one instead of guessing.

If your authority is new, some brokers will say no for now. Others work with new carriers from day one, and those are the ones we start with. Our guide to brokers that work with new authority explains how to find and vet them.

The faster your packet goes out complete, the more of those urgent loads you can take. A broker covering a 7 a.m. pickup won't wait two days for a corrected insurance certificate. We keep your documents current and ready, and we resend updated certificates to every broker when your policy renews, so a setup never lapses in the middle of a good week.

  • Authority letter, W-9 and certificate of insurance
  • Cargo coverage amount, and any exclusions such as machinery or vehicles
  • Truck and trailer: gooseneck or bumper pull, deck length, ramps, dovetail
  • GVWR and GCWR, and whether the driver holds a CDL
  • Straps, chains, binders and tarps on board
  • ELD details or tracking app consent
  • Photos of the truck and trailer, for some brokers

The hotshot fraud risk, and how we handle it

Fast, small loads attract bad actors: fake brokers using a real company's name with a lookalike email, double brokers reselling a load they don't control, and “quick” loads that never get paid. Before an offer reaches you, we look up the broker's authority and bond in FMCSA's public records, compare the phone and email domain with that record, and call back on a number we found ourselves. If anything doesn't match, the offer never reaches you. That check takes us minutes; skipping it can cost you a load's worth of fuel and time.

Link 05Fee and questions

What hotshot dispatch costs: the same tiers as every truck

No hotshot premium, no per-load fee. A percentage of the rate con gross on delivered loads, billed weekly. Details on what we charge and the full flow on how we work.

  • 7%

    MC under 6 months

    of the rate con gross, any truck type

  • 5%

    MC 6+ months, 1 truck

    of the rate con gross, any truck type

  • 4%

    MC 6+ months, 2+ trucks

    of the rate con gross, any truck type

Ready to hand off the phone work? Apply for hotshot dispatch with your truck and trailer ratings, CDL status and the lanes you like. In the first week we update your packet, start with brokers already set up with you, add hotshot brokers in your area and send offers with the all-in rate per mile already worked out.

Hotshot dispatch: common questions

Questions carriers ask

How much does hotshot dispatch cost?
Exactly what every truck type pays with us: 7% of the rate con gross while your MC is under 6 months, 5% after that, and 4% per truck for fleets of two or more. Lumper reimbursements are excluded. No setup fee, no minimum and no weekly charge in a week you don't haul. Cancel with 30 days notice.
Do you dispatch non-CDL hotshots?
Yes. Many hotshots run a pickup and gooseneck combination rated under the CDL threshold. We dispatch them the same way, but we check every load's weight against your combination's ratings, because non-CDL setups have less payload room. We also tell brokers up front that the truck is non-CDL, so you're not offered loads you can't legally take.
What insurance do brokers want from hotshots?
Usually auto liability and cargo coverage at the broker's stated minimums, shown on a certificate of insurance naming the broker as certificate holder. Limits vary by broker and by freight, and some ask for more than the federal minimum. We list each broker's requirement against your policy before sending a packet, so you know which setups will pass.
How do you find hotshot loads?
From load boards, brokers who move partial and expedited open-deck freight, and brokers you already work with. Hotshot freight moves fast and in small pieces, so we call on posts quickly, ask about loads that haven't been posted yet and plan the next pickup before you deliver. Every offer comes to you with the broker's record already checked.
Do hotshots pay a higher dispatch fee?
No. Our fee doesn't change by equipment. A hotshot pays the same 5% (or 7% under 6 months, or 4% per truck in a fleet) as a dry van or a flatbed. No hotshot surcharge, no per-load fee and no minimum weekly charge.
Can I say no to a load?
Always, and it costs you nothing. Every load comes to you as an offer with the rate, miles, deadhead, weight, broker and terms. You confirm or decline. We never book on your behalf without a yes, and the broker sends the rate con straight to you to sign in your own company name.

Fast loads, checked brokers, terms in writing

We compare every offer per mile with deadhead before it reaches you. You make the call.

Keep my hotshot moving
ONE LOAD, START TO PAYDAYEXAMPLE
  1. Rate con, sent to you$2,150
  2. Pickup, delivery, POD
  3. Broker pays you$2,150
  4. Our fee (5%)-$107.50
  5. You keep$2,042.50