Came across this article

[pjjjjj]

Taiwan News Online

 

[Crazynuff]

There have been several posts on hotshot forums recently about outrageous percentages brokers keep . A revolt is taking place . Shippers call a carrier they used through a broker because they liked the quality of service . In the past carriers quoted the non-competion clause in the broker's agreement . Now the hotshotters are setting up a network and will refer the shipper to another reputable carrier that has never used that broker . Cutting the broker out saves the shipper money and the carrier gets a better rate and possibly a regular customer .

 

[pjjjjj]

Forgive my ignorance.. what is a hotshotter? Thanks!

 

[greg334]

Forgive my ignorance.. what is a hotshotter? Thanks!

Hotshot operator is like ... us. They haul emergency freight, many work in the oil industry a lot use pick up trucks and as far as I am concern should follow the same laws and rules as I do when hauling a combination vehicle (truck and trailer) over 10K but don't.

I don't agree with the article, there is a lot of issues with the first owner interviewed (I think a lot of drama BS) and his lack of fiscal responsibility.

 

[Crazynuff]

Hotshot operator is like ... us. They haul emergency freight, many work in the oil industry a lot use pick up trucks and as far as I am concern should follow the same laws and rules as I do when hauling a combination vehicle (truck and trailer) over 10K but don't.

I don't agree with the article, there is a lot of issues with the first owner interviewed (I think a lot of drama BS) and his lack of fiscal responsibility.

Greg , you've made that allegation about not following the rules before but can you substantiate it ? Hotshotters have authority and are subject to the same mandatory audit as other new carriers . You know violation of the rules would be discovered during an audit . Just FYI , Todd Dills , Senior Editor of "Overdrive" has been spending the past few days with hotshotters and hotshotting will be the cover story of the May issue of "Overdrive" . I can pm Todd's e-mail address and phone number if you have any comments for him . There are fly by night pickup owners that try to pick up loads from Uship to make a few dollars but legitimate hotshotters will be the first to report them .

 

[greg334]

Greg , you've made that allegation about not following the rules before but can you substantiate it ? Hotshotters have authority and are subject to the same mandatory audit as other new carriers . You know violation of the rules would be discovered during an audit . Just FYI , Todd Dills , Senior Editor of "Overdrive" has been spending the past few days with hotshotters and hotshotting will be the cover story of the May issue of "Overdrive" . I can pm Todd's e-mail address and phone number if you have any comments for him . There are fly by night pickup owners that try to pick up loads from Uship to make a few dollars but legitimate hotshotters will be the first to report them .

Well Crazy .... I should have expanded on my comment, sorry. My take on it is many run legally, many put the money into the equipment and use it safely and wisely but they to me are the real good people of the group. Not to d*mn these people, they do work hard and play by the rules and I feel that they are equal to me.

But I have run across a bunch of them who for the most part run under the radar, run dangerously (speeding is the biggest of my concerns) and don't understand or even care that combination vehicles need proper licensing and CDLs with the proper equipment. I honestly look at this as cheating to capture a buck and get tired of hearing the yahoos justifying breaking the rules because they are in a pickup truck. Pickup truck, straight truck, tractor - the rules needs to be enforce for all of our safety.

 

[Crazynuff]

I appreciate the reply , Greg and like I said , the legitimate hotshotters resent the fly by night ones you refer to even more than you do because they make it difficult to get decent rates and give people a bad impression of hotshotters . You've seen them out there - pickups and trailers with no signs or DOT numbers and it seems like they never get stopped . A 1 ton pickup is hitched to any trailer goes over 10,000 lbs. and requires a medical card and log book . Some states really check them out , others don't .

 

[davekc]

Hotshot operator is like ... us. They haul emergency freight, many work in the oil industry a lot use pick up trucks and as far as I am concern should follow the same laws and rules as I do when hauling a combination vehicle (truck and trailer) over 10K but don't.

What are you talking about? I was in this business for many years and sold a percentage of that business to Suzy's Express and part of it to Cannonball which is a competitor to Acme.
All of those companies and trucks were ran legal. If the hotshotters were running through Pasadena, they all had a DOT number. If not, they were stopped. Leo lives down there in Houston. I bet he doesn't see a lot of HS'ers running illegal through Pas....opps....Stinkerdena.