Looking To Get In Late

I've got some questions, I've just begun my research. I am already a small business owner. I have been working as a small flooring contractor/installer for 35 years. I have worked for myself my entire life since I got out of the service. The physical demands of flooring are beginning to wear me out as I am near 60 years old. I am looking to start hotshotting as my next career. I want to be realistic though about what type of money is possible. I don't mind being on the road for stretches, however I really have no interest in taking a job as a driver for someone else, having control over my own schedule at this point in my life is more important than the $$ I make. Is this a path that I might expect to make $40k-80k doing less than a full schedule? I generally work now about 4 days a week 10 months a year and am not looking to significantly increase my workload. Hard work does not frighten me the flooring installation business is brutally physical. I just don't want to invest money in equipment only to find out I can't make money. My CDL can be paid for by the VA at our local college, but I don't see myself driving a big tractor ever. I'm not even certain a CDL would be something I need. Is this something I could do on almost a part-time basis or would operating costs require that truck run as much as possible?

I did the numbers on hot shoting and you'd need to work full time to have any realistic chance to make money. Your expenses are very similar to running a big truck while having to settle for less cpm.

No body here hot shots that I know of, but there definitely sites around that can answer your questions better.

Your post is very confusing. What is "hotshotting" ? If you've never driven and can only drive for a short time and then "never", what do you propose to do? Start your own company with no experience? 100% failure rate.

Please clarify your goals and expectations more clearly to help others understand your questions.

Your post is very confusing. What is "hotshotting

Hot shots are the drivers who use pickup trucks instead of of class 7 or 8 tractors.

Your post is very confusing. What is "hotshotting

Hot shots are the drivers who use pickup trucks instead of of class 7 or 8 tractors.

Thank you, I did not know that.

I've always wondered where the term originated?

I thought it was a attitude thing? Geez!

I thought it was a attitude thing? Geez!

Geez, good guess! Your guess was better than mine.

I am looking to start hotshotting as my next career. I want to be realistic though about what type of money is possible. I don't mind being on the road for stretches, however I really have no interest in taking a job as a driver for someone else, having control over my own schedule at this point in my life is more important than the $$ I make. Is this a path that I might expect to make $40k-80k doing less than a full schedule?

That is a question that is really hard to answer. You know what it is like to be self-employed. You want to continue that but do it in a business that you have zero experience at. That is not a good plan. I have been a business owner for many years. I understand where you are coming from, but I think it is a bad idea.

I will just say this. I don't think you can make that kind of money running a hot shot rig four days a week and ten months out of the year. Hot shotting is an oddball business that seems to get some good rates at times, but it is finicky. Remember this is a commodities business. There is always going to be somebody undercutting your price. That's the reality of trucking. If you are going to be part time the other guys who can provide better service and better price will eat your lunch. Hot shot work is sometimes really hot and most time really not. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I think trucking is something you've got to go all in for. It doesn't lend itself well to playing around as a part time way to keep earning some money. I think you could make that kind of money easily by getting on with one of the flatbed companies that try to get their drivers home on weekends, There are several of them. You'd save yourself a lot of headache and expense by doing that instead. You know your way around being a contractor, but you will save yourself a lot of trouble by working for someone else in this business.

DOT loves to pull over hot shots

I've got some questions, I've just begun my research. I am already a small business owner. I have been working as a small flooring contractor/installer for 35 years. I have worked for myself my entire life since I got out of the service. The physical demands of flooring are beginning to wear me out as I am near 60 years old. I am looking to start hotshotting as my next career. I want to be realistic though about what type of money is possible. I don't mind being on the road for stretches, however I really have no interest in taking a job as a driver for someone else, having control over my own schedule at this point in my life is more important than the $$ I make. Is this a path that I might expect to make $40k-80k doing less than a full schedule? I generally work now about 4 days a week 10 months a year and am not looking to significantly increase my workload. Hard work does not frighten me the flooring installation business is brutally physical. I just don't want to invest money in equipment only to find out I can't make money. My CDL can be paid for by the VA at our local college, but I don't see myself driving a big tractor ever. I'm not even certain a CDL would be something I need. Is this something I could do on almost a part-time basis or would operating costs require that truck run as much as possible?