How to Find Hotshot Loads That Actually Pay Well

How Do Hotshot Truckers Find Loads?

The most common question from new hotshot operators: where do the loads come from? Your truck doesn’t make money sitting in the driveway. Here’s every method for finding freight, ranked from easiest to most profitable.

1. Load Boards (Easiest to Start)

Load boards are online marketplaces where brokers and shippers post available freight. You search by location, destination, and equipment type.

Top Load Boards for Hotshot

• DAT Load Board — The biggest and most used. $45-150/month depending on plan. Most loads available here
• Truckstop.com — Second largest. Good rate negotiation tools. $35-150/month
• Direct Freight — Budget option at $20-35/month. Fewer loads but decent for starting out
• 123Loadboard — Another budget option. Good mobile app

Start with DAT or Truckstop. The extra cost pays for itself with better load selection.

2. Dispatchers (Easiest but Most Expensive)

A dispatcher finds loads for you, negotiates rates, and handles paperwork. You just drive.

• Cost: 10-25% of each load’s gross pay
• Pros: Zero effort finding loads, good for beginners, they know the market
• Cons: Expensive long-term, you’re dependent on them, some are terrible

Warning: Vet your dispatcher carefully. Bad dispatchers book cheap loads and pocket their percentage while you lose money. Ask other drivers for recommendations.

3. Freight Brokers (Middle Ground)

Brokers are middlemen between shippers and carriers. They post on load boards but you can also build direct relationships with them.

• Build relationships with 5-10 good brokers
• Be reliable — deliver on time, communicate well
• They’ll start calling YOU with loads once you prove yourself
• Better rates than load board spot market over time

4. Direct Shippers (Most Profitable)

This is the endgame. Shipping directly with the company that needs freight moved eliminates the broker’s cut entirely.

• How to find them: Visit industrial parks, construction sites, manufacturing plants. Talk to shipping managers
• Benefits: Best rates, consistent freight, no middleman fees
• Challenge: Takes time to build relationships and prove reliability

Even 2-3 direct shipper relationships can keep your truck loaded consistently and profitably.

Tips for Getting Better Loads

1. Build your reputation — On-time delivery and good communication get you repeat business
2. Know your lanes — Specialize in specific routes. You’ll learn where the freight is
3. Avoid deadhead — Always look for a return load before you deliver. Don’t drive home empty
4. Negotiate rates — Load board rates are starting points, not final offers
5. Check fuel surcharges — Make sure high-mile loads include fuel surcharges
6. Seasonal awareness — Construction season, harvest season, and Q4 shipping rushes mean higher rates

Red Flags to Avoid

• Loads paying under $1.50/mile (not worth it after expenses)
• Brokers who won’t negotiate at all
• Extremely long detention times with no pay
• Double-brokered loads (broker hired another broker — your payment is at risk)
• Any load that requires you to pay upfront for anything

The Progression

Most successful hotshot operators follow this path:

1. Start with a dispatcher to learn the business
2. Move to load boards once you understand pricing and lanes
3. Build broker relationships for consistent freight
4. Land direct shipper contracts for maximum profit

The goal is to eventually have enough direct relationships that you never need a load board again. That’s when the real money starts.