Hotshot dispatch for owner-operators
Hotshot loads are urgent by nature. A dispatcher who answers at any hour means you hear about the load first, and a dedicated rate-and-paperwork partner means you spend your time hauling.
What hotshot hauling is
Hotshot carriers pull a gooseneck or bumper-pull flatbed trailer, typically 30 to 40 feet, behind a heavy-duty pickup. They are called when freight cannot wait for a full-size truck: replacement parts, equipment, building materials and small machinery.
Speed is the product. That means time, availability and quick answers matter more than almost anything else on the load.
What to get right before you book
- Weight ratings. Your truck and trailer ratings decide how much you can legally haul.
- CDL requirements. Whether you need a CDL depends on the combined weight rating of your truck and trailer. Many setups stay under the threshold and heavier ones do not, so check your numbers and the rules.
- Authority and insurance. Hauling for hire across state lines needs the proper authority, a USDOT number and insurance that meets the broker's requirements.
- Securement. Hotshot loads are open-deck, so straps, chains and tarps need to match the freight.
Why a 24/7 dispatcher matters for hotshots
Urgent loads are posted at all hours and are gone quickly. A dispatcher who monitors loads around the clock, negotiates the rate and handles the paperwork lets you accept urgent freight while you are already driving. You keep the final decision on every load.
How Sonex dispatches hotshots
Tell us your setup
A short onboarding call covers your hotshot rig, home time, preferred lanes and the weekly revenue you need. About 30 minutes.
We find and screen loads
Your dispatcher works load boards and broker relationships around the clock, screening for rate, deadhead and broker history, then sends you the load.
You approve, we handle the rest
You say yes or no to every load. We negotiate, send rate confirmations, track check calls and handle BOLs and invoicing. Dispatchers answer 24/7.
It depends on the combined weight rating of your truck and trailer. Many hotshot setups stay below the CDL threshold, but heavier ones need a Class A CDL, so check your ratings and the FMCSA and state rules.
Typical hotshot loads are time-sensitive and smaller than a full truckload: replacement parts, equipment, building materials and small machinery, often up to about 16,500 lb on a 40-foot deck.
Yes. Sonex dispatches hotshot owner-operators across all 48 contiguous states, and dispatchers answer at any hour so time-critical loads are not missed.
No. Sonex never forces dispatch. You approve every load before it is booked.
Let's get your truck moving.
Apply in four short steps. A Sonex team member responds within a few hours, and most qualified carriers start within 24 hours.