A Brief History of Hot Shot Trucking

January 22, 2020 11:30 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The trucking business is more complex than you might think. The majority of people not knowledgeable about the trucking industry only see cargo trucks as they cruise down the highway or back into a store or warehouse loading dock making deliveries. Rarely does the public see what goes on behind the scenes of the trucking business.

Hot shot trucking is one branch of the trucking industry that deserves the spotlight for a moment. Many people don’t know what this is, and have never heard the term before, but it has an interesting history in the world of freight. When it comes to fast delivery of cargo, no one beats the services of a hot shot trucker. Read on to learn more! Below is a brief history of hot shot trucking in Houston, TX:

  • The need to move freight: Before automobiles came on the scene, cargo had to be moved by horse and cart, trains and even boats in some cases. The trucking industry was born with the introduction of interstate highway system in the 1950s, and business took off. Then, roughly 10 years later, came hot shot trucking.
  • Understanding hot shot trucking: This service is typically for smaller cargo from a single client who is in need of rushed delivery. While a lot of business comes from one-off clients, those needing this kind of service frequently will enter into a contract with a highly reliable hot shot trucking company. Hot shot trucking is a prompt service that gets the delivery job done immediately.
  • Truckload size: The name “hot shot trucking” refers to rigs and trucks (with or without trailers for extra capacity) that are smaller than the typical semi truck or tractor trailer. This term also refers to a less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment of goods, meaning goods are transported as a partial load instead of waiting in a trailer for other companies’ goods to fill it up before it can be delivered.
  • How companies got started: Most hot shot trucking companies started out with just one truck and maybe a trailer. Over time, fleets grew in size, and services expanded. Utility trailers could be pulled behind pickup trucks to haul small stuff, while long flatbed trucks and heavy-duty lowboys took on the big and bulky stuff. As time went on, some companies began renting and delivering equipment to sites, offering options like excavators, skid steers, backhoes, forklifts and more.
  • Licensing: Hot shot truck drivers typically don’t need special licensing. They only need a commercial license, as opposed to a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A CDL, however, is required for hauling vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more.
  • Now a global economy: The hot shot trucking business has expanded into a global economy. Hot shot truck drivers make good money, which makes sense since trucking is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

The history of hot shot trucking in Houston, TX and beyond doesn’t end here. In fact, the industry is predicted to become more in demand in the future. For LTL trucking you can rely on, call Pro Delivery LLC today!

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