Vehicle
Class 3-5 trucks with flatbed trailers
Smaller than a tractor-trailer, more flexible on access, and faster to dispatch for urgent loads.
Freight Glossary
Hotshot Trucking
Hotshot trucking is the use of medium-duty trucks, typically Class 3 to 5 vehicles with flatbed or gooseneck trailers, to haul time-sensitive or smaller-than-truckload freight. Hotshot loads are usually under 16,000 pounds and often involve expedited delivery. The term originated in the oil and gas industry where operators needed parts and equipment delivered urgently to remote well sites, but it now applies broadly to any freight moved on a non-CDL or light-CDL truck.
Why it matters
Hotshot trucking fills the gap between parcel and full truckload for urgent freight. It is faster to dispatch than a traditional tractor-trailer because the vehicle is smaller, does not require a CDL in some configurations, and can access locations that a 53-foot trailer cannot. The tradeoff is higher per-mile cost than standard trucking and limited capacity. For shippers with urgent, smaller loads, hotshot is often the fastest available option.
When to use it
Use hotshot trucking when you need a load delivered urgently that is too large for parcel but does not justify a full 53-foot trailer, or when the delivery location cannot accommodate a full-size truck. Common use cases include oilfield equipment, construction materials, auto parts, trade show materials, and emergency replacement inventory. Compare hotshot rates against cargo van and box truck delivery, which serve similar use cases with different vehicle types.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp offers cargo van and box truck capacity that serves the same urgent, mid-size freight market as hotshot trucking. The Warp platform dispatches dedicated vehicles within hours for time-sensitive loads, with real-time tracking and proof of delivery. For loads that fit a cargo van or box truck, Warp provides a more predictable alternative to finding a hotshot driver on a load board.
Hotshot
Hotshot trucking uses medium-duty trucks for urgent, smaller-than-truckload freight.
Best for
Urgent loads under 16,000 lbs
Time-sensitive freight that does not fill a 53-foot trailer and cannot wait for standard LTL scheduling.
Alternative
Cargo van and box truck delivery
For enclosed freight, cargo vans and box trucks serve similar use cases with weather protection and lower damage risk.