The short answer
Hotshot loads often pay roughly $4 to $5 a mile, depending on lane, urgency and season. A 1-ton diesel pulling a gooseneck typically gets about 13-14 mpg empty and 8-10 mpg loaded. Texas Solutions dispatches hotshots for 8% of weekly gross, OTR, with no flat rate.
Hotshot trucking moves time-sensitive and partial loads with a heavy-duty pickup and a flatbed or gooseneck trailer. It is fast, flexible, and popular in Texas and the Permian Basin, where equipment and oilfield freight cannot wait for a full truckload.
Hotshot rates per mile
As a rough guide, hotshot loads often pay about $4 to $5 a mile. What moves the number:
- Urgency. Same-day and next-morning freight pays more.
- Lane. Loads into areas with little return freight need a higher rate to cover the trip home.
- Season and region. Energy and construction activity swing demand.
Compare that with other equipment on our rate-per-mile guide. Rates are market-driven and never guaranteed.
Hotshot fuel mileage by load weight
Weight matters more on a hotshot than on a semi, because the cargo is a large share of the total weight. Typical figures for a 1-ton diesel dually and 40 ft gooseneck:
| Load on trailer | Typical mpg |
|---|---|
| Empty | about 13-14 mpg |
| About 9,000 lbs | about 10 mpg |
| About 16,000 lbs | about 7-9 mpg |
At $6.00 a gallon, a loaded hotshot averaging 9 mpg spends about $0.67 per mile on diesel. Enter your own weight, miles and fuel state in the hotshot fuel calculator.
What a hotshot dispatcher does
- Finds expedited and partial loads that fit your trailer, weight rating and permits
- Negotiates the rate and confirms dimensions and securement needs
- Plans the next load so you are not driving home empty
- Handles broker setups, packets and rate confirmations
You approve every load before it is booked.
What hotshot dispatch costs
Texas Solutions charges 8% of weekly gross for OTR hotshot dispatch, with no flat rate and no setup fee. On typical weekly gross of $7,000-$9,000, that is about $560-$720 a week. Calculate your fee or read more about our hotshot dispatch service.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hotshot trucking pay per mile?
As a rough guide, hotshot loads often pay about $4 to $5 a mile, depending on the lane, how urgent the freight is and the season. Rates are not guaranteed.
How many mpg does a hotshot truck get loaded?
Operators pulling a 40 ft gooseneck commonly report about 10 mpg with around 9,000 lbs on the trailer and 7-9 mpg near 16,000 lbs.
How much is hotshot dispatch?
Texas Solutions charges 8% of weekly gross for OTR hotshot dispatch. On $7,000-$9,000 weekly gross that is about $560-$720 a week.