Hotshot insurance for the pickup and the trailer behind it.
Hotshot (hot shot) operators run a heavy-duty pickup with a gooseneck or flatbed trailer — often under CDL weight, often on their own authority. We quote the whole rig, not just the truck.
Designed for
Non-CDL and CDL hotshot operators on their own authority or leased on
Typical rig
3/4-ton to 1.5-ton pickup with gooseneck, flatbed, or step-deck trailer
What carriers ask
Gross combination weight, freight, radius, and driving history
Commercial coverage for a pickup that hauls for hire
Hotshot trucking looks like a pickup to a personal-lines company and like a freight truck to the FMCSA. Once you haul for hire across state lines you need operating authority, primary liability at commercial limits, and usually the cargo limit your brokers ask for — and a personal auto policy will not respond.
We work with markets that write hotshot: Class 3 to 5 pickups, gooseneck and flatbed trailers, expedited and LTL freight, oilfield and equipment moves. The submission covers the truck, the trailer, the freight, and where you run.
Coverage we arrange for hotshot operators
Common questions
Do I need a CDL to run hotshot?
Not if your truck and trailer stay under 26,001 pounds gross combination weight rating. Above that, a CDL applies. Either way, for-hire interstate work needs operating authority and commercial insurance.
How much liability do brokers require for hotshot?
Most brokers and load boards ask for $1,000,000 in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo, even though the federal minimum for general freight is lower. We quote to what your brokers actually require.
Will my personal auto policy cover the pickup?
Not for for-hire hauling. Personal policies exclude commercial use, and a claim while loaded can be denied. A commercial auto policy written for hotshot covers the truck, the trailer, and the freight.
Can a brand-new hotshot authority get insurance?
Yes. New ventures have fewer markets and pay more in the first year; a clean MVR and a realistic plan for freight and radius make the difference. Rates usually improve at the first renewal.
Which carriers write this?
Market appetite for hotshot changes by state and by year. Carrierlens is the free directory of trucking insurance markets our agency built: carriers, MGAs, and wholesalers, with the states they write and their appetite documents.
See markets for hotshot on Carrierlens →Other operations we insure
- Dump truck insurance
- Box truck insurance
- Reefer truck insurance
- Hazmat trucking insurance
- Tow truck insurance
- NEMT insurance
- Semi truck insurance
- Bobtail & non-trucking liability
- Car hauler insurance
- Cargo van insurance
- MCS-90 endorsement
- Amazon Relay insurance requirements
By state
Get a hotshot quote
Send us the truck, the trailer, and the freight you plan to haul. We will quote the rig to what your brokers require.
A quote request does not bind coverage. Availability, limits, exclusions, and effective dates are subject to carrier approval and policy terms.