Starting A Hotshot Business For Backhauls

Hi all, I have a seemingly complicated situation and questions and I apologize if it has been asked before, but I searched and did not find a proper response.

My husband is an O/O, but it's a hotshot truck. He works as a contract employee (gets a 1099) and his loads are dependent on what the Company grants us. Here's the problem: we live in the Houston area, and plenty of times he gets a load to Oklahoma or Kansas, or even Minnesota and on every load, he's coming back empty. These guys in the Company dispatch office make absolutely ZERO effort to get a backhaul coming home, which is incredibly irritating to both of us.

Hubby was asking what if I (the wife) were to get on a job board and bid some jobs in the area, just to cover the fuel costs back to Houston? I am wary of doing this because I'm not sure about the legality of a driver making a move for one company, and driving back for another company.

So then, my questions are these: 1. Is this legal? He would drive up from Houston to Kansas sporting magnets for Company A, but if he should get a backhaul, he would change out the magnets for Company B and come home driving under Company B. 2. Where can I find the laws that govern this type of information? 3. Can he switch electronic logs (as Company A has their own GeoTab provided, but Company B would be something different)?

I appreciate everyone's time in reading this in advance!

Change companies.

Hi all, I have a seemingly complicated situation and questions and I apologize if it has been asked before, but I searched and did not find a proper response.

My husband is an O/O, but it's a hotshot truck. He works as a contract employee (gets a 1099) and his loads are dependent on what the Company grants us. Here's the problem: we live in the Houston area, and plenty of times he gets a load to Oklahoma or Kansas, or even Minnesota and on every load, he's coming back empty. These guys in the Company dispatch office make absolutely ZERO effort to get a backhaul coming home, which is incredibly irritating to both of us.

Hubby was asking what if I (the wife) were to get on a job board and bid some jobs in the area, just to cover the fuel costs back to Houston? I am wary of doing this because I'm not sure about the legality of a driver making a move for one company, and driving back for another company.

So then, my questions are these:

1. Is this legal? He would drive up from Houston to Kansas sporting magnets for Company A, but if he should get a backhaul, he would change out the magnets for Company B and come home driving under Company B.

2. Where can I find the laws that govern this type of information?

3. Can he switch electronic logs (as Company A has their own GeoTab provided, but Company B would be something different)?

I appreciate everyone's time in reading this in advance!

Howdy, Hellen!

It's not 'that' complicated, actually. Does he have a 'contract' with Company A ???? Does it contain a 'non compete' clause?? That's the main thing. If so, you might be screwed. If you are 1099; y'all pay the insurance yourself, right? Unless they have you 'locked in' somehow, it sure is possible to do as you're wanting to do, as long as you are not LEASED on, running under THEIR MC/DOT #'S.

The ELD's, I'll leave that to the seasoned professionals, because both will have to be tied in to one another (tethered) to log ALL hours driven, et al.

This guy on YouTube has a lot of great info on Hotshot ops: Hotshot Dave.

Lastly, when you are trying to 'line item' things as you were above, put TWO spaces instead of one....makes it easier on the eyes, but I knew what you meant! I fixed it for you, in my quote reply.

Thanks for stopping in TT, hope this helps some; let US know, too!

~ Anne ~