Expedited dispatch that checks the clock before it checks the rate
Hot loads pay for speed. A part for a line that's down, a shipment that missed its truck, a delivery that has to be there by 6 a.m. The rate per mile can look great. But an expedited rate only works if a driver can deliver on time without breaking hours-of-service rules, and plenty of hot loads are quoted as if one driver could run straight through.
Our expedited dispatch starts with the clock. We run the pickup time, miles and delivery deadline through hours of service before we counter, and we pass on anything only a team could make legally if you run solo. We dispatch expedited freight on 26 ft box trucks and larger, hotshots and tractor-trailers. No cargo vans or sprinters.
- HOS checked first
- You approve every load
- 5% of gross
- No setup fee
One hot load, solo vs team, against the clock
Here's an EXAMPLE hot load worked out on federal hours of service: 900 miles, pickup at 8:00 a.m., delivery required by 6:00 a.m. the next day, average 55 mph. The rule set is 49 CFR 395.3: 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window, a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, then 10 hours off.
| Driver setup | Drive time needed | Legal arrival (est.) | Makes 06:00? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | about 16.4 hrs | about 10:55 next day (11 hrs driving, 10 hrs off, then the rest) | No |
| Team | about 16.4 hrs | about 01:00 next day (drivers swap, short breaks) | Yes |
| Solo, truck 300 mi closer | about 10.9 hrs | about 19:25 same day | Yes |
The rate on that load is the same for all three rows. What changes is whether it's legal to take. A solo driver can't make that delivery without breaking the rules, so it isn't a solo load, whatever the posting says. A team can. And a solo truck that's already closer can, which is why expedited freight rewards being in the right place.
Run your own loads through the truck transit time and ETA calculator. It works out the legal arrival time with breaks and off-duty time included, so you can check a delivery window before you ever call.
What expedited pays, and what it really costs
Expedited freight usually pays more per mile than standard freight, because the shipper is paying for speed, a dedicated truck and often a short notice. But the extra money comes with extra cost: deadhead to reach the pickup fast, waiting for the next hot load, and the risk of a missed window.
So we look at the money per hour as well as per mile. A hot load that pays well but leaves you sitting for a day afterward isn't as good as it looks. Our guides to expedited freight rates and hot loads in trucking explain how urgent freight is priced, with public figures only where we can source and date them.
EXAMPLE: a $1,900 hot load for 600 miles is $3.17 per mile. If the truck drove 120 miles empty to grab it on short notice and waits a day for the next one, the money over two days looks very different. We count the whole picture before we bring it to you.
How our desk handles a hot load
- Confirm the real pickup time, the delivery deadline and whether the delivery window has any flexibility.
- Run the trip through hours of service for your setup, solo or team, and pass if it can't be done legally.
- Check the broker on FMCSA's public records and confirm payment terms before we counter.
- Counter with the urgency counted: short notice, deadhead to reach the pickup, and any after-hours delivery.
- Send you the load with the legal ETA, the rate and the terms. You say yes or no.
- Run check calls through the trip, so the broker gets updates and you get to drive.
If anything changes after you say yes, like a later pickup, a new delivery time or an added stop, we rerun the clock and send it back to you. A changed hot load is a new decision.
Trucks we dispatch for expedited work
Expedited freight moves on a lot of different equipment, and we dispatch most of it. 26 ft box trucks and longer handle a lot of time-critical partials and pallet freight. Hotshots move urgent parts and equipment. Tractor-trailers handle full truckload expedited and team freight. We don't dispatch cargo vans, sprinter vans or box trucks under 26 ft, for expedited or anything else.
Team operations open up the most expedited freight, because they can legally run nearly around the clock. If you run teams, tell us, and we'll look for the long, urgent runs a solo can't take.
Every hot load is still your decision
Hot loads come with pressure: the broker wants an answer in minutes. We do the clock check, the broker check and the counter fast, then send you the load with the legal ETA and the terms. You say yes or no. Say yes and the broker sends the rate confirmation straight to you.
We won't accept a hot load on your behalf because the window is closing. If you're asleep or driving and can't answer, the load goes to someone else, and that's fine. A missed hot load costs nothing. A hot load you didn't agree to can cost a lot.
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What expedited dispatch costs
5% of the gross on loads you haul for one truck with authority 6 months or older, 7% for an MC under 6 months, 26 ft box trucks and hotshots, 4% for two or more trucks while the fleet rate lasts.
No setup fee, no minimum, month-to-month. The fee breakdown shows it in cents per mile.
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Being in the right place is half of expedited
Expedited freight goes to the truck that's legal, ready and close. A broker with a hot load usually calls the carriers nearest the pickup first, because distance decides whether the delivery time can be met. That makes positioning as important as the rate.
We help you stay where hot freight tends to come from on your lanes: industrial areas, manufacturing corridors and distribution hubs, instead of finishing your last delivery in a quiet market. When you finish a hot load, we look for the next one near the delivery, or for a standard load that moves you back toward the busier areas.
Team drivers get the most out of expedited, since they can run long, urgent loads a solo can't legally take. If you're a solo driver, expedited still works, as long as the miles and the deadline fit your hours. We'll show you which ones do on every load.
Keep your logbook current and your available hours clear to the desk. On expedited freight, knowing exactly how many legal hours you have left right now is the difference between grabbing a load and watching it go to someone else.
Expedited dispatch questions
What is expedited freight dispatch?
Do expedited loads pay more per mile?
Do you dispatch cargo vans or box trucks under 26 ft for expedited?
How do you make sure a hot load is legal on hours?
| Gross (EXAMPLE) | $4,000 |
|---|---|
| Fee 5% | $200 |
| You keep | $3,800 |
| No haul | $0 fee |