---
title: "Hotshot trucking leads from new MC authorities"
url: "https://rookiefeed.com/hotshot-trucking-leads"
updated: "2026-10-08"
---

# Hotshot trucking leads from new MC authorities

> In the 30 days to October 19, 2026, 487 new for-hire carriers looked like hotshot outfits: 1 to 3 power units, no truck tractors, and flatbed or vehicle cargo registered. That's about 114 a week, 8.7% of all new authorities, and 70.4% run a single truck. Rookiefeed delivers them each morning with the owner's phone and email.

## How we find hotshot carriers

FMCSA has no hotshot field, so any list that says hotshot is using a rule. Ours is plain and you can re-run it on the CSV yourself:

- For-hire motor carrier, authority just granted
- 1 to 3 [power units](https://rookiefeed.com/glossary/power-units)
- Zero truck tractors on the registration (a semi tractor means it isn't hotshot)
- Registered cargo that implies a flatbed (building materials, machinery, metal, construction, oilfield) or vehicles (car hauler)

## The numbers, 30 days to October 19, 2026

53.4% reporting no CDL drivers fits the typical pickup-and-gooseneck rig kept under 26,001 pounds. The rule also catches some small straight-truck flatbed operators; treat it as a filter, not a label.

| Measure | Hotshot-style new carriers |
| --- | --- |
| New authorities | 487 (8.7% of 5,591) |
| Per week | 114 |
| Single truck | 70.4% |
| Report zero CDL drivers | 53.4% |
| Flatbed-type cargo / vehicle cargo | 64.5% / 48.5% (some register both) |
| First-time authority | 99% |
| Email / phone on file | 99.6% / 100% |
| Liability insurance filed | 99.2% |
| Median days from application to grant | 27 |

## Where new hotshot carriers are

Hotshot-style grants by home state, same 30 days. Each state links to its full new-carrier page.

| State | Hotshot-style new carriers |
| --- | --- |
| [Texas](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/texas) | 54 |
| [Florida](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/florida) | 39 |
| [Pennsylvania](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/pennsylvania) | 30 |
| [California](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/california) | 25 |
| [Virginia](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/virginia) | 22 |
| [Illinois](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/illinois) | 21 |
| [North Carolina](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/north-carolina) | 19 |
| [South Carolina](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/south-carolina) | 16 |

## Who buys hotshot leads, and why now

- Insurance agents: a new hotshot authority files its first liability policy to go active, and hotshot risks quote differently from tractor-trailers. See [truck insurance leads](https://rookiefeed.com/for/insurance-agents).
- Dispatchers: a one-truck hotshot owner has no broker relationships yet and needs loads this week. See [owner-operator leads](https://rookiefeed.com/for/dispatchers).
- Factoring: new hotshot carriers wait 30 to 60 days on broker pay like everyone else. See [factoring leads](https://rookiefeed.com/for/factoring).
- Equipment, trailer and fuel-card sellers: the first weeks of authority are when they set up accounts.

## Getting only hotshot carriers

There's no hotshot switch in the dashboard yet. Set fleet size to 1 and 2-5 and your states, then in the CSV keep rows where power_units is 3 or less, tractors is 0 or blank, and equipment_guess contains Flatbed or Car hauler. Rookiefeed is $59 a month for one state once a week, $149 for one state every day, $299 for up to 8 states and $599 for every state, and you can cancel any time. Start with the [free list builder](https://rookiefeed.com/list-builder) or [check one carrier](https://rookiefeed.com/mc-number-lookup).

## Questions

### Is this a list of hotshot drivers or hotshot companies?

Companies: carriers that just got their own for-hire MC authority. Many are owner-operators driving their own truck, so the contact is usually the person behind the wheel.

### How accurate is the hotshot filter?

It's a rule applied to what carriers register with FMCSA, not a survey. Carriers describe their own cargo and vehicles to FMCSA, and some don't update them. Expect a few rows that aren't hotshot, and check a carrier's trucks before you quote.

### Can I get hotshot leads for one state?

Yes. The State plan covers one state for $149 a month, the Weekly plan one state on Mondays for $59, or try the State plan for 7 days for $19.

## Sources

- [49 CFR 383.5: CDL vehicle weight threshold (26,001 lbs)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-383/subpart-A/section-383.5)