Hotshot trucking equipment for gooseneck and bumper-pull flatbeds. Winch straps, sliding winches, Grade 70 chain and binders, corner protectors, lightweight tarps, wide load signs and the accessories a hotshot rig carries every day. Hotshot rigs are usually Class 3 to 5 pickups pulling 30 to 40 ft flatbeds, and the gear on this page is chosen for that work.
Just getting set up? The hotshot starter kit lists the core securement gear with quantities for CDL and Non-CDL rigs.
Hotshot Equipment List
What a hotshot rig typically carries to secure most loads. Quantities follow our CDL and Non-CDL starter kits.
CDL or Non-CDL Hotshot?
A Class A CDL is required when the gross combination weight rating of your truck and trailer is 26,001 lb or more and the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb. Non-CDL hotshot drivers keep the combination at or under 26,000 lb, which means lighter loads and fewer tie-downs. Every pound of gear rides against that limit, which is one reason hotshot drivers favor lightweight tarps and aluminum accessories.
Tarps for Hotshot Trucking
Hotshot decks are shorter than a 48 to 53 ft semi flatbed and most hotshot drivers tarp alone, so a tarp you can lift and throw by yourself matters more than the extra life of a heavy duty build. See our lightweight tarps and choose the drop by load height.
How Many Tie-Downs Does a Hotshot Load Need?
Two FMCSA checks apply at once. Your tie-downs must add up to at least 50 percent of the cargo weight in working load limit, and you need two tie-downs for the first 10 feet of cargo plus one more for each additional 10 feet or part of it. A 12,000 lb load that is 24 ft long needs at least 6,000 lb of working load limit and at least four tie-downs. Machinery of 10,000 lb or more needs at least four. The full rules are in our FMCSA cargo securement guide, and the chain to binder pairing table is on our chains and binders page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotshot Equipment
Short answers for hotshot drivers setting up or upgrading their rig.
- What equipment do I need to start hotshot trucking?
At minimum: winch straps and sliding winches, a winch bar, Grade 70 chain with ratchet binders, corner protectors, and a tarp sized to your usual loads. The equipment list on this page shows typical quantities for CDL and Non-CDL rigs. - Do I need a CDL for hotshot trucking?
A Class A CDL is required when the gross combination weight rating of your truck and trailer is 26,001 lb or more and the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb. Non-CDL hotshot drivers keep the combination at or under 26,000 lb. - What size chain do hotshot drivers use?
Most hotshot loads are secured with 5/16 inch Grade 70 chain, rated 4,700 lb working load limit, paired with a 5/16–3/8 inch binder. Heavier equipment calls for 3/8 inch chain. - What tarps are best for hotshot trucking?
Lightweight tarps. Hotshot decks are shorter and loads lighter than on a semi flatbed, and most hotshot drivers tarp alone, so a lighter tarp is easier to handle and keeps weight off your combination rating. - How many straps do I need for a hotshot load?
Two tie-downs for the first 10 feet of cargo plus one for each additional 10 feet or part of it, and the combined working load limit must reach at least 50 percent of the cargo weight. - Do you sell a hotshot starter kit?
Yes. Our hotshot starter kit lists a 53-piece CDL setup and a 33-piece Non-CDL setup built from the same straps, winches, chain and binders we sell individually, each at its regular price.
