How do I find a hotshot trucking business for sale?

Hotshot businesses are small, and many sell quietly. There is no single place to find them, so most buyers search several at once. Whichever route you use, the first question is the same: is the seller offering a truck and trailer, or a working business with customers? The answer changes what you should ask for and how you should approach the purchase.

Listing sites and brokers

Business-for-sale sites list some trucking operations, and some business brokers handle small transport sales. Search under hotshot, expedited, flatbed and small carrier, because owners name their businesses differently. Set up alerts so you see new listings quickly. Listings tell you very little, so treat each one as an invitation to ask questions.

Equipment dealers and truck sellers

Dealers who sell heavy pickups, medium-duty trucks and flatbed trailers know owners who are getting out. Tell them what you want. A truck sold with its trailer, its customer list and a handover period is a different offer from one on a lot, and the seller of that package may not have thought of it as a business sale yet.

The people the operator already works for

Freight brokers, shippers and dispatchers who use hotshot carriers often hear first when an owner wants to retire. Ask them politely, and expect that some will not share a name. If you are weighing a dispatch or tow business instead, this page on what a dispatch business includes may help.

• Ask whether the truck, trailer or both are included
• Ask who the main customers are and whether they know about the sale
• Ask how long the owner will stay on to introduce you