Hot Shot Driver CDL in California
Launch Your High Paying Hot Shot Trucking Career
Why “Hot Shot” Trucking Is Exploding in California
From the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the construction booms in San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, and the Inland Empire, shippers need nimble haulers who can deliver freight fast with pickup-and-trailer combinations.
That’s hot-shot trucking...moving cars, machinery, lumber, generators, containers, or auction vehicles on flatbeds or multi-car carriers behind a one-ton truck.
If your trailer is over 10,001 lb (about half the weight of a school bus). GVWR or you haul for profit, California and federal law say you need a Class A Commercial Driver’s License—a “hot-shot CDL.”
What Is a Hot Shot CDL?
A hot shot CDL is simply a Class A commercial license + the right endorsements that let you:
- Tow bumper-pull, pintle-hook, gooseneck, or fifth-wheel trailers
- Haul 4-car, 5-car, even 10-car wedge or stacker trailers
- Transport flatbed freight (steel, HVAC units, ATVs, compressors, and containers)
- Operate anywhere in the U.S. for hire
Key rule: A pickup pulling a trailer over 10,001 lbs (or any combination > 26,001 lb (about the weight of a school bus) GCWR) for compensation (This is the key component even if the trailer is less than 10k GVWR) is a commercial motor vehicle. You must hold a CDL, carry logbooks/ELDs, and meet FMCSA drug-and-alcohol clearinghouse rules.
Class A Hot Shot Trailer Types & CDL Impact
| Trailer Style | Typical Use | CDL/Endorsement |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 Car Wedge (gooseneck) | New or auction cars from Copart, Mannheim | Class A CDL |
| 10-Car Stacker (fifth wheel) | Dealer-to-dealer moves, port drayage |
Class A + Combination |
| Flatbed Deckover 40 ft | LTL freight, lumber, equipment | Class A |
| Low-Boy Tilt Deck | Skid steers, forklifts, scissor lifts | Class A |
| Hot-Shot Tank Trailer ≥ 119 gal | Water, fuels, chemicals | Class A + Tank (N) / Hazmat (H) |
Why Choose Hot Shot Trucking Over Big Rig OTR?
- Faster start-up: A dually + gooseneck or 5th wheel costs a fraction of a Class 8 semi-truck (tractor).
- Home nights: Many California hot-shot lanes run 300-500 miles round-trip.
- Premium rates: Urgent freight pays $3 to $5 per mile vs. $1.50 to $2.00 for van loads.
- Owner-operator freedom: Build a niche—car hauling, film set equipment, solar farm components.
SPCDL: California’s Hot Shot CDL Experts
We’re not just a school. We’ve owned hot shot fleets. Twenty percent of our students today are future hot shot entrepreneurs who are “done flipping burgers or stacking warehouse pallets” and want six-figure independence.
Our Fast Track Formula
- Online ELDT Theory (160 hrs.). – Study at home in Bakersfield, Oakland or anywhere in California. There is no classroom commute.
- CDL Permit Practice Bank. Unlimited DMV-style quizzes until you ace 90%. This is a free phone app that we recommend.
- Two Full Days, One-on-One. You get 16-20 hours of pre trip, skills, and on the road training with your own instructor at our San Bernardino training facility.
- Same-Week DMV Test. We bring the same truck to your exam. Our average student’s first try pass ≈ 90 %.
- Business Jump-Start. Tips on IRP, IFTA, CA Motor Carrier Permit, UCR, and how to find load boards.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Hot Shot CDL
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 0 |
Call (909) 353-9897 or apply online. Pay $1,500 down (total $4,800; flexible plans). |
| Day 1 – 10 | Finish online permit study materials. Pass DMV permit test. |
| Day 11 – 15 | Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and Pre-Trip multimedia learning at home. |
| Day 16 – 23 |
Drive to SPCDL yard: pre-trip, air brakes, skills, and road training 1-on-1 with a certified trainer. DMV skills test in same pickup + trailer. Walk out licensed! |
| Day 24 – 30 |
DMV skills test in same truck + trailer. Walk out licensed! This is typically scheduled for 3 to 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) after your permit is issued. |
Out-of-State? Fly into Ontario (ONT) or Palm Springs. We train you, test at our Arizona third-party site, and your results transfer to any DMV nationwide. We also suggest you book a local hotel like the Fairfield Inn & Suites, which is only 5 minutes from the training facility.
Critical Endorsements & Restrictions
- Automatic (“E”/64) Restriction: Many pickups are auto. Train stick shift with SPCDL and remove the restriction. Some brokers pay extra for manual drivers.
- Tank (N): Needed if you haul 119 gal + totes of DEF, pesticides, or water bladders.
- Hazmat (H/X): Adds $0.50 – $1.00 per mile on fuel equipment loads. Requires TSA background + ELDT hazmat theory. This Hazmat course is only $300 with SPCDL Truck Driving School.
- Air brake: Most one tons use hydraulic brakes, but many wedge trailers now run electric-over-air. Test in our air-equipped rig to avoid “L/Z” restrictions.
California Hot-Shot CDL Regulations You Can’t Ignore
| Regulation | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| CARB Clean Idle | 2010+ diesel pickup or aftermarket filter in Los Angeles & Bay Area corridors. |
| CA Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) | Any for-hire hot shotter must display CA# and maintain $750k liability. |
| 55 mph Trailer Limit | Vehicles towing in California must not exceed 55 mph, even on I-15 desert stretches. |
| BIT Inspections | Annual CHP inspection for combos > 10,001 lb GVWR used in commerce. |
| Port Drayage Regs | To enter Port of Oakland / LA-LB you need SCAC code, RFID, and diesel 2014+ or ZE/hybrid waiver and TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Card) . |
Hot Shot Driver Pay in California (2025 Forecast)
| Scenario | Typical Net Revenue* |
|---|---|
| Company Hot-Shot Driver (Class A) |
$25–$32/hr + OT ($60k–$75k/yr.) |
| Owner-Op 4-Car Wedge | $220–$300 per loaded day (after fuel & insurance) |
| Owner-Op 10-Car Stacker | $350–$450 per loaded day |
| Specialty Flatbed (HVAC, film props, containers) |
$3.50–$5.00 per mile premium lanes |
*Net after 30% operating cost. High-demand cities: Fontana, Fremont, Rialto, Modesto, Visalia.
Hot Shot Driver Pay in California (2025 Forecast)
Yes, if your trailer is rated over 10,001 lb or your combined weight exceeds 26,001 lb or hauling for compensation—you need a Class A CDL.
Most 4–10 car wedges exceed 10k trailers; therefore, a Class A CDL with Combination knowledge section is mandatory. Class A regardless of trailer GVWR because you are hauling for profit.
3 to 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) after you get your permit: online theory (7–10 days), 2 days driving, then same-week DMV test. You decide the pace of learning the online video courses from home.
Yes. SPCDL offers flexible payments for your CDL training, and military/veterans/first responders save 10%.
Absolutely. Train with our 5th-wheel combo and test to eliminate that limitation. This requires a full test of pre-trip, skills and road test.
Are You Ready to Swap Fast Food Shifts for High Dollar Loads?
SPCDL Truck Driving School is California’s premier hot shot CDL trucking school. You get our online coursework from home, two days of private wheel-time, our truck at DMV, and real-world business tips from instructors who have run their own hot shot companies.
Call (909) 353-9897 or fill out the Get Started form on our site.
Get your Hot Shot CDL with SPCDL, hook up that wedge, and start earning what you’re worth today!
