Final week working as a hotshot driver before Christmas.

[@tomh2567]

Merry Christmas, thanks for the videos and sharing your numbers!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁

[@BigBobDookie]

I hope you get outta there and spend some time with the family.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Yes I will try to get a load out of here to take me home for a little bit. 👍🏻

[@fen9086]

Oh yeah another video, waited 4 days for an upload checking daily. These are great numbers with this current market. Stay safe. Merry Christmas Alex!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 I’m trying to upload at least 2 videos per week but sometimes with work it’s a bit hard. I appreciate your support 🙂👍🏻

[@pancrasio1118]

You should aim the camera down a little more so we can see what you actually doing. We can barely see how you do your stuff and im about to start doing hotshot trucking so I want to learn as much as i can

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

I agree. A lot of times I adjust it but by the time I put my hat on it angles it differently and when I edit the videos I get pissed because you can’t see what I was doing. I’m working on getting that figured out 😁

[@aprilgeneric8027]

i was wondering why this was recommended to me as i am taking my lunch break in my UPS straight truck at hwy 55 and vicksburg....this guy is right down the road at hwy55 &494, hahaha

[@rayarsenault1958]

I used to drive a rollback, doing mostly equipment. I had a bunch of 15' double-hook chains, some 8' single hook chains, and a pail full of 4' singles, for just such occasions.

[@no-_-limits]

I see you pull the cotter pin out. Replace the cotter pin with the sliding pins this way easy to take it apart and put back together. Instead of four chains you can use one chain in the front with two binders one on each side and one chain in the back with two binders. I see you hook the binder directly to the frame - some DOT does not have an issue with it, depends state to state. Note that the rail does not have a rating meaning the rail can fail. They recommend hooking the binder both ends on chains. (Not hooking the hook directly to the load and or rail. Safety issues. I know doing it that way maybe easier and less time consuming but it only takes one time mess-up to be out of business. Like your videos! The part I don’t get is from your other videos how you can eat so many sweets, donuts and stay fit. Good for you!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Cotter pin is a great idea. This load was heavy so I wanted to use 4 chains. I would have used one on rear and one up front and use 4 binders but chain isn’t long enough the way I needed to hook it. If I hook binders both ends on chains that means the chains have to be hooked to the rail and I don’t see a difference between hooking chain or binder to the rail. If the rail fails it’ll fail with the chain hooked to it as well. I see mostly everyone hooking binders to frame. Never had an issue with DOT about that. 👍🏻

[@e3rleblanc422]

Are you willing to share your net to the bank this year after all expenses? Feel free to round to the nearest $10k lol. I’ll go first: I’ve worked over 800 hours of OT in this chemical plant as a laboratory technician and I’m right around $115k gross, $85k net. I’d rather have the freedom of owning my own business and working when and how I want to if it’ll pay the bills!

[@nathanurick8320]

If you enjoy your time home this may not be a good choice. If the tires stop so does the money. Truck break downs can be very costly if you can even get parts. Yes you probably can make money but you have to be willing to take the hood with the bad. Some of the hot shot driver videos look real good but are they showing and telling you everything. Be careful

[@e3rleblanc422]

Yeah, I drove flat bed last year for TMC for about 6 months. I miss the open road and the feeling of freedom, but the company driver pay wasn’t near what I’m able to earn in the chemical plants, which is why I asked the question. Just curious of his number so I’ll have some reference. Thanks!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

I really don’t make my videos to talk about net to my bank. That’s kind of personal. Everyone’s net is different based on your expenses. I can tell you it’s not less than your net. Hope that gives you an idea. 👍🏻

[@e3rleblanc422]

That’s all I need to know! Lol! I certainly respect your privacy. Thanks for the info and keep up the content creation! You, more than anyone else, inspire me to consider trucking life again.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@e3rleblanc422 Thank you! That means a lot to me 👍🏻🙂

[@richardbarkley9909]

Another excellent video Alex!! Great job as always securing tour loads! Merry Christmas and safe travels always!!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Richard, thank you! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁

[@LavinaDan]

Nice video if you want more life from the chain don't let it spin keep it straight when you're Tightening it down keep the videos coming 👍

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! I do try to keep the chain straight with no twists but sometimes it still happens. I know it’s not good and twists make a weaker securement. 👍🏻

[@bbrcummins1984]

Have a merry Christmas Alex

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁

[@ridindirtyface]

Using shackles are another good remedy for those small holes, where the hooks don't quite fit.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

You are correct!

[@MilanPalushaj-uh3df]

You do a great job on everything you do it is pleasure watching your work. Merry Christmas

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! That means a lot to me. Merry Christmas!🎄

[@nathanurick8320]

Good job brother and I hope you have a merry Christmas

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁

[@slaweks2002]

Comparing to my rig 5 days on the road making 3k in the pocket as owner operator driving dry van money sucks for cdl drivers

[@MACF75]

Awesome.

[@SaraClem-fi4ig]

How much weight your trailer able to carry

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

15,800

[@Reggiekranz]

What is your cost per mile for expenses

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@Reggiekranz I don’t calculate that stuff. I know what I need to make per week to live comfortably and I go by that. I never understood why guys calculate cost per mile to operate or cost per mile for expenses. Who cares? As long as you have a good amount of money left after paying all your bills, you’re good. No need to complicate anything else.

[@rajasultan7473]

What is the best way to get loads for someone who’s just starting new?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Either find a dispatch company or sign up for one of a few available load boards.

[@marcelinogonzalez2273]

Questions you use dispatcher

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Yes

[@owens417]

are hotshoters governed by the same rule as cdl holders? how many hours can you drive in a day, how many in a week?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Same exact rules as semi drivers. Hotshots are also CDL but some are non but still all same rules apply. Same ELD regulations.

[@owens417]

Ok thanks for the info.

[@steveco6891]

KZbin full of guys quitting and Alex stating $8k weeks pulling from the same load boards 🤔

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Never give up 👍🏻

[@steveco6891]

@@Mr.AlexKogan well if you that lucky you should have a fleet of trucks running around or do what I do and just have established accounts and contracts locally and make the same money for a quarter of the expenses 👍

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@steveco6891 I don’t want to test my luck by investing in a fleet of trucks at this time.

[@frankieross1]

Hello Alex, Congratulations on your work, very neat and safe. Can I ask a question? I assume $10,200 is your total. But after paying expenses, how much of that $4 per mile is your profit?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! I don’t remember what my fuel expenses were for that week but on average I’d say 30% goes to expenses.

[@frankieross1]

@@Mr.AlexKogan Thank you. Does that 30% include the percentage of the dispatcher? In an average month, what is your profit?

[@frankieross1]

@@Mr.AlexKogan Sorry Alex. I am from Argentina in South America and I am trying to find reference numbers. This is my e-mail in case you want to reply privately.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@frankieross1 yes dispatch is included.

[@hiltonray4461]

Do you use a dispatcher or just work off of the load boards ? Hope your're doing well.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

I have a dispatcher.

[@joe24-7]

Do you haul for a company ​@@Mr.AlexKogan

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@joe24-7 No. I get loads off the load board.

[@Gurpreetsingh-y6z1q]

Which app do you use for Load ?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@Gurpreetsingh-y6z1q I have a dispatcher

[@joe24-7]

Do you have your own authority you got your own DOT number and MC number or do you work at least to a company just trying to see the best route of going

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

I have my own authority. That’s the best route to go. With the market being so bad, working for someone is not beneficial. Even in good market, it’s always best to work for yourself.

[@alfonsogonzalez6412]

Grind grind grind bro 🤑🤑😎😎🫡🫡 that's how u close the year 🎉🎉🎉 amazing week Alex, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year🥂🥂 lots of blessings to you and your family u can take the rest of the year off see u in 2024 i haven't forgot the donuts🍩🍩🍩☕️☕️☕️ hahaha be safe bro and stay warm..

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Alfonso, thank you my friend! I’ll try to finalize the year this week and take some time off. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well and a Happy New Year! 🎅🏼🎄🎁🎉

[@tier1logistics_llc]

Hey boss man I'm currently hauling cars and I'm wanting to switch thing up and start running general freight like you do, what load board and what do you recommend I start wth? I bought a 2023 diamond C trailer wth hydraulic dovetail and 25900 gvwr. I have a 2019 f450.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

That’s a great setup. My dispatcher books my loads but they use Truckstop, DAT and maybe some other load boards.

[@tier1logistics_llc]

You have your own dispatch you pay or go thru a service I was thinking about using one God knows you get like 10 calls a day from people trying to dispatch for you lol

[@tier1logistics_llc]

Also thank you very much for the quick response really appreciate you and love watching and leaning from your videos

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@tier1logistics_llc I appreciate the support.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@tier1logistics_llc I have a dispatch company I’ve been with for several years.

[@Tony_law07]

What’s the best way to learn how to chain stuff down properly? Can you do a video of all the stuff you can and might need or a video of ur truck toolbox supplies?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Best way to learn is to ride along with someone and see how it’s done and also watch KZbin videos that show how it’s done. Here’s my video of my equipment that I carry on my trailer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKPUZoegfN-In6csi=yXEWN13T65ZHxyGJ

[@joseantoniopenapelaez5232]

hey alex im also doing OTR, would be awesome if you share some of your meal prep recipies, it is really hard to make meals without having a kitchen, thank you for the videos, you really doing something good for the industry

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Check out this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2a5i3-tfbqerassi=UqXsrVFyabzkwlsf

[@brycedawson6979]

Nice week… left my rig in phx & flew home for Xmas. Safe travels

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Very nice that you made it home for Christmas. Enjoy your family time and have a Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁

[@Pete-from-Tn]

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Years.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Pete, thank you! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year my friend 🙂

[@amer8530]

Love your videos and video style its unique. Keep doing your thing man. Safe travels from Louisville, Ky.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Really appreciate ya 🙂👍🏻

[@tg9388]

Looks like it’s getting cold there, huge snow plow

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Dropped it off in Idaho. It was 10 degrees at night.

[@a.garrido510]

Cdl needed ?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Only if you want to go higher than 26,000 lb truck trailer and load combined.

[@georg6668]

Hi man, do you work with CDL?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Hi. Yes.

[@georg6668]

@@Mr.AlexKogan thanks 👍🏻 Good luck on the road!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@georg6668 Thank you!

[@christhomas9837]

Merry Christmas Alex. I enjoy your video's.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Happy you like the videos. Merry Christmas!

[@jimgraves6464]

That motor in the snowblower is as big as your ram truck. 😂

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Almost 👍🏻

[@alvinmann7675]

Excellent week! Merry Christmas to you and your family Alex! Careful up there in Utah👍

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@NeilsprojectFD1994]

Alex you had a great week. Congratulations Thanks for the great video and have a good holiday if you can.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! It was a great week. Happy holidays!

[@JustinMettleMcMahan]

Now that's a Christmas bonus 😄 drive safe, Merry Christmas 🎁🎄

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Yes indeed. Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄🎁

[@glennjukes5581]

Love your video's--a hard working guy. Merry Christmas and safe travels to you.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you Glenn! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄🎅🏼

[@dominatesnipe]

Do you have your CDL to be pulling in this much a week?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Yes

[@davidburchell2882]

I need to quit hauling RV and do the hotshot thing, more money

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

It’s not always this good but we try! 👍🏻

[@PowerlifterRich]

Alex where did you mount your fire extinguisher I forget? It's supposed to have a certain amount of clearance as well so I'm curious where u got it! Also I was looking at your winches and I don't see welds, did you just bolt them down? I tried that and after 10 mins of tightening the winch shifted on the last turn and I said he'll no this getting welded!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

My fire extinguisher is in my roadside kit on the floor of my front passenger seat. I have a mount in front under the passenger seat but it rattles while being mounted there so I just put it in the roadside bag that came with the truck. DOT officer said it’s ok that way. My winches on the trailer are sliding winches in a c track. Only two are welded. One in between the wheels and one on the tail of the trailer.

[@PowerlifterRich]

You don't think you may have just gotten a cool dot officer? If there is such a thing lol. So if you didn't even have the mount at all and still had it in a bag like that do you think it would fly? Or do you just have to have that mount in there? I'm just wondering because I'm reading it must be mounted

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@PowerlifterRich honestly ai don’t know. Could have been a nice officer. It probably does have to be mounted but I’m not 100% sure. 🤷‍♂️

[@AlexGidenko]

Hey driver how do you cook food when hotshot driving?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

I meal prep for the road. Meaning Inout my meals in ziplock bag or container and keep it in my fridge and then I heat them up at a truck stop. Also I bring hard boiled eggs and to make oatmeal I grab a coffee cup at the Truckstop and put hot water in it and my oats. Let them soak up over night and then heat it up in a bowl.

[@adambarry374]

Nice to see how well you take care of other peoples stuff.. I am sure they really appreciate that...

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Treat everything as if it’s your own. 👍🏻

[@benchbytes]

I’m about to quit this gig 3 months at it couldn’t even score 3.5k a week! How do you make so great? Merry Christmas Alex

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Merry Christmas! Are you CDL or non and how are you finding your loads?

[@jeremybrea1910]

I only work some times 3 or 4 days and make more than 3.5k non cdl. Do you have a dispatcher?

[@michaelburton9120]

I keep getting told your authority isn’t 90 days we cannot work with you until you have 90 days. Some have even said 6 months and a couple even mentioned 1 year of active MC Authority

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@michaelburton9120 That all sounds about right. Majority of brokers want you to have at least 6 months. Very few require a year. There are brokers that will work with new authority though.

[@Trashman702]

Merry Christmas Alex. Safe travels driver

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁

[@tg9388]

Merry Christmas today, sweet ramp camera view

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 Thanks, I thought I’d do some creative shots 😁 I’d love to bring my drone to work too but being a one man operation that would make it so hard to operate cameras and drone and load and unload 🤷‍♂️

[@jerrodg938]

So do you have to pay the Disbatch? What are your payout expenses besides fuel

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Ofcourse. No one works for free 😁 There’s a bunch of expenses but they aren’t weekly. Oil changes, fuel filters, air filter, def, toll roads, sometimes reserved parking truck stops dispatcher fee, load board payment.

[@jerrodg938]

@@Mr.AlexKogan lol wow ! Hope you enjoyed Christmas with your family. Stay safe out there

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@jerrodg938 Unfortunately I didn’t make it home for Christmas. Had to be on the road. 🤷‍♂️ Thank you! 🙂

[@yiyoblack]

Merry Christmas Alex.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@anthonyburton8104]

I call cap rates are low as hell now across the board.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Overall rates are low but there are still good loads at good rates.

[@immonster4798]

How do you make those 10k a week ?

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Luck. Being in the right place at the right time.

[@mangeshp3289]

Merry Christmas

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@siso033]

great video nice job....

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you!

[@mloml41]

How do you put air in the rear? Having trouble getting my hand into the inner tire.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

It’s tight but I squeeze my hand through to take my sensor off and then use a long tire inflater handle to reach through the front wheel.

[@mloml41]

​@@Mr.AlexKogan got it, really poor design if you ask me smh.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@mloml41 I completely agree. You can always get valve stem extenders that will clip on to the outer rim but if you have tpms sensors then that will not work. It’s definitely not easy. Especially in winter time.

[@gammagangornogang1226]

Where do you get your loads from

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

My dispatcher finds them. Same load boards that everyone else uses. Truckstop, DAT

[@BoilerOperatorMechanic]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Thanks for showing how you chain and strap down. Know how to properly chain is very important. I think you might agree that you can’t over chain something down. Nice Truck and Trailer.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you for being a subscriber. I appreciate your support. I completely agree with you that you can’t over chain something down. Better more securement than less. 👍🏻

[@BoilerOperatorMechanic]

@@Mr.AlexKogan I guess with the size of your trailer that a CDL is needed to operate? Maybe not a class A? The truck alone seems like you could drive as long as you wanted and not go by the same trucking rules. I drove my small pickup from Tennessee to California. One day I drove almost 17 hours. I did stop to gas and get food but was back driving again. Good for you for being able to stay busy. All the luck.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@BoilerOperatorMechanic my trailer does require a CDL although it’s not the size of the trailer but rather the weight rating. Unfortunately hotshot drivers still have to go by the same regulations as semi drivers. ELD is required. 👍🏻

[@BoilerOperatorMechanic]

@@Mr.AlexKogan I seen a Chevy Truck today with a trailer like yours. It’s funny if I didn’t come across your channel I would probably not paid attention to it. I haven’t worked in 3 months. I finished a 24 year career as a Boiler Operator/ maintenance man. I’m gonna go for my CDL and I think I’d like flatbed. Why is the trailer called a hotshot? Later!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@BoilerOperatorMechanic Very nice. Good luck on getting your CDL. I honestly don’t even have a clue why the gooseneck trailer with pick up truck is called hotshot. That’s a good question. Maybe someone can chime in and let us know 😁

[@SteveAndNathanielServices]

Merry Christmas Alex

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!🎅🏼🎄

[@justinbohall3860]

Great work Alex! Stay safe!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you!🙂

[@Chocolazulu]

Marry Christmas 🚜🚚👑👍

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!🎅🏼🎄🎁

[@joshuaturner6882]

Merry Christmas!

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!🎄🎁

[@Mtl4402]

Merry Xmas Alex 🎉 and next time you come to mn press the button.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 There are many buttons to choose from. Which one do I press? 😁

[@truckertavis]

Just finished my first week as a hotshot. Wish those were my numbers 🥲

[@DanielGarcia-ym8oz]

How was it brother? I’m interested in getting into it just a bit doubtful. Share the numbers

[@truckertavis]

@@DanielGarcia-ym8oz I’m posting my video tomorrow on my numbers and break down. It’s rough man.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

Are you CDL or non? I don’t always have good weeks so don’t feel bad. This job is a gamble. One week you get lucky and another week you don’t. I’m assuming you are new authority so that’s probably why you are having a slower time. It’ll get better. 👍🏻

[@truckertavis]

@@Mr.AlexKogan yeah I’m new and non CDL. I know it’ll get better just rough right now.

[@Mr.AlexKogan]

@@truckertavis It is rough. I agree. Being new doesn’t help either but hang in there, better days are coming.