Anyone Ever Make Money with a Single Car Trailer? (The Honest Truth on the "1-Car Hotshot" Side Hustle)

If you've spent any time on side hustle forums, subreddits, or trucking groups, you’ve likely stumbled across some variation of this question:

“Can you actually make money with a single car trailer, or do you need a massive semi-truck and a CDL to survive in the hauling business?”

The responses are usually split down the middle. Half the users claim the industry is dead and fuel costs will eat you alive. The other half—often quiet, highly protective operators—are clearing thousands of dollars a week using nothing but a standard 3/4-ton pickup truck and a simple utility trailer.

So, what’s the real story? Can you spin a single car trailer into a high-converting, lucrative business?

Let’s break down the economics, the essential gear, and how smart operators are carving out high-margin niches right under the noses of major transport fleets.

The Reality of the "One-Car" Advantage

Most logistics advice is tailored toward traditional hotshotting: driving a massive dually truck with a 40-foot Gooseneck trailer carrying three or four cars across state lines.

While that model can be highly lucrative, it also comes with staggering entry barriers:

An $80,000+ truck purchase.
A $15,000+ commercial trailer.
Strict CDL (Commercial Driver's License) requirements.
Astronomical commercial insurance premiums (often $12,000+ annually for new authorities).
Enormous fuel bills.

When you scale down to a single car trailer, the entire business model shifts from high-volume logistics to high-margin specialty transport.

Because your overhead is virtually nonexistent compared to a fleet operator, your break-even point is incredibly low. You don't need to run 3,000 miles a week to stay out of the red. You can book three or four highly strategic local runs over a weekend and clear $1,000 in net profit.

Step 1: Equipment That Makes You Look Like a Pro (Not a Amateur)

If you're going to charge premium rates, you can't show up with rusted chains and a trailer held together by prayer. To win high-paying transport jobs, you need a safe, professional, and reliable setup.

Here is the exact gear list used by top-tier single-car operators:

1. The Right Trailer Specs

Aim for a 18-foot or 20-foot tandem axle utility flatbed or car hauler.

Wood vs. Steel: Steel is heavier but lasts forever and looks incredibly professional. Wood decks are easier to customize and install winches onto.
Dovetail: A 2-foot dovetail on the back of the trailer reduces the loading angle, allowing you to load lowered sports cars without scraping the front bumpers.

2. High-Strength Tie-Downs (The Industry Standard)

Never use cheap ratchets from a local discount store. Classic car owners and dealerships inspect your straps the moment you pull up.

The Gold Standard: Mac's Custom Tie-Downs or high-quality Vulcan Car Tie-Down Straps.
Why they matter: They feature heavy-duty ratchets, protective sleeves to prevent scuffing the vehicle's wheels or axles, and have working load limits (WLL) designed specifically for commercial vehicle transport.

3. A Quality Winch (Your Ultimate Money-Maker)

If you can only haul running vehicles, you are leaving 50% of your potential revenue on the table. Broken down project cars, salvage vehicles from auctions, and classic restorations almost always require a winch to load.

Recommended Setup: A 9,500 lb to 12,000 lb electric winch (such as a Warn or Badland Apex) mounted to the tongue of your trailer, paired with a wireless remote control so you can safely steer the vehicle while pulling it up the ramps.

Step 2: High-Paying Niches for Solo Operators

The biggest mistake new trailer owners make is signing up for massive national load boards and trying to compete with national shipping brokers. This is a race to the bottom.

Instead, focus on these three highly profitable local niches:

1. The "Barn Find" and Project Car Market

Car enthusiasts buy project cars on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist daily. These cars rarely run, have flat tires, and are located in tight residential driveways or rural fields where a multi-car carrier couldn't dream of fitting. By positioning yourself as a local specialist who can safely winch and transport these vehicles, you can easily charge $3.00 to $4.50 per mile.

2. Local Classic Car and Custom Rides

Owners of high-end classic cars, hot rods, and exotic vehicles do not want their prized possessions loaded onto an open 9-car carrier where they are exposed to rock chips, hydraulic fluid leaks, and constant handling. They gladly pay a premium for personalized, point-to-point single-vehicle transport where their car is the only focus.

3. Independent Dealership Services

Small, independent used car dealers constantly buy vehicles at regional auto auctions (such as Manheim, Copart, or ADESA) and need them hauled to their lots. Build relationships with 3 to 5 local dealers and you will have a steady stream of recurring mid-week runs.

The Verdict: Can You Make Money?

Yes, absolutely. The "single car trailer" niche is one of the most overlooked, low-overhead micro-businesses in the logistics space. If you already own a reliable tow vehicle, your startup costs are incredibly low, and your path to profitability is incredibly fast.

To help you skip the trial-and-error phase, we highly recommend checking out The Single-Trailer Syndicate Blueprint. It is a comprehensive, zero-fluff digital guide detailing the exact marketing scripts, pricing calculators, legal frameworks, and load-booking tactics to scale your single car trailer into a reliable $2,500/week cash flow engine.

For a limited time, early adopters can grab the complete blueprint for just $1.00. It's the ultimate roadmap to turning that trailer in your driveway into a highly profitable side hustle.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase equipment or guides through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products tested, trusted, and verified by active operators.