Who says you can't take what you know and already excel at and create a side hustle? Michael did just that and with the support of his wife he is turning the slow season into a profitable one.

Let's get on to Michael's story.

WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

My name is Michael Dias, but some call me by my nickname, Saltwater, and I created Saltwater Transport, an LLC in the small but growing agricultural town of Tulare, CA

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I am a commodity truck driver for a local company here in the Central Valley, delivering anything from feed to compost to local dairies and orchards. But when I get slow I do Hotshot Trucking moving farm equipment, agricultural supplies, etc in California or to surrounding states.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

It all started in mid-late 2022. I was trying to find myself some extra work for the slow season coming in fall of that year. I knew I wanted to do trucking but I wanted to be different than everyone else in my area! I then asked my wife what she thought about Hotshot Trucking & to my surprise she was on board with my idea. My wife is a Freight Broker and comes from a trucking family background, so she knew what to do to get me started as far as creating an LLC, getting me signed on for Load-boards, and attaining the insurance & permits needed.

So in late June 2022 I got myself a Dodge 3500 and right after I went to my local MAXX-D Dealer and specifically asked for a 40-foot LDX - I did not want anything else. I ended up not getting my trailer until that August solely because my local dealer had none in stock. The same day the trailer was delivered, I picked it up.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WHAT YOU DO?

My favorite thing about Hotshot Trucking is all the new people I get to meet and the new places I get to travel to. There has not been once where I pulled into a customer's warehouse / farm / receiver and I didn't get compliments on my trailer. It's definitely a conversation starter!

HOW DOES YOUR MAXX-D TRAILER HELP YOU GET WORK DONE?

The MAXX-D LDX is everything you need when hauling equipment or even general freight. I say that because the Mega Ramps are a game-changer. When loading farm equipment, whether it's me driving onto my trailer or a customer, the ramps make the whole loading and unloading process smooth and stress-free.

WHICH MAXX-D DEALER DID YOU BUY FROM?

The Cal-Custom teams in Paso Robles, CA and Elk Grove, CA have been all-around outstanding people and have always taken care of my trailer needs!

HUSTLING IN THE SLOW SEASON

Michael, stories like yours bring a smile to our faces. You are living out the MAXX-D vision of providing for your family with dignity and honor by pursuing excellence, taking responsibility, and building meaningful relationships. We can't wait to see how Saltwater Transport blesses your community.

The trailer Michael uses is the 40' MAXX-D LDX Low Profile Tandem Dual Flatbed Gooseneck.