Oilfield rig move work is the highest-paying niche in hot shot trucking, but the rate structure is unlike anything else in trucking. Loads are billed by the hour at the field rate, plus a stack of accessorial codes for wait time, layover, oversize permits, and pilot cars. Drive to the rig site is sometimes paid, sometimes not. Mobilization fees might or might not be included.
Operators new to the niche often quote oilfield rig moves at general hot shot rates and lose money. Operators in the niche know the accessorial codes by heart and quote with them stacked correctly.
This guide walks the rate structure for the three biggest US basins (Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford) and explains how each accessorial code is typically billed.
Basin Rate Comparison
Permian Basin (Texas / New Mexico): Rig rate $100 to $150/hr. Largest basin by drilling activity. Most competitive (lots of operators), so rates are tighter. Wait time $75 to $100/hr. Layover $200-$250/day. Permits relatively cheap because most counties have well-worn permit workflows.
Bakken (North Dakota / Montana): Rig rate $125 to $175/hr (highest of the three because of remoteness, weather, and longer dispatch distances). Wait time $100 to $150/hr (winter weather causes long delays). Layover $250 to $350/day. Permits more expensive because of state-specific oversize regulations.
Eagle Ford (Texas): Rig rate $100 to $135/hr. Mid-tier basin in size. Wait time $75 to $100/hr. Layover $200 to $250/day. Closer to Houston and San Antonio so dispatch infrastructure is good.
Other basins (Marcellus, Haynesville, DJ Basin) have similar rate structures scaled to local conditions. Smaller and shallower basins (Anadarko, Fayetteville) often have lower rates because activity is lower.
Accessorial Codes Explained
Mobilization fee. Flat fee for dispatch, typically $200 to $500. Sometimes called "trip fee" or "spot fee." Industry-standard practice; non-negotiable on most rig-move contracts.
Wait time / standby. Hourly rate (typically $75 to $125/hr) for time spent waiting on the rig. Most contracts include 1-2 hours of free wait, then bill standby after that. Critical to get this in writing because rigs hold trucks for 4-12 hours regularly.
Layover. Daily rate ($200 to $350/day) for overnight stays on the field. Triggered when the move spans more than one operating day or weather forces a delay. Some contracts include layover only after the second day; others bill from day one.
Oversize permit. Flat fee per state crossed for oversize loads. Most rigs are oversize when moved as one unit. Permit fees range $50 to $150 per state. Permits often have to be obtained 24-72 hours in advance.
Pilot car / escort vehicle. Required for many oversize and overweight loads. Single pilot car typically $1.50 to $2.50/mile. Larger configurations require front and rear escorts at $3 to $4/mile combined.
Detention. Sometimes used interchangeably with "wait time." Subtle distinction: wait time is on the rig site; detention is at a yard or staging area. Same hourly rate either way.
Lumper / loading help. Less common for rig moves (the rig crew usually handles loading), but applicable when the operator brings extra labor. $50 to $150 flat or hourly.
How to Bid a Rig Move
Most experienced rig-move operators bid as follows:
- Mobilization fee: flat $250 to $400.
- Field hours estimate: site loading + drive + site unloading. Bill at rig rate.
- Wait time buffer: assume 1 to 2 hours wait will be billable, factor into the verbal bid.
- Permits: flat through to customer at cost (no markup typical).
- Pilot car: bill as separate line item if required, at $1.75 to $2.00/mile.
- Layover: only billed if the move actually requires overnight; do not pre-bill.
- Fuel surcharge: bill on top using DOE-classic formula at the loaded miles.
The Hot Shot Trucking Profit Calculator in Rig Move mode handles all of this. Enter the inputs, see the verdict, and compare against the rig rate the operator company is offering. Push back if the offer does not cover all the accessorial codes that will actually apply.
Getting Into Oilfield Hot Shot
The barrier to entry is geographic, not equipment. You need to be physically located in or near a basin (Midland-Odessa for Permian, Williston for Bakken, San Antonio for Eagle Ford), have a 1-ton + gooseneck or step-deck setup, and have local contacts at the rig contractor companies.
Most rig-move operators get their first work through:
- Local trucking job boards specific to oilfield (DAT and Truckstop have oilfield channels but are less specialized than dedicated boards)
- Rig-supplier or service-company purchasing departments (Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes have local dispatch numbers)
- Word of mouth from existing operators (this niche is small and operators talk to each other)
Insurance is more expensive than general hot shot ($12k to $20k/yr commercial auto for an oilfield-coded operation, vs $6k to $10k for general hot shot). Cargo coverage is mandatory and rig-move-specific exclusions are common. Read the policy carefully.
Once established in the niche, repeat work is high (the same 5-10 customers will pay your bills) and rates are stable as long as the basin is active. Watch oil and gas market conditions: when WTI oil price drops below $50, drilling activity drops sharply and rig moves dry up. Diversification into general expedited freight is wise.