Truck dispatch services explained for owner-operators
What does a truck dispatch service do?
A truck dispatcher finds and books freight for your truck, negotiates the rate with the broker, handles carrier setup paperwork, plans the next load before the current one delivers and keeps the paperwork moving so you get paid. A full-service dispatch company also invoices, submits to your factoring company and files detention, layover and truck-order-not-used claims.
- Load booking on DAT, Truckstop and direct broker relationships.
- Rate negotiation on every load, benchmarked against current lane rates.
- Broker packets, W-9s, certificates of insurance and carrier setups.
- Same-day invoicing and factoring submission.
- Detention and layover documentation and claims.
- After-hours and weekend coverage for breakdowns and next-day booking.
How much does a truck dispatcher cost?
US truck dispatch fees range from 3% to 10% of gross. We charge 5-6% of weekly gross for OTR semi trucks (dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, power only) and 8-10% for OTR box trucks, straight trucks and hotshots. On a semi grossing US$8,000 to US$10,000 a week, that is about US$400 to US$600 a week.
There is no flat rate, no setup fee and no long-term contract. Local and regional work is quoted separately, and the final percentage is discussed with each carrier before service begins.
What do loads pay per mile?
As a rough guide, flatbed and step deck loads often pay US$5 to US$7 a mile, reefer US$4 to US$6, hotshot US$4 to US$5, dry van and power only US$3 to US$5 depending on local or OTR lanes, and box trucks US$1.80 to US$3.20. Rates move with lane, season and market and are not guaranteed.
Box truck and hotshot dispatch versus semi dispatch
Box truck and hotshot loads are smaller and more frequent, so each truck needs more calls, setups and paperwork per dollar of gross. That is why box truck dispatch usually costs a higher percentage. Semi dispatch involves equipment-specific rules: temperature logs for reefers, securement for flatbeds and permits for oversize step-deck freight.