Independent Truck Dispatching

Not exactly, I'm a small carrier with one truck and I dispatch my own truck and dispatch a friends for 7% of the loads. It helps me make extra money since I have to sit in front of the computer most of the day anyways. Its very simple if I don't find good paying freight he is not going to do business with me. So my priority is to negotiate the best paying rate for the area the truck is at the time. If there is anyone here looking for someone to dispatch their truck I'll be happy to do it. I dispatch mine and my friend. I can easily do a third one.

 

How do you ensure that the loads find you?

 

I use truckstop.com and truckersedge.net

you post the truck and you can have brokers call you or you just find the load you want to haul.

For the best paying load one must be in front of the computer most of the time and be the first one to call.

 

Just a question here...if you're dispatching for one guy, I can see an indy dispatcher using the O/Os MC number to sign up and post.

But how does an independent dispatcher with multiple clients post trucks or even sign up for a load board without an MC number? Can you sign up without an MC number? Or with multiple? What if one of your clients decides to leave you or leave the industry, etc.? If you post a truck, does it automatically show the MC number you provided?

Just wondering how its done. Thanks.

 

You can use one of them MC number or you can use multiple sign-ons which can be a pain in the rear

 

I found it's a lot easier to dispatch only a few trucks as this way you can get them good rates...It also helps when you have experience as a driver, it gives you a better perspective of things.

 

I have been thinking about trying this, starting with someone I know. I'm guessing an experienced one could probably handle 4-5 at the very most. That would probably would keep one busy almost 24/7. I'm guessing grossing $1,500-$2,000 weekly from your clients is about right? $3-400 per truck per week, that's somewhere around 7% or so.

 

Those numbers seem about right. I know some guys who charge 10% but honestly that's way too much unless you can constantly get $3.50/mile or more constantly. Most guys charge between 5 and 8 percent, 5% being the guy who only gets the load and 8% when you pretty much do everything for the driver (Billing,IFTA, etc).

 

Not sure I'd want to do the billing, but definitely willing to keep track of IFTA miles / trip sheets, and trying to negotiate higher rates. Have to give the driver a reason to stay with you. Just have to quickly get good at learning lanes, what's the most you can get out of any particular lane. Still not quite sure.

Not trying to go off topic, but say for example your driver is in Columbus, OH, and you call on a load to Buffalo. Is $1,500 too much to ask? Or $1,300?
And then what about Buffalo back to Columbus? $700 too much? I'd probably want to try and keep the driver regional on shorter runs to make a bigger profit for both of us.

Also thinking about a different kind of pay schedule, maybe 12% of approximate net (gross - approximate fuel + $1,000/week) rather than 7% of gross. Gives me more incentive.

 

Not sure if you would get anyone that would be willing to work commission off a net, as they can't control the costs etc. Which is why it is almost always gross percentage.

As far as staying regional etc, that all depends on the driver, I had one client, two trucks, didn't want them going west of the Mississippi. I then had another driver who wanted coast to coast etc... It all depends on what the driver wants, how they want to run, etc. Each driver is different in their wants/needs.