I'm a Independant Dispatcher in Training Looking for Advice

So no checks and balances in place as there are with drivers, trucking companies and brokers . . .

 

So I am clear on what you are looking at doing. Are you planning on setting up an independent dispatch service? Where you are looking for loads for an independent O/O for a fee?

If that is what you are looking at doing I have seen very few survive at this unless they come with direct customers for the driver. Biggest issue is the work to value proposition. The level of work that a dispatcher has to do compared to what most drivers are willing to pay compared to leasing to a company that would provide this plus other services for not much more than what the typical dispatcher charges.

Best of luck.

 

Dispatching is usually done with a company who already has their MC# and has a fleet of drivers to look out for. If you are looking for loads, and signing confirmations, and then sending it to the driver..it is considered brokering by the FTMCA, and requires a broker license. This means you are charging the driver a % or a flat fee for finding them a load and handling all administrative work.

Now take advice from someone who dispatched. The first thing that makes a good dispatcher is to make sure that you communicate any special instructions to the driver, confirming pickup and delivery times with the shipper and consignee, relaying all correct information to the driver, and also knowing how to handle any situation that may arise. For example: If a driver goes into an area that is not 53ft tractor trailer acceptable, what would you do? The first thing is that no driver can be forced to take their equipment into an area that may cause physical or property damage, and should never be forced. It may require that the shipper or consignee bring a truck to merry up to the trailer to onload or offload product that way. Another example: Let's say the driver has a 6 AM pickup, and the driver gets there to only find out that someone else took his load, then what would you do? First, call the company that you took the load from, and find out what is going on. If it comes down to them giving the order to someone else, and you have a confirmation sheet then you would get a Van ordered not used to pay for your driver's time. Then you start from square one all over again. Those are just examples of learning the business and knowing how to handle situations that may arise.

The true key of being a good dispatcher is to always treat your drivers with respect, making their life easier by doing the precalls and confirming all information before sending it to them, and listen to any concerns that they have about pickup, hauling, or delivery. If you always go the extra mile and you are upfront and honest...then you will gain more respect. The biggest problem that drivers have is the loads that are accepted have to tight of a delivery schedule. To base the best pickup and delivery schedule is to take the total miles from PC Miler or Rand McNally, divide them by 55 mph for average speed, allow 1 hour for every 11 hour driving period and you will get a better idea of delivery windows and how tight a schedule can be. Don't ever ask a driver to pull a rabbit out of their hat...that just can't be done.

I really would suggest that you work for a carrier first, and really gain the knowledge of what a dispatcher does before you dive head first into a field that you have no knowledge about. I have 7 years experience in the trucking industry....but it also took working every different department there was to learn how the business truly runs. Best of wishes to you.

 

What IS an independant dispatcher?

 

You learn something every day. I've been in the business for half my life and didn't know about this part. Then again I wasn't working as an owner operator.

We don't mind you asking questions. Just don't let it cross the line into looking for clients/drivers and everything will be okay.

 

Very well said!

 

Someone who is working as an independent dispatcher finding and booking loads does not have to have a brokers license. They are working as an independent contractor on behalf of the carrier/Owner Operator. I am sure there is a long list of items that determine if someone needs a brokers license and bond but in short if they are not contracting with the carrier for the load and paying the carrier for the load then no broker license is required.

 

Just google it. There's a wealth of info on the topic. Its more of a information service to save the OO time and headache.

 

How much does this type of service cost an O/O? I mean one of the biggest issues from reading that O/O face is finding "good freight". If that can be done by somebody else I wonder how much that costs.