Forced Dispatch...

I believe most companies running their trucks are going to be forced dispatch....
Meaning you drive their truck you go where they tell you..
Now some places after you get some time in they might be a little more flexible

 

These are the three companies I know of that have pick your own freight as an O/O.

1) The Pumpkin
2) Landstar
3) Mercer

Other than that you are subject to a dispatcher. And many companies you can turn down the load, but let me know how that works out for you.
All company drivers are forced dispatch.

 

All the megas that hire students will force you to pick up what and where they tell you. Especially while being a company driver.
Best bet is find company that avoids the Northeast, Chicago, Detroit and L.A.

 

A better question would be, "What companies aren't?" I do know of small fleet owners here at Landstar that will let their drivers pick and choose their own loads. That might be another option once you get some time behind the wheel, if your prefer non-forced dispatch.

 

All company drivers r forced dispatch as has been said. They tell u where to go and refusing a load is grounds for termination, or at the very least u falling out of favor with ur dispatcher and getting worse loads. Can't tell u how many times I've sat in St louis (3 hours from the house) waiting all day for a relay to take me home.

 

Almost all. Unless you act professional and do your job right u can pick once in a while.

 

All starter OTR companies are "forced dispatch" I put that in quotation marks because based on my experience with Swift you do have the option to turn down a load if you think you can't pick up or deliver on time.

Also as a company driver with Swift if you achieve Platinum status, which IIRC means you have about three consecutive months averaging over 2100 miles with 99.5% on time and one or less preventable accidents, you can pick from up to three available loads. Achieving Platinum status isn't that hard, I had quite a few trainees that did it. This also flags you with the planners, giving them a heads up when a Platinum driver is available for a hot load.

 

There's a fine line between forced dispatch, and just doing your job. Years ago, you got hired by someone, they could tell you to go to the moon for .03 cents a mile, and you packed your space suit. When I was a company driver, you did what the boss told you, no whining, or get out. When I was an O/O, the company I was leased to claimed no forced dispatch, but if you refused a load, they'd say, " well, we don't have anything for you". So I took the bad ones, saying, "ok, but you owe me one" and down the line, they'd make up for it with a good load. I think if you want to be in this business, as a company driver, you take what they tell you to do, otherwise, buy your own, and then you can tell them to cram it with walnuts.

 

There's always give and take in this business, whether you are a company driver or O/O leased to a carrier. The only way to avoid forced dispatch is to get your own authority, but then if you want to be responsive to the needs of your customers you may find you exchanged one dispatcher for several. Being a business owner means you find out quick the customers are the boss.