dispatching services

How long is a good load on the board? Probably you missed some of them while driving and didn't get that? How long it takes to dispatch yourself? You always calling the shipper and receiver? You book the loads while driving? How safe is it?

In my opinion a good dispatch is moneymaker for me!

 

I don't like the idea of a dispatch service because:
1. Booking own loads is fun.
2. Dispatch service is not motivated as much as you are to spend time on getting the right load - they have other carriers to take care of.
3. They always want something sensitive which might be legally compromising e.g. they want power of attorney, they want to pay you ACH etc.
4. Whenever they call they sound like street pimps "Hey Bro..." Hey my Man..." and often speak with the tone that can be heard when you receive a phone call from one of those "your social security number has been compromised..." scams. They don't instill too much confidence in me.
5. One more head to eat your hard earned profits.

 

You need to go through the initial maturing phase, like anyone else did. I don't think that brokers who have policy not to load new carriers will make exceptions when you try to book their loads via a dispatch service. They still check your MC#.
You have to call on a load and if they say you can't be loaded you have to find another one and repeat the process until you find something and you will.
After 1 - 3 months it will be much better, after 6 months quite all right, after 1 year almost everyone will load you.

 

While it may be a PITA at first doing all the carrier packets I think you'll benefit more in the long run not using a dispatch service.

An experienced dispatcher will know things that you don't as far strategy but this is stuff you will benefit from learning yourself.

Also a lot of the brokers i deal will like that when I call they are actually speaking to drive. Many brokers have told they prefer working with the one man operations.

Also I highly doubt a lot of dispatchers are capable of getting justified better rates versus the cost of their service.

Now if I had other employees a dispatcher service would make more sense. But when your the boss you should in control of every aspect of your business when it's just you as an owner operator imo.

The primary benefit a dispatcher offers is doing your carrier packets for you and the ability to be strategically looking for you next load as you drive.

Me personally I like picking my own loads because there is a ton of loads out there just isn't worth doing.

 

Excellent advice!

 

I don't think you understand. All the dispatch service is going to do is look for loads for you just like you would yourself. Your going to have the same problem with the dispatch service if a broker won't load you because of new authority.

 

... Joe i disagree on everything but 1 ... If you really having fun booking your own loads ... Some dispatch won't even take you on because they can handle only that much to work effectively and keep everyone happy.. as far as Bro or My Man - lol , you have to be professional as dispatch same as driver - you dont call every driver you meet on the road Bro - there is professional etiquette... Something sensitive?! .... i compromise nothing on my end

 

I had someone take over day to day operations of my business. But I don’t believe I threw in the towel. Keeping up with 5 trucks while driving one and doing all the paperwork/office work the constant phone calls. It becomes too much. Sometime the smartest move you can make is to hire a competent person to run it for you. With oversight of course.