there are some pitfalls to dispatchers who do your paperwork. Say you get a "full service dispatch service" they get you loads,and you stay in the truck running. If that is the case,they have to fill out broker setup packets for you.They can,in some cases,set them selves up to receive fuel advances and com checks for various reasons,without you knowing it. They can do this unless you review all paperwork and work the deals with the brokers yourself. If they can do it without you knowing it,then they can pocket the money,bill the broker for the rest and you won`t know the difference. You`re setting yourself up to fail unless you take a hands on approach over your money,and that includes from start to finish.
How do you get your loads? Register for a load bord? What,about the billing? Just,asking...I don't know
I get loads from a load board,and from a few small shippers myself.Now a days,my phone rings 30 times a day with brokers needing loads moved.I get so many emails about freight I can`t read them all. Once you get a lot of contacts established,you can email them a list of where your truck or trucks will be empty. I send in the invoice,rate confirmation,and all bol`s to the broker or factoring company for payment.Cash flow will put a profitable business out of business.Thats why I use a factoring co for most my invloices,to keep the cash flowing.
Agreed, Which is very important that if you DO use a dispatch service that offers "full-service" that you pick the right one. There is absolutely nothing wrong with full service dispatchers if they are honest etc. But even using a full service dispatch, you would still want to get all your paperwork copied to you as well. Whenever I set a trucker up, everything is in his company's name, all copies of paperwork goes to him, nothing in my name at all, and he pays me independently of what he gets paid etc.
Whoever and however you decide to move forward, they need to be bonded. That way if something goes south and you are paying attention, you can attach the bond before anyone else.
Why would anyone need a bonded dispatch service? You don't get paid by a dispatch service. I'm in the school of thought dispatch services are a waste of money. Not difficult at all to self dispatch a single truck.
For some, absolutely, for others it helps, like anything else, surrounding circumstances dictates if it's a good idea or not.
