Does anybody here use a dispatching-service?

But you cannot even remember your passwords. Ha ha just picking at you!

 

Staceydude's post was hilarious, and spot on, however you responded with a lot more logic than I expected. In my opinion, you are exactly the type of guy who should try something like this. The types he referenced, who I get calls from all day too, should NOT!

I can't understand how anyone would let someone who can't communicate well run their truck. I'm trying not to be rude to these guys but there is just no way I would trust someone without excellent communication skills and a native speaker do something like dispatching my truck. Let's just reverse this so it doesn't sound so judgemental. I was born here and consider myself a good communicator. I speak a little Spanish, not much but more than I can any other language. Do I see myself moving to Mexico City and trying to succeed in dispatching there, knowing how fast paced transportation is here? No way, it's a recipe for disaster. I would be better served doing something else there, like maybe just driving, which is universal more or less.

Personally, I'm way too picky about what I haul and where to ever use a dispatch service probably but I know it's one of the harder parts of the business for lots of owner operators. Everybody has certain gifts. You'll never know if it will work until you try.

 

Brokers are better. The carrier has to give dispatchers way too much availability to sensitive business information and a POA. No thanks.

 

Good friend of mine did all my billing for the shop. When i decided to give it to the son, i asked him to help me with finding loads, rate cons, etc.

It has worked out great. He and i have been doing this almost a year, and 5 of my old customers are using him now too. I wouldn't let just anybody do it though.

We've been great friends since high school, and for the shop he handled thosands of dollars for me every day. I trust him 100%.

Through this last year he has made lot's of good business relationships. Those relationships know he's got 6 different trucks working and where we like to run, so he's getting loads offered ptetty often before hitting the load boards.

Those relationships have value. We're all paying 250$ per week, well worth it.

 

The wife and I handle our dispatching. We know where I'm willing to go and we know how many miles I'm willing to run. We go over the plan for the next few days or week every time I'm parking for my 10 so that if something pops up while I'm asleep she knows whether or not to book it. It works well because we're in near constant contact by phone. I couldn't imagine being in contact with a stranger enough to keep me happy with the loads.

That's what works for me but we're all different.

 

Agree with @86scotty great response.

I was just joking it up a bit but I posted it because there is a lot of truth behind it. I actually probably under cut the 775 calls. Probably over 1000 in almost two years.
I didn’t mean that would be you but that is your competition. Which is good and bad. Good because it sounds like you could make them look bad on a daily basis, bad because they aren’t embarrassed at all claiming they can sell ocean front property in Arizona.

With that being said, I think it would be a very tough market to crack into unless you could get a few guys to trust you.

I do believe some folks need help with figuring out where to go and what to do next. I’m sure I’ve lost out on a few loads hear and there because I could not glue myself to a load board while driving but I also normally don’t book a load until the one I’m on delivers. Just the way I do it. Lately with the current rates I am more likely to book ahead.

Now, with your current job are able to stop everything and take calls from O/O, Brokers and deal with some of the crazy stuff that can happens out in the road from breakdowns to late pickups and deliveries etc. glue yourself to the board and find the loads etc.

I think most of the guys on here doing their own thing aren’t the type to be late and take things seriously and you’ll have a lot of drivers out there who are consistently late etc.

You may also start looking for small outfits that have a few trucks leased onto them and offer to dispatch for a couple weeks and then move to a percentage.

Remember your going to deal with some of the shiftiest people known to man who cant even walk to a garbage can 30 feet away much less agree with with where you believe the best loads are going and areas that pay the best.

You have the right attitude and I wish you the best.

 

I’m not impressed.