Maximizing Profits: The Role of a Dispatcher in Your Trucking Success

"Good and honest" doesn't mean the same as "interests aligned". A dispatcher isn't going to push for the extra $10, because it's not worth his time. Conversely, a dispatcher will agree to a high dollar, high pain load because they benefit from the high dollar without experiencing the high pain.

If a person wants to go this route, then sign up with Mercer, Landstar, or Schneider and run freight off their boards. Or better yet, just be a company driver.

 

No, no, it's not like that. I've worked with some good dispatchers in the past. You set up your requirements up front, and we go ahead from there.
I don't mind much if they don't hustle for the extra $10, but when they cheat you up on the rate, or they push for a bad load for reasons you don't know, it's a different story.
They have so many different ways to screw you.

 

I value freedom more than anyone but if you're making 1.70/mile you're going to starve.

AND you don't understand why someone wouldn't want to finance a truck? My goal in life is not to finance anything, ever.

 

Dispatch services imo are for new carriers in the business. Or a carrier that's may have lost multiple contracts, has a bunch of trucks with less staffing wanting to stay in the business. The difference between a company that has dispatchers and a dispatch service is less liability for the carrier using the dispatch service regarding the Dispatchers themselves depending on the contractual agreement signed regarding each hired on individual dispatcher fir health benefits etc. . I don't see it as a bad thing from a carrier perspective if that carrier has 2 or more Trucks busy. However, a one truck carrier (O/o) should be able to find their loads from business outlook or have their direct customer. The initial point in the end is to keep rolling in these times as the over all Freight market for the majority has become difficult.

 

Are we at the point where, possibly the OP is one of those AI robots I hear about? If so, do we ban robots? If it is a robot, can we send a private message? Maybe the robot wants to chat with us on long trips? Does the AI robot identify as a female? OK, I’m waiting to get loaded at a meat packer. I’ll be here all day and possibly night. Guess I’m bored..

 

See post #20. OP was banned almost immediately so it's a banned bot if it's a bot. I don't think it was. I think it was a dispatch service looking for free advertising.

However, you've got me thinking. I could get in to the idea of a bikini dispatch service who just calls you on Facetime, no text or email. And I want smellivision too. That I would pay for.

 

I won't starve. I'm still making 60-70 cpm profit.
It is normal to borrow money when you run a business.

 

Not in every case. Eventually you should be working for yourself and not the bank. I understand that sometimes a loan is the only way out of a bad situation but it's easy to get in over your head.
Just for fun, and to answer your post, I asked my book keeper when the last time was that we borrowed money. It was in l995 when we bought the forty acres of land that adjoins our shop. We paid it back in two annual installments.
Everything since then, new trucks, trailers, shop equipment, and a couple of our competitors has been purchased with. cash.

 

So what you're saying is that you made less per mile than I did as a company driver? Not counting health insurance and 401k match either.

I'm not knocking you or your choices, but if a person is going to buy a truck but pay someone else to do the permitting, dispatching, etc they'll end up making company money with owner risk - at best. Most of the people who are hiring dispatch services would be better off financially selling the truck and becoming a company driver.

As to "it's normal to borrow money when you run a business" - it depends. Using a line of credit to smooth cash flows? Yes, but only to a point. To expand? Certainly. To replace equipment at the end of it's lifecycle? Oh, heck naw.

 

That's what I'm saying, and I did mentioned it multiple times already. The money is not the point here.
I do everything by myself, the only extra expense is 5-600 dollars for my taxes.
I've just said if you can find the right person, it is not a such bad idea to have a dispatcher. But that's very hard to do.
It's ok to finance a truck, I've made a big mistake not doing it in June 2020, when I could
get a brand new truck for a very good price with low interest rates.