Personal dispatch services

If they don't have steady work then they are of zero benefit to the Carrier who can "analyze the market" on a Loadboard just like anyone else. Either you guys are shilling for some "dispatcher" service or incredibly naive.

 

I respect your opinion on Dispatchers. But I do think that there are some out there that are totally worth it.

 

Totally but not the type the other poster was referring to. That's how I feel for my operation, that is. If I knew of one that could keep me loaded with rates better than what I can get on my own then I'd be more than happy to hire one. However, I plan on seeking out direct shippers in the near future in areas I'd like to run. I would prefer to leave the load boards in the gutter. We all have our own opinions and I respect your as well.

 

There are several factors to consider when contemplating using a dispatch service. Obviously you need to find someone that is totally committed to their trade and not just trying to earn a paycheck so they can go home and drink themselves into oblivion. Second, you need to know what type of person you are as far as your time is concerned. Are you the type of person that wants to drive all day or night and then spend a few hours of your break researching and finding loads, filling out carrier packages, invoicing, checking credit, etc.? Or do you want to run hard and then relax and get some rest so you can hit it again in 10 hours? There is no wrong answer here, it just comes down to personal preference. Sure, everyone CAN do what a dispatcher does but does everyone WANT to do what a dispatcher does? I don't think you can make a generalized assumption about whether a dispatch service is right or wrong because it really depends on the driver.

I drove for over a year and when I shut down I wanted to call my wife, talk to my kids, get a shower, eat some food and go to bed. My dispatcher was amazing so I could do this without worrying about what I was going to do for my next load. Every time I went to the terminal and stopped to talk to my dispatcher, he was buried in his computer and on his phone while the other guys and gals were drinking coffee, huddled up in circles and BS'ing. I talked to other O/O's with the company and they were always complaining about their dispatcher. It really does matter who the person dispatching is because I was at the same company and had 0 complaints with mine for over a year.

Now, I'm a dispatcher for independent O/O's and do very well because of that experience. I work from home and I'm available for my drivers 24/7/365 because this is a lifestyle for me. I know that I can either be here at home with my family or OTR for weeks or months at a time so that makes it easy for me to be available to my drivers. I would suggest asking a dispatcher that you're considering hiring what their availability to you would be. If it's just a 9 to 5 job for them and they leave their work at the office, keep looking. Hire someone that knows that you don't work a "regular schedule" and will need assistance at all hours of the night, on weekends and on holidays. A good dispatcher will look at the entire trip like someone said earlier, not just the current load. He or she will also be looking for your next load before you get to the receiver not while you're being unloaded. One of the main benefits of having a dispatcher is that he can look for loads while you're driving which means more options for you, not just what you see on your break or while you're getting unloaded. I also agree that anyone who guarantees you a certain rate is lying to get your business. I would never guarantee a certain rate because I can't predict or control the market. I can be honest and straightforward which is pretty rare in this industry and I've found that while I might not make everyone happy all the time, I can sleep at night knowing I'm not a scumbag.

 

Dispatchers are for company drivers. I need a good broker.

 

That's a great way to put it