DAT Truck dispatch Start Up Guide how to become a Truck dispatcher In this guide, I will take you through the steps of how to become a dispatcher for truck drivers and offer some useful tips on how to run a successful truck dispatcher business.
How to Become a Truck Dispatching Service
A truck dispatcher’s job is essentially to manage freight on behalf of a carrier. That includes using load boards and personal connections to locate freight that needs to be shipped, speaking to brokers, conducting negotiations, and eventually dispatching drivers and setting up their routes. In many cases, the position also includes some back-end work like reviewing truck drivers’ logs and tracking their hours.
A truck dispatcher is often confused with a freight broker, but the two positions have different and distinct roles. A broker is a legal entity that serves as a middleman between the shipper or manufacturer (who needs their freight moved) and the carrier (who can move that freight). The freight broker is legally allowed to represent both the carrier and the shipper at the same time, but they should never have a personal investment in either side.
Unlike a freight broker, a truck dispatcher is directly affiliated with a carrier and is consistently working on their behalf. Even if you are an independent freight dispatcher, you are still essentially an employee of whichever carrier you are currently working for and whenever you conduct negotiations with a freight broker, you do so on behalf of the carrier. Unlike brokers, freight dispatchers are not legally allowed to represent shippers or manufacturers.
A freight brokerage business is required to have freight broker authority through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and a freight broker bond (surety bond), among other requirements. If you’re interested in starting a freight brokering business, visit DAT’s Freight Broker Startup Guide for more information and more freight broker training resources.
How to Find Carriers and Loads as a Truck Dipatcher
Once you have created your business, you need to start finding carriers and loads. When it comes to finding carriers and small trucking companies to work with, there are a few approaches you can take. These include:
- Using a directory, like DAT Directory, lets you contact carriers and tell them about the services you’re providing.
- Paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Google help you share your message with targeted audiences.
- A factoring company can send emails to its contact list promoting your services. If a carrier is already working with a factoring company and finds itself in need of a truck dispatcher, seeing that email could be all you need to get a new partner.
- Facebook groups for carriers in the transportation industry can be a good place to promote your business for free. You can join and get your name out there by commenting or creating posts offering your independent truck dispatcher services.
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