Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Truck Dispatcher

Handing dispatch to someone else means trusting them with broker communication under your authority. A short list of direct questions up front can save a lot of frustration later.

1. What exactly is the fee, and what's it based on?

Ask whether the fee is a flat percentage of the booked rate, a flat dollar amount, or something else, and whether it changes based on load type, distance, or broker. A dispatcher who can't give you a straight, simple answer here is worth being cautious about.

2. Is there a setup fee or minimum commitment?

Some dispatch arrangements come with an upfront fee or a required minimum number of loads per week. Neither is automatically a red flag, but you should know about it before you start, not after.

3. Do you run forced dispatch?

This is one of the most important questions to ask directly. Forced dispatch means loads can be booked in your name without your approval. If you want to stay in control of which loads you run, confirm, in plain terms, that every load is optional and requires your sign-off.

4. Is there a long term contract?

Ask what it takes to stop working with a dispatcher if it's not a fit. A dispatch relationship that's hard to exit is worth extra scrutiny.

5. How do you handle rate negotiation?

Ask whether rates get negotiated before you see a load, or whether you're just seeing whatever the broker posted first. A dispatcher who negotiates on your behalf, and shows you the negotiated number, is doing more of the job than one who's just relaying postings.

6. What happens with paperwork?

Ask specifically who's responsible for collecting rate confirmations, BOLs, and PODs, and how that information gets to you. Paperwork gaps are one of the most common reasons pay gets delayed.

7. How do you handle detention or a delayed load?

Ask what the process looks like if a load runs long. A dispatcher who has a clear answer here, documenting the delay and following up with the broker, is better positioned to help than one who hasn't thought about it.

8. Can I see an example of how you'd search for my truck specifically?

A dispatcher who can talk through your equipment, your lanes, and your schedule specifically, instead of giving a generic pitch, is a good sign they're actually going to do the work, not just take the fee.

A word of caution

Be skeptical of any dispatcher who guarantees a specific number of loads, a guaranteed rate per mile, or guaranteed weekly earnings. Freight volume and rates depend on market conditions, equipment, location, and your authority, no dispatcher controls all of that, and a guarantee usually means the details won't hold up under questioning.

Related reading

• What Does a Truck Dispatcher Do?
• How Truck Dispatch Services Work
• Read the full Falcon Dispatch FAQ