The short answer
Use a load board yourself if you have time to search, call brokers, fill out setup packets and handle paperwork, and you're confident negotiating rates. Use a dispatcher if those tasks cost you driving or rest hours, or if a dispatcher's negotiating and broker contacts earn more than their fee.
Side by side
| Load board on your own | With a dispatcher | |
|---|---|---|
| Searching for loads | You, often while parked | The dispatcher |
| Calling brokers and negotiating | You | The dispatcher, against your rate floor |
| Broker setup packets | You | The dispatcher |
| Who decides on each load | You | You, before it's booked |
| Cost | Load board subscription | A percentage of booked loads |
Do I need a truck dispatcher?
Probably not if:
- You enjoy the business side and have time for it
- You already have steady direct shippers or brokers
- Your lanes are consistent and easy to rebook
Probably yes if:
- You lose driving or rest time to calls and searching
- You're a new authority and brokers keep saying no
- You don't like negotiating, or you take the first rate offered
- You're adding trucks and can't book them all yourself
Finding loads without load boards
Load boards aren't the only source. Direct calls to brokers you've delivered for, reloads offered by the broker on your current load, and repeat lanes with the same shipper often pay better. A dispatcher builds these relationships for you over time.
Common questions
Can I use a dispatcher and still book my own loads?
With Prime Trucks Dispatch, yes. We only charge on loads we book.
Does a dispatcher replace my load board subscription?
Some carriers keep their own subscription, some don't. It's your choice.
What does Prime Trucks Dispatch charge?
4.9% of the gross on each load we book, with no contract.