Do All Trucking Companies Need Independent Truck Dispatchers?
It is crucial to note that only some trucking companies require independent truck dispatchers, and not all.
As separate truck dispatchers, they find loads for the trucking companies and negotiate and book them. Therefore this service is only needed for some of the trucking companies.
For example, multiple trucking companies contract with only a single shipper or sometimes with multiple shippers.
Such trucking companies have secured freight for months and often for years as well. These types of trucking companies don’t need independent truck dispatchers in any way because they already have loads to ship.
ALT TEXT: Companies that hire independent truck dispatchers
Let’s take another example to understand this better: Suppose a motor carrier has 12 trucks. If this motor carrier hires independent truck dispatchers, it would have to pay them flat or a percentage of the loads they will book for the motor carrier. An independent truck dispatcher earns about $1200-1400 monthly by dispatching a single truck.
So a company with 12 trucks will only hire independent truck dispatchers if it would cost the company an expense of $12000-14000 per month. Therefore motor carriers would prefer to hire an employee dispatcher for about $5000 instead of an independent truck dispatcher.
Which trucking companies hire independent dispatchers of trucks?
Now it is clear that companies with more trucks usually hire something other than independent truck dispatchers. But truck dispatchers would still be hired. Because various other companies hire truck dispatchers, let’s go through the below-explained example.
Imagine a motor carrier that owns only one truck, and the owner also drives that truck. This owner-operator will have to deal with multiple tasks, such as loading and unloading trucks, scales, cargo securement, traffic, and DOT inspections. Along with these duties, he will have to search for loads, bargain with brokers who try their best to take advantage of them, and do the paperwork.
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ALT TEXT: Independent truck dispatchers and trucking companies
All these responsibilities will further complicate the truck owner’s life. This person needs the independent truck dispatcher the most because an independent truck dispatcher can do all these tasks for the truck owner at a portion of an employee’s cost.
The above example does not mean you will only be hired by a trucking company with only one truck. Many companies own two, three, and four trucks. These companies can hire independent truck dispatchers because it would not be very reasonable for them to hire an employee.
A few companies only make dispatch hiring. However, trucking companies with up to 5 trucks do not necessarily want to hire independent truck dispatchers because hiring employees would be more reasonable for them.
Why do trucking companies hire independent truck dispatchers?
Certain trucking companies hire Independent truck dispatchers to arrange, negotiate and book their loads.
ALT TEXT: Hiring Independent dispatchers
Companies with more trucks usually don’t hire Independent dispatchers; therefore, while doing marketing, it would be more helpful to concentrate on trucking companies with one to three trucks.
If you are not an expert in truck dispatching, you can learn dispatch from online dispatcher training at Boss Dispatch Academy.
