Owners-operators often don’t quite understand what dispatch companies are doing. It seems like they are just looking for new orders. Yes, dispatchers are engaged in this. But their competencies, capabilities, and responsibilities are much broader. After reading this article, you will understand how much work dispatch services do and that they can help you with running a business.
What does a dispatch company do for owner-operators?
- cargo search;
- communication with brokers;
- creation of work schedules for truckers;
- planning profitable routes based on weather conditions, road hazards, and the presence of dead spots;
- manage cargo and truck delays;
- negotiate on the most favorable tariffs;
- verification of compliance with the requirements for cargo transportation companies;
- preparation of invoices and reports;
- communication with customers and search for potential customers.
This is the main list of their duties. Some dispatch companies offer additional services. For example, this site also offers a trucking accounting service, which will allow you not to worry about the accounting of your business.
How profitable is it to use the services of a dispatch company?
Often dispatchers take a percentage of the earnings of a freight company or a percentage of each order. That is, you will receive many new orders. This is because the salary of dispatchers depends on how much they found and sold cargo. So don’t worry that you will have to pay them a fixed rate always. No, it all depends on the orders they are looking for themselves.
Also, dispatchers will look for large loads, for which the payment will be large. Such cooperation can be safely called win-win.
So, dispatchers take control of everything related to the search and dispatch of goods. That is, drivers only need to worry about the road and owners-operators — about business expansion and management tasks.