12 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Truck Dispatcher
Before you hire a truck dispatcher, ask what the fee is charged on, whether anything is due upfront, who the broker pays, whether you can refuse loads, whose MC is on the rate con, how to cancel, and how they check brokers. Get every answer in writing.
Most dispatchers sound good on the first call. The way to tell them apart is to ask the same questions to each one and compare the answers. Here are 12 questions to ask, what a good answer sounds like, and what should make you walk away.
For outright scam warning signs, see our 9 dispatcher red flags. This list is for comparing dispatchers that seem honest.
Fees and money
1. What's your fee, and what is it charged on?
Good answer: a specific percentage or flat amount, and whether it's on the linehaul or the full rate including fuel and accessorials.
Walk away if: the answer is "around 5%," or they won't say what it's charged on.
On the same $3,600 load, 6% of a $3,000 linehaul is $180, while 10% of the full rate is $360. Our guide to dispatcher fees shows the math.
2. Is there anything to pay before my first load?
Good answer: no setup, onboarding or monthly fees. You pay only on loads they book, after delivery.
Walk away if: there's a signup fee or a week paid in advance.
3. Who does the broker pay, and how do I pay you?
Good answer: the broker pays you or your factoring company directly, and you pay the dispatcher separately.
Walk away if: they want broker payments sent to their account. That puts your money in someone else's hands, and FMCSA's guidance says handling payments can make a dispatcher an unlicensed broker.
4. Do you take anything from detention, layover or TONU?
Good answer: a clear yes or no, in writing, and they go after that pay for you.
Watch out if: the answer is vague, or a fee on it only shows up after you sign.
Control of your business
5. Can I turn down a load?
Good answer: always, with no penalty. No forced dispatch.
Walk away if: there's a minimum number of loads you must accept, or a fee for saying no.
6. Whose authority is on the rate confirmation?
Good answer: yours. The dispatcher books under your MC and the rate con is between you and the broker.
Walk away if: they want you to haul under their authority, or they're also the broker on your loads.
7. How do I end the agreement?
Good answer: a short written agreement with no long-term contract, a clear notice period, and a plan for loads already booked.
Walk away if: there's a long minimum term or a cancellation fee.
How they work
8. Will I always talk to the same dispatcher, and how many trucks do they handle?
Good answer: one dedicated dispatcher, with a manageable number of trucks, and a backup who knows your file.
Watch out if: it's a call center where whoever picks up books your load.
9. How do you check brokers before booking?
Good answer: authority, bond, credit and days to pay, and identity checks, on every load, even with familiar brokers.
Watch out if: "we only work with good brokers," with no process behind it. Here's what a full broker check covers.
10. What happens at 2 AM when my truck breaks down?
Good answer: a real person answers, any hour, and works with the broker on the load.
Watch out if: support stops at 5 PM, or the after-hours line is a voicemail.
Ask a follow-up to each of these: "Can you show me?" A dispatcher with a real process can describe a recent example, such as a broker they passed on, a reload they planned or a breakdown they handled at night, without naming anyone. A dispatcher with a sales script can't.
Trust and track record
11. What's your registered business name and state?
Good answer: a legal name you can look up on the state's business registry, matching the agreement.
Walk away if: they can't or won't give one. Our scams guide shows how to look up a dispatcher's business.
12. Can I talk to carriers you dispatch now, and read the agreement before I sign?
Good answer: yes to both, ideally references with your equipment type.
Walk away if: they push you to sign before you've read it.
What your first month should look like
Once you pick a dispatcher, the first 30 days tell you whether you chose well. Expect:
- A setup call where they learn your truck, lanes, home time, rate floor and brokers you like or avoid
- Loads presented with the numbers: rate, loaded miles, deadhead and pickup and delivery times
- Rate cons that match what you agreed, with accessorials listed
- Reloads planned before delivery, not after you're empty
- Detention and TONU claims filed when they apply
- A clear fee on every load, matching the agreement
At the end of the month, compare your rate per mile, empty miles and hours on paperwork to the month before. If the numbers didn't move, say so. A good dispatcher wants that conversation.
How to compare your answers
Put each dispatcher's answers side by side. A simple scorecard helps:
| Question | Dispatcher A | Dispatcher B |
|---|---|---|
| Fee and what it's charged on | ||
| Upfront or monthly fees | ||
| Who the broker pays | ||
| Fee on fuel and accessorials | ||
| Forced dispatch or minimums | ||
| Whose MC | ||
| Cancellation terms | ||
| Dedicated dispatcher | ||
| Broker checks | ||
| After-hours support | ||
| Registered business | ||
| References and agreement |
The lowest fee isn't always the best deal. A dispatcher who gets you better rates, cuts your empty miles and collects your detention can leave you with more money at a higher fee. Ask for everything in writing, then try a few loads and measure your rate per mile and empty miles before and after.
Here are our answers, so you can compare:
- A flat 6% or 8% of weekly gross, and nothing owed on a load the broker never pays
- Nothing upfront
- Brokers pay you or your factor directly
- No forced dispatch and one dedicated dispatcher
- Every broker checked before we book
- Dispatch support 24/7
Read our dispatch agreement in plain English, then put us through all 12.
Hiring a dispatcher questions
What is the most important question to ask a dispatcher?▾
What the fee is charged on. The same percentage costs far more on the full rate with fuel and accessorials than on the linehaul alone.
Should a dispatcher charge before I haul?▾
No. A legitimate dispatcher bills after the work is done, for loads already delivered. Setup or onboarding fees, or a week paid in advance, are a warning sign.
How do I compare two dispatchers?▾
Ask both the same 12 questions, put the answers side by side, and get them in writing. Then try a few loads and measure your rate per mile and empty miles.
Ask us all 12
Call and put us through the list. We'd rather you compare.