Carrier Setup: What You Need to Start Dispatch
To start our truck dispatch service you need active MC authority, a certificate of insurance, a W-9, a voided check or bank letter and a signed dispatch agreement. Most carriers are set up and matched with a dispatcher within 24 hours.
What you need for carrier setup
Five items, and you probably have most of them already. Here's each one and why we need it.
| Document | Why we need it |
|---|---|
| Active MC authority | We book every load under your own authority, so it has to be active on FMCSA's records. |
| Certificate of insurance | Brokers check it before they'll load you. Most want $1,000,000 auto liability and $100,000 cargo. |
| W-9 | Brokers need it to pay you and report what they paid. |
| Voided check or bank letter | Brokers ask for it in their setup packets so they can pay you directly. We don't use it to take payments. |
| Signed dispatch agreement | Puts our fee and both sides' responsibilities in writing. Read the agreement before you sign. |
Federal insurance filing rules are on FMCSA's insurance filing requirements page. If you factor your invoices, send your factoring company's notice of assignment too, so broker payments go to the right place.
Step by step onboarding
- Send your documents. Use the contact form or email them to info@protrucksolutions.com.
- We review them. We confirm your authority and insurance are active and the details match.
- You're matched with a dispatcher who knows your equipment type.
- Preferences call. Your dispatcher learns your lanes, home time, rate floor and brokers you like or avoid.
- The first load search begins. You get loads to approve, with the rate, miles and deadhead laid out.
How long setup takes
Most carriers are fully set up within 24 hours once all documents are in. Your first load usually follows within a few days, depending on your equipment, location and the market that week. New carrier setup runs during office hours, 8 AM to 6 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday, so documents sent on a weekend are set up on Monday.
What happens after setup
How loads get presented
Your dispatcher calls or texts you with a load: pickup, delivery, rate, miles and deadhead. If you want it, we book it and send you the rate confirmation to approve. If you don't, we keep looking. No forced dispatch, ever.
How you get paid
After delivery, the invoice goes to the broker in your name. The broker pays you, or your factoring company, directly. Need faster cash? See using a factoring company through our partners.
How you pay our fee
Your first 3 days of dispatch are free, with no fee on any load picked up in those 3 days. After that, every Monday we send one invoice for last week's loads: 6% or 8% of your gross, depending on your equipment. You pay within 3 business days by ACH, Zelle or a secure payment link, and only after you've been paid. See our pricing for details.
When something goes wrong
Our dispatch team works in shifts around the clock, weekends included. A breakdown at 2 AM or a shipper who won't load you gets a real person on the phone. Read more about our team, or see our full FAQ.
Already running for a while? Here's how our owner-operator dispatch works day to day.
Just got your MC? Start with our new authority dispatch page, and read our guide to your first 90 days with an MC.
Carrier setup questions
What documents do I need to get started?▾
You will need:
- Active MC authority
- Certificate of insurance showing your liability and cargo coverage
- W-9 form
- Voided check or bank letter, which brokers ask for in their setup packets so they can pay you directly
- Signed dispatch agreement
How long does setup take?▾
Most carriers are fully set up within 24 hours once all documents are submitted. Setup runs during office hours, so documents sent on a weekend are set up on Monday.
When will I get my first load?▾
Typically within a few days of completing setup, depending on your equipment type, location, and market conditions.
Is there a contract I have to sign?▾
Yes, a short dispatch agreement covering the fee, responsibilities and terms. There is no long-term lock-in, and our Dispatch Agreement page explains every section in plain English before you sign.
Can I start the setup process before my insurance is finalized?▾
You can start gathering other documents, but active insurance on file is required before we can dispatch any loads to you.
Do you require a minimum number of trucks to get started?▾
No. One truck is all you need. Our core focus is owner-operators running one truck; if you run more, contact us to talk it through.
What happens after I submit my documents?▾
Your documents are reviewed, you're paired with a dispatcher, and you'll get a call or message to go over your preferences before your first load search begins.
Ready? Get in touch
Send your details and a dispatcher will walk you through the rest.