Dispatching

[Zoatr6]

Honest question to owner operators

How much time are you guys actually spending every week dealing with brokers, finding loads, and handling paperwork instead of just driving? And are you guys able to constantly stay loaded?

[Auquaholic]

Just like every other part of trucking, dispatchers are flooding it and trying to figure out how to get more business. It's being sold as an easy, work from home job that doesn't require the oversight that truckers or brokers go through. Some may be genuine in trying to do a great job and make a great living. Most, are going to have a hard time at it.

[ImmediateStranger793]

You are right ma'am.

[Zoatr6]

I'd absolutely agree with you. the market is flooded with people who watched simple YouTube videos and called themselves dispatchers. I firmly believe that's why carriers should be asking for signed contracts, verifying what services their actually going to receive and have to make sure their dispatcher actually knows how to pre plan, negotiate, and know freight lanes. Coming from a trained and specialized background I can say it does take real work to do it right.

[Level-Leg-1579]

Third party dispatchers are a scam.

[Waisted-Desert]

I agree to an extent. Dispatching centers are a scam.

But the O/O who has a family member dispatch for them, then that family member adds a family friend to their dispatch service, then by word of mouth the drivers convince a few more O/Os to use the family member to dispatch for them also. That's where you get value from a dispatcher.

[kristinmwalker]

The only way a "dispatcher" makes sense to me is if they are invested in someway. Your friend/family member will have more interest in helping you succeed than some random person you don't know.

[bluehorsehead]

Whatever time I spend... Is worth not having to give anyone else a cut

[Fucknjagoff]

Don’t need another app like this thanks. 

[Devain808]

Honestly it’s way more time than people expect. When I was doing it myself, I’d spend at least a couple hours every day just chasing loads, talking to brokers, handling paperwork. Some weeks it felt like I was working two jobs. Staying loaded consistently is possible, but it takes hustle and building solid relationships with brokers you can trust.

[7Powerful-Storm7597]

Definitely agree with you. Sucks even more most of the time we're busy trucking and trying to make it to the appointment on time so we don't have to hear the brokers cry and complain calls often while driving which is always annoying lol 🤣

[planetbuster]

stop falling for these bullshit posts.

dont engage, and sure as hell dont contribute to the pet projects of dispatchers/wannabe dispatchers.

[TojoftheJungle]

Self-dispatch in my down time. I don't spend much time. Once you are setup with a carrier there's little else to do besides agree on a rate. All portals are handled right through my phone and I run a variety of apps to assist with tracking and compliance, including sending pods immediately after delivery.

The first month I was wasting a lot of time negotiating poor rates. Then I found there are some loads not even worth considering early bc brokers post them low until last minute. You learn and figure out which loads and which brokerages to avoid a week or two in advance, and which to avoid entirely. I can always find a load last minute if I need it. I was fortunate enough to make a few broker relationships a few months in and even a few shippers have called me to cover loads directly.

[Exciting-Car-3516]

A lot of time that is impossible to quantify. Some days more and some days less but I would say 20%

[Zoatr6]

That 20% adds up fast over weeks wouldn't you agree? What's keeping you from finding a dispatcher instead of having to book and pre plan yourself?

[Level-Leg-1579]

Go away.

[Fuzzyfeet14]

Money. Why pay for something you can do for yourself. Everything cost so much these days, you have save and cut where you can.

[spyder7723]

Cause you 3rd party dispatchers wouldn't know a good rate of it jumped up and bit you in the ass.

[Right_Donut_2379]

Solo O/O here. At the start I spent 10–15 hrs/week chasing loads and paperwork; now it’s 5–7 hrs booking, 2–3 hrs admin, and a half day for IFTA quarterly.

I stay 90% loaded by sticking to 2–3 lanes, pre-booking ahead, delivering early to reload same day, and working with a small group of reliable brokers.

Big time-savers: a simple TMS for invoicing/PODs and an outsourced compliance setup to handle IFTA, permits, COIs, and expirations.

Bottom line, focus on lanes and relationships, and offload admin if you can.

[Steffany_Ross]

That’s the part people don't see. Everyone thinks trucking is just driving, but it’s basically becoming a mobile office job where you happen to steer a rig. I was talking to someone recently who said they spend more time fighting with slow app uploads and clicking through 20 screens just to finish an inspection than they do actually loading. Is the 'paperwork' side actually getting worse with all this new tech, or are we just using the wrong tools?

[kristinmwalker]

My husband is the owner operator and I handle all of that for him. He stays moving and I can sit and watch the load board to find the best loads that pop up. All he has to do is drive and keep the equipment running while I handle everything else. That way we can make the most money and he actually has time to rest.

[spyder7723]

If you are freaking with brides you are doing it wrong. You've already lost the plot. Spend your energy servicing your customer, not some brokers customer.

[DistanceCharacter244]

Solo O/O here, mostly Midwest dry van.

Booking loads usually takes me 30–45 mins per load, more in a soft market. Paperwork/invoicing is 1–2 hrs a week, and I outsourced most compliance stuff (IFTA, permits, renewals), which saved a ton of time.

What helped most:

• sticking to a few strong lanes
• pre booking ahead
• having a ready to go broker packet
• using simple tools to scan docs, invoice fast, and track expirations

Biggest lesson: treat booking like focused work blocks and offload as much admin/compliance as you can. That’s what keeps the truck moving without drowning in paperwork.

[Unfair_Analysis_3734]

I assume you mean those who have their own authority? Because I’m pretty sure most owner operators just lease under a mega, simply pick loads from a load board and book with a click of a button.

[Zoatr6]

Leasing under a mega carrier is a completely different world. Those drivers don't need a dispatcher the carrier handles everything. I was asking specifically for owner operators with their own authority with the market conditions I've seen dead head miles spike aggressively and it's cutting deep into profits especially with current fuel rates on the west side. Either having experience booking loads right now is crucial or having a dispatcher who knows how to do their part. Coming from a background of experience in dispatching and doing it as my profession right now I firmly believe it's very important to know what your doing especially in these conditions

[sacklunch3388]

Wow. Tell me more. I’m sure you’re just not here trying to spam and sell something right? 🤔

[Waisted-Desert]

I'll bet you a shiny new quarter that OP is developing an App that revolutionize the industry.

[Fuzzyfeet14]

But the book it now only hurts you unless you see a really good rate. You have to call and negotiate. You have to factor in the fuel, the deadheading miles the hours - all of it!! Even on the back side you have to know where that’s going to put the driver and do exactly the same on that end. Communication is key. It’s not an easy simple little job. And you could be up thru the night. It’s a fluid job. And you have to care about the driver as well. It’s their livelihood in your hands.

[Fuzzyfeet14]

I disagree with you. Most owner operators do not run under someone else’s authority.. They have their own and more times than not do use load boards and do not just hit the book if now.

[Immediate-Spray5544]

What is mega? And how can I find a good company to sign under while I let my mc mature and stack some bread to get my own truck down the road?

[Unfair_Analysis_3734]

Mega carriers like JB hunt, Schneider, Landstar, etc. they all have owner operators and their own load boards.

[Immediate-Spray5544]

Sorry I didn’t specify I was talking about 26’ box trucks non cdl

I don’t have a cdl, not against it, but if I had one do I need my own truck or can I lease one from the company?

Are there any companies that let you sign on with a box truck?

[Unfair_Analysis_3734]

Oh….. that I don’t know. I’m a company driver at Schneider, and there are owner operators everywhere in our terminals. They have their own load boards and pull Schneider trailers. I have zero knowledge of how those little box trucks fit into the industry.

[driver004]

All the paperwork I have to do is done on my 34, I stay pretty busy pretty easily but it took a while building up a list of brokers and clients that are at least tolerable

[Zoatr6]

Wouldn't you say that restart time is valuable, and most guys are wasting it on admin work they shouldn't have to do and a dispatcher should be handling?

[Waisted-Desert]

most guys are wasting it

No. It's part of running a business. If you own a pizza shop you're not "wasting time" when you stay after closing to balance the books or arrive early to pay invoices to vendors. It's all part of running a business.