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Truck dispatch questions, answered

Plain answers for carriers hiring a dispatcher and for people starting as one. Each page gives the answer first, then a worked example. The references are listed once, on the sources page.

If you are a carrier or owner-operator

• Is this dispatch service legal? What are the red flags?
• How much do truck dispatchers charge?
• Is the dispatch percentage taken on linehaul only or the whole invoice?
• Where do I find a dispatcher for my equipment type: box truck, hotshot, flatbed, reefer or dry van?
• Do I need a dispatcher as a new motor carrier?
• What should a dispatch agreement say before I sign?
• What should I ask a dispatcher before hiring?
• What is the difference between a truck dispatcher and a freight broker?
• Is a flat weekly fee better than a percentage for dispatch?
• What documents does a dispatcher ask me for, and which are safe to share?
• Can I cancel a dispatch contract, and what should I look for?
• Can I use two dispatchers for one truck?
• Can a dispatcher charge a setup fee, and is that a red flag?
• Can I use Amazon Relay and a dispatcher together, and does the fee apply to Relay loads?
• Detention and TONU: who gets paid, and does my dispatcher take a cut?
• Do new authorities pay a higher dispatch fee, and when does it drop?

If you are a dispatcher

• Do I need broker authority to be a truck dispatcher?
• Can a dispatcher work with more than one carrier?
• Can a dispatcher invoice the broker or take payment from the factoring company?
• Do I need an LLC, licence or insurance to be a truck dispatcher?
• What must a dispatcher-carrier agreement include?
• What is a letter of authorization for a dispatcher, and do I need one?
• What paperwork do I need as a truck dispatcher?
• What is in a carrier packet, and who fills it out?
• How do I invoice a carrier for my dispatch fee?
• How do I find my first carrier as a new dispatcher?
• What do owner-operators look for in a dispatcher?
• What happens if I act as a broker without broker authority?
• How much is the broker bond, and what changed in 2026?

General information, not legal advice. Rules change. Check the sources and talk to a transportation lawyer before you sign or start.