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Do new authorities pay a higher dispatch fee, and when does it drop?

Often yes. Several dispatchers publish a higher rate for authorities under 6 months old, then a lower one after. Examples on their own sites run from 7% falling to 5%, and one guide says 9 to 10% for the first 6 to 12 months. Ask when the drop happens and whether it is automatic.

Buddy Loads publishes 7% for an MC under 6 months and 5% from month 7, with 4% for 2 or more trucks as a limited-time rate. TruckLeap publishes 7% for new authorities under 6 months and says they drop to 5% at the 6-month mark.

Dispatch Experts' knowledge base says new authority operators may pay 9 to 10% in the first 6 to 12 months, and the industry standard is 5 to 10%. Those figures come from the businesses' own pages and can change.

The point to check is the trigger. Is the drop automatic at a set date, or only if you ask? Is it written in the agreement? A higher first-months rate is not a red flag if the date and the lower rate are in writing.

Example. You gross $4,000 a week. At 7% the fee is $280. At 5% it is $200. Over a 26-week new-authority period at 7%, that is $2,080 more than 5% would cost, so confirm when the lower rate starts.

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

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Last reviewed Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · Where our data comes from