Should You Use a Dispatcher for Hotshot Trucking

Should You Use a Dispatcher for Hotshot Trucking?

Every new hotshot operator faces this question: hire a dispatcher or find your own loads? The answer depends on where you are in your business. Here’s the honest breakdown.

What Does a Dispatcher Do?

A dispatcher:

• Finds and books loads for you
• Negotiates rates with brokers and shippers
• Handles paperwork (rate confirmations, BOLs)
• Plans your routes to minimize deadhead
• Manages your schedule

In theory, they let you focus on driving while they handle the business side.

What Does a Dispatcher Cost?

Most dispatchers charge a percentage of each load’s gross pay:

• Typical range: 10-25% of gross
• Average: 15-20%

On a $2,000 load at 20%, that’s $400 to your dispatcher. Over a month running $8,000-12,000 gross, you’re paying $1,600-2,400/month for dispatch services.

When a Dispatcher Makes Sense

• Brand new to trucking: You don’t know how to find loads, negotiate rates, or navigate the broker world yet
• First 3-6 months: Learning period where a good dispatcher teaches you the business
• You hate the phone: If negotiating and calling brokers isn’t your thing, a dispatcher handles it
• Consistently getting better rates than you could: A great dispatcher with relationships can sometimes outperform what you’d find alone

When to Drop Your Dispatcher

• You’re comfortable with load boards: You can search, evaluate, and book loads yourself
• You’ve built broker relationships: Brokers are calling you directly with loads
• Your dispatcher books cheap loads: If they’re consistently booking $1.50/mile when $2.50 loads exist, they’re costing you money
• You do the math: $2,000/month in dispatch fees = $24,000/year. That’s a truck payment

Red Flags in a Dispatcher

• Charging over 20%: Anything above 20% is excessive for hotshot dispatch
• Long-term contracts: Never sign a contract longer than 30 days. Good dispatchers don’t need to lock you in
• Won’t show you the rate confirmation: You have the right to see what the load actually pays. If they hide it, they’re skimming
• Booking loads below your minimum rate: If you said $2.00/mile minimum and they keep booking $1.50, fire them
• No references: Ask for 3-5 current drivers they dispatch for. Call them
• Upfront fees: Legitimate dispatchers take a percentage, not upfront payments

How to Find a Good Dispatcher

1. Ask other hotshot drivers in Facebook groups and forums for recommendations
2. Check reviews online
3. Interview them — ask about their average rates, lanes, and how many trucks they manage
4. Start with a 30-day trial period
5. Track every load they book — compare rates to what you see on load boards

DIY Dispatch: Finding Your Own Loads

When you’re ready to dispatch yourself, here’s what you need:

• Load board subscription: DAT One ($45-150/month) is the gold standard
• A phone and confidence: You’ll need to call brokers and negotiate
• Rate knowledge: Know what lanes pay so you don’t accept cheap loads
• Organizational system: Track loads, invoices, and payments

The $150/month DAT subscription replaces a $2,000/month dispatcher. The math speaks for itself.

The Smart Progression

1. Month 1-6: Use a dispatcher to learn the business. Watch everything they do
2. Month 3-6: Start checking load boards yourself. Compare what your dispatcher books vs what’s available
3. Month 6-12: Begin booking some loads yourself while keeping your dispatcher for backup
4. Month 12+: Go fully self-dispatched. Keep the dispatcher’s number for dry spells

Bottom Line

A good dispatcher is worth every penny when you’re starting out. A bad dispatcher is the fastest way to go broke. Use them to learn, then graduate to self-dispatch as fast as you can. The $20,000+/year you save goes straight to your bottom line.