Free Online Program — Now Published
Our free beginner program is now published in Wix Online Programs. It includes a welcome lesson and box-truck load-evaluation practice. The website classroom below also provides additional free beginner lessons. No purchase is required.
Program: Expressway Dispatching Academy | FREE Intro Class
This public website lesson is also available below. The paid Masterclass is a separate course and is not open for enrollment.
EXPRESSWAY DISPATCHING ACADEMY
Free Class: Introduction to Truck Dispatching
Six self-paced beginner lessons, practical exercises and a knowledge check. Additional instructor videos and paid enrollment are still being prepared.
LESSON 1 • START HERE
Introduction to Truck Dispatching
Learning goal: By the end, you should be able to explain a dispatcher’s role, follow a basic load-booking workflow, identify key documents, and calculate a sample dispatch fee.
How a dispatch job works — step by step
- Onboard the carrier: Confirm the carrier’s authority, insurance, equipment, preferred lanes, operating costs, availability and written dispatch agreement.
- Find potential freight: Search appropriate load boards or broker relationships for loads compatible with the carrier’s equipment and schedule.
- Check the details: Verify broker identity and authority, commodity, weight, pickup and delivery appointments, deadhead, total miles and accessorial terms.
- Evaluate the rate: Compare gross pay against loaded and deadhead miles and the carrier’s actual operating costs. Discuss a target rate with the carrier.
- Negotiate with authorization: Speak as the carrier’s authorized representative, not as an independent broker. Get carrier approval for the final terms.
- Confirm in writing: Review the broker-carrier rate confirmation and relay accurate pickup instructions to the driver.
- Track and close: Coordinate updates, document delivery, collect the signed proof of delivery, and help the carrier submit required paperwork for payment.
Example broker conversation — fictional
Dispatcher: “Hello, I dispatch for ABC Carrier under their authority. I’m calling about the dry-van load from Kansas City to Dallas. Is it still available?”
Broker: “Yes. It’s 20,000 pounds, pickup tomorrow at 9 a.m., delivery the next day. We’re offering $1,000.”
Dispatcher: “Thanks. Can you confirm the commodity, appointment flexibility and detention terms? I’ll verify the details and review the rate with my carrier before accepting.”
Key lesson: Never promise capacity or accept terms without carrier authorization. This is a practice script, not a real broker call.
How dispatchers get paid
Dispatch services may charge an agreed percentage of the carrier’s load revenue or a flat fee. For example, a 5% dispatch fee on a fictional $1,000 load is $50 in gross dispatch-service revenue, before business expenses and taxes. That is not the carrier’s profit, and it is not a guarantee of earnings.
Lesson 1 quick quiz
1. Who holds the operating authority: the carrier, broker, or dispatcher?
The carrier holds motor-carrier operating authority for transporting freight.
2. What must you do before agreeing to a load?
Verify the load and broker, assess equipment and driver availability, check the economics, and obtain carrier authorization.
3. What is 5% of a $1,400 load?
$70 in gross dispatch-service revenue, before expenses and taxes.
Video demonstration for this lesson is in production. The written lesson and exercises are available now.
1. What does a dispatcher do?
A truck dispatcher helps a motor carrier plan loads, communicate with brokers and shippers, coordinate pickup and delivery, track progress, and keep shipment paperwork organized. A dispatcher working as an agent of a carrier should act under the carrier's authority and instructions.
2. Who does what?
- Carrier: transports freight under its operating authority and is responsible for safe, lawful operations.
- Broker: arranges transportation between shippers and authorized carriers under its broker authority.
- Dispatcher: coordinates freight and scheduling for the carrier; independent dispatch services must understand when activities may require broker authority.
3. Match freight to equipment
- Dry van: enclosed general freight without active temperature control.
- Reefer: temperature-controlled freight; verify setpoint and operating requirements.
- Flatbed/step deck: freight needing open-deck loading or special dimensions; securement and legal dimensions matter.
- Box truck/cargo van: smaller shipments; check cargo dimensions, payload, dock access, and liftgate needs.
- Power only: carrier provides tractor; confirm trailer availability and responsibilities.
4. Evaluate a sample load
Carrier's truck is 50 miles from pickup. The posted trip is 400 loaded miles at $1,000. Assume the truck is suitable and all mileage estimates are accurate.
Loaded rate: $1,000 ÷ 400 = $2.50 per loaded mile.
Total distance including pickup: 450 miles.
Gross rate across those miles: $1,000 ÷ 450 ≈ $2.22 per mile.
These are gross figures, not profit. Fuel, tolls, driver pay, maintenance, insurance and other costs must be considered.
5. Broker call checklist
- Verify the broker's identity and authority independently.
- Confirm origin, destination, dates, commodity, weight, dimensions, equipment, and appointment requirements.
- Ask about the offered rate, detention, layover, cancellations, and any special charges.
- Check the carrier's authority, insurance, driver hours and capacity.
- Obtain and review written rate confirmation before dispatching; never misrepresent carrier identity or rebroker freight without authority.
Knowledge check
Q1. Which equipment is commonly used for temperature-controlled loads?
Q2. Why can a load's rate per loaded mile be misleading?
Q3. What written document should be reviewed before confirming a brokered load?
Reveal answers
1. Reefer. 2. It excludes deadhead and operating expenses. 3. The broker-carrier rate confirmation.
This class is introductory education, not legal advice or a substitute for checking current FMCSA requirements.
Preview the Masterclass Curriculum →
Interactive Practice: Should We Book This Load?
Practice the numbers before contacting the broker. This is a fictional training scenario, not a live load board.
Dispatcher's next steps: Verify the broker independently; confirm commodity, weight, dimensions, appointments, accessorial terms, carrier authority, insurance, and driver availability. Then review the written rate confirmation. Never decide on gross rate per mile alone.
Lesson 1 • Full Student Practice Lab
Use the interactive rate calculator, complete the pre-booking checklist, take the five-question quiz, and work through the written assignment.
How Dispatchers Charge Carriers and Calculate Earnings
Independent dispatch services may negotiate a percentage of a carrier's gross freight revenue or a flat fee. Examples such as 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, and 10% are illustrative pricing choices, not a required or guaranteed industry rate. The carrier and dispatcher should agree in writing on the fee, what revenue it applies to, when it is earned, and when it is paid.
Commission examples
| Rate | $2,000 load | $5,000 load |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | $100 | $250 |
| 6% | $120 | $300 |
| 7% | $140 | $350 |
| 8% | $160 | $400 |
| 10% | $200 | $500 |
Formula: Load gross freight rate × agreed commission percentage = dispatch-service gross revenue. Example: $2,500 × 8% = $200 before expenses and taxes.
Interactive dispatcher earnings practice
Adjust the hypothetical values below. These figures are educational scenarios, not earnings forecasts.
Remember: These are gross dispatch-service fees, not take-home pay. Business expenses, taxes, downtime, collections, and actual load availability affect results. Dispatch services must comply with applicable federal and state rules; charging a percentage alone does not establish whether broker authority is required.
Practice question: What is 7% of a $3,200 load?
$224 in gross dispatch-service revenue.
Free Class Knowledge Check
Test what you learned. Five questions, immediate feedback, and a recommended practice score of 80%. This is a browser-only self-check, not the paid Masterclass graded exam or a certificate qualification.