Transparent Pricing

One Simple Fee. No Surprises.

Q: Is there a setup fee to get started?

None. The application, carrier onboarding, and help building your broker packet - all free. We don't make money until you're hauling, so we have no reason to charge you upfront.

Q: How is the 5–7% fee calculated?

It's a percentage of the gross amount on your rate confirmation - what the broker agreed to pay you for that load, before any deductions. Example: $2,000 load at 6% = $120 fee, invoiced separately after you've been paid. We never touch the broker payment.

Q: What determines whether I pay 5%, 6%, or 7%?

Authority age and fleet size. Established owner-operators (1–3 trucks, 6+ months in service) pay 6%. Fleets running 4 or more trucks pay 5% - the volume justifies the discount. Carriers under 6 months start at 7%, then automatically drop to 6% once you hit the 6-month mark.

Q: Do you charge extra for after-hours dispatch?

No. The dispatch fee is the dispatch fee - it doesn't change based on when a load gets booked. Expedited freight, late-night bookings, weekend loads: same rate, no add-ons.

Q: What if I don't haul any loads in a given week?

You pay zero. There's no retainer, no monthly minimum, no 'we tried but couldn't find anything' fee. If we don't put you on a load, we don't get paid. That's the only model that makes sense for both sides.

Q: Is 10% too much to pay a dispatcher?

For most owner-operators, yes. The industry standard is 5–7%. At 10%, a dispatcher would need to consistently negotiate rates $0.20–$0.30/mile higher than what you could achieve yourself just to break even. That is possible with highly specialized freight (flatbed, heavy haul, hazmat) but uncommon in standard dry van or reefer work.

Q: Do dispatchers charge on gross revenue or net revenue after fuel surcharges?

Most reputable dispatch services charge on gross revenue including fuel surcharges, because fuel surcharges are part of your revenue and they negotiated for those charges on your behalf. Be wary of services that quote low percentages but exclude surcharges from the calculation, then charge the full percentage on the combined total.

Q: How do I know if my dispatcher is actually negotiating rates or just posting my truck?

Ask for a breakdown of the rate confirmation versus the load board posted rate. A good dispatcher should be able to show you a load that was listed at $1,800 and that they negotiated to $2,100. If the rates they book match the load board exactly, they are not negotiating - they are posting. We track market rates daily and document negotiation results on every load.

6% of gross load revenue for most owner-operators. That's it. No setup fees, no monthly bills, no contracts. If you don't haul, you don't pay.

Our Pricing

Dispatch Fee Tiers

Your rate depends on fleet size and how long you've had your authority

New Authority

Under 6 months MC authority

New carriers are higher-risk to work with - brokers are cautious, your safety score is untested, and building your carrier packet takes more legwork. The 7% reflects that extra work. Once you hit 6 months, you automatically move to 6%.

Everything That's Covered

✓Daily load sourcing on all major load boards and direct contacts
✓Rate negotiation on every single load - we push back on low offers
✓All broker calls, check calls, and delivery confirmations
✓Deadhead planning - we pre-book your next load before you deliver
✓Weekly earnings reports with full rate and mileage breakdown
✓Carrier packet setup with major brokers during onboarding
✓Dispatcher available when loads need to move - including nights and weekends
✓Month-to-month - no long-term contract, cancel with 30 days notice

How We Compare

	TruckLeap	Industry	Self-Dispatch
Fee	5–7%	8–12%	$0
Setup fee	None	Often yes	None
Contract	None	Often 1yr	None
Load sourcing	✓	✓	Your time
Negotiations	✓	✓	Your skill
Time cost	Minimal	Minimal	2–4 hrs/day

Run Your Numbers

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Deep Dive

What Dispatch Services Actually Charge (and Why)

Dispatcher pricing is one of the least-transparent parts of the trucking industry. You'll see claims ranging from 5% to 15%, flat fees of $200/week to $800/month, and everything in between. Some of those numbers are reasonable. Some are exploitative. Here's the breakdown of what dispatch services actually charge, what each model means for your bottom line, and how to evaluate whether a quote is fair.

Dispatcher fee structures comparison showing percentage, flat fee, and hybrid pricing models for trucking dispatch

The Three Pricing Models

1. Percentage of Gross Revenue (Most Common)

The dispatcher charges a percentage of the gross revenue on every load they book for you. Industry standard range: 5–7%. At $2.50/mile over 10,000 miles in a month ($25,000 gross):

Percentage	Dispatch Fee	Your Net Revenue
5%	$1,250	$23,750
6%	$1,500	$23,500
7%	$1,750	$23,250
10%	$2,500	$22,500
12%	$3,000	$22,000

The percentage model aligns incentives: the dispatcher earns more when they negotiate higher rates. Red flag:Any dispatcher charging 10%+ is out of market unless they're providing extensive additional services (factoring, compliance management, dedicated after-hours support).

2. Flat Monthly Fee

A fixed fee regardless of load count or revenue. Common range: $300–$700/month per truck. Can favor high-revenue operators - a $500 flat fee on $30,000/month is 1.7%, but $500 on $12,000/month is 4.2%. The downside: the dispatcher has no financial incentive to negotiate better rates. They earn the same whether they book you at $2.10/mile or $2.60/mile.

3. Hybrid Model

A base flat fee (often $150–$250/month) plus a reduced percentage (3–4%) per load. Covers the dispatcher's administrative overhead while keeping performance incentives in place. Uncommon, but can be a fair structure for both parties.

What a Legitimate Dispatch Fee Should Include

A standard dispatch fee at 5–7% should include:

Load search across all major load boards (DAT, Truckstop, 123Loadboard)
Rate negotiation with brokers on your behalf
Rate confirmation review and signature
Carrier packet setup with new brokers
Check calls during transit
Assistance with accessorial charges (detention, layovers, TONU)
Invoice submission to broker/factoring company
Market rate guidance on whether a rate is worth taking

What is included in dispatch fees breakdown showing load search, rate negotiation, carrier packets, and invoicing

Hidden Fees to Watch For

This is where operators get burned. The 6% headline rate can balloon to 10%+ in practice.

Setup / Onboarding Fees

Some dispatchers charge $100–$500 to "set you up in their system" or build your carrier packet library. Legitimate services do not charge setup fees.

Per-Load Administrative Fees

A flat charge ($15–$50) applied to every load on top of the percentage. If you're running 25 loads per month and paying $25/load extra, that's $625/month in hidden costs.

Carrier Packet Fees

Charging per carrier packet they complete on your behalf. Should be included in the percentage.

Quick-Pay Fees

If the dispatcher processes quick pays and takes a cut of the quick-pay fee, this is double-dipping. You're already paying their percentage on the gross rate.

"Premium" Load Board Access Fees

Some dispatchers charge for access to DAT or Truckstop subscriptions that they bill to you at markup. You should be able to verify they are actually paying for these subscriptions.

Real Math: What You Actually Net After Dispatch Fees

Scenario: Owner-operator, dry van, 11,000 miles/month

Self-dispatching at $2.25/mile

Gross: $24,750
Operating costs at $1.78/mile: $19,580
Net: $5,170/month

With 6% dispatch service at $2.52/mile

Gross: $27,720
Dispatch fee (6%): $1,663
Operating costs at $1.78/mile: $19,580
Net: $6,477/month

Monthly gain: $1,307 | Annual gain: $15,684. Even after paying the dispatch fee, the improved rate more than covers the cost. Use the Cost Per Mile Calculator to establish your baseline operating cost, then layer the dispatch fee on top to see your true net per mile.

Industry Standards: What Each Tier Means

5–6%: Competitive, fair for owner-operators
7%: Acceptable if the service is full-service (check calls, carrier packets, invoice processing)
8–9%: High but may be justified for specialized freight (flatbed, heavy haul, hazmat)
10%+: Above market; needs strong justification
15%: Exploitative; walk away

Contract Terms to Read Carefully

Exclusivity Clauses

Does the dispatcher require you to run ALL your loads through them, or can you still accept direct shipper calls? Most reputable services don't require exclusivity. They earn on what they book.

Termination Terms

Some contracts have 30–90 day notice requirements or early termination fees. Month-to-month contracts are better for operators until you have established trust with the service.

Liability for Bad Loads

If a load the dispatcher books has a problem (incorrect weight, access issues, shipper not ready), who bears the cost? Understand this before signing.

Rate Approval Process

Are you required to accept every load the dispatcher presents? Can you reject a load without penalty? Good dispatchers present options and respect your final decision.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Dispatcher

1What is your exact fee structure: percentage, flat, or hybrid? Any additional fees?
2Which load boards do you search? Do you have direct broker relationships beyond load boards?
3What is your average rate per mile for dry van / flatbed / reefer in my lanes?
4How do you handle detention, TONU, and accessorial charges?
5What are your operating hours? Who covers weekends and nights?
6Do you require exclusivity?
7What is the contract length and termination policy?
8Can I speak to current carrier clients?

A dispatcher who is evasive about any of these questions is one to avoid. A 5% dispatcher who books you at $2.20/mile yields less than a 7% dispatcher who books you at $2.60/mile - don't optimize on the fee percentage in isolation.

Dispatch fee impact on owner-operator revenue showing net income at different fee percentages

Pricing Questions

Common Questions

Is there a setup fee to get started?

How is the 5–7% fee calculated?

What determines whether I pay 5%, 6%, or 7%?

Do you charge extra for after-hours dispatch?

What if I don't haul any loads in a given week?

Is 10% too much to pay a dispatcher?

Do dispatchers charge on gross revenue or net revenue after fuel surcharges?

How do I know if my dispatcher is actually negotiating rates or just posting my truck?

ROI in Carriers' Words

Carriers Who Saw the Fee Pay for Itself

Three carriers. Three different paths to a positive ROI.

“Best move I made for my business. I'm a single truck owner and the dispatch service fees paid for themselves in the first two weeks just by avoiding the low-paying spot market freight I was picking up on my own.”

Marcus D.

Charlotte, NC

Solo · single truck

“I like that TruckLeap is transparent. They send me the original Rate Con from the broker every time so I know exactly what the gross is. No hidden percentages, just honest dispatching for a fair fee.”

Khalid A.

Columbus, OH

2023 Volvo · dry van

“I've tried three different dispatch services this year. TruckLeap is the only one that doesn't take 'no' for an answer from brokers. They negotiated an extra $400 on a cross-country run because of the fuel price spike. They pay for themselves.”

Monica D.

Charlotte, NC

Dry van · O/O

6% to Haul More, Stress Less

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