Dispatcher
If you work for or with a company they will provide you with a dispatcher the pay for the dispatcher is included in the % you will pay the company.
If you work on your own, you will need to find a dispatcher, you will pay him a % from your gross BEFORE any deduction, dispatchers charge between 3% and 7% from your gross before any deductions, the percentage varies on the duties assigned to the dispatcher (from information I have at the time of this guide). There are dispatch companies that charge more or less but they will handle your accounting as well and will sign you up with all brokers. Have patience with you dispatcher.
A dispatchers job is not easy, from my experience you start working from the time you wake up till the moment you go to sleep, even if you finished your hours for the day or you have a day off you will still find yourself looking for loads time to time, you will still check the load boards because for sure you have 1 driver stuck in a bad area, at least thats how a dedicated dispatcher works.
My opinion is that a dispatcher should not have more than 4 drivers, even dispatching 4 drivers at a time is difficult. Finding loads can be hard, so when a dispatcher has 4 drivers to load, he will book whatever he finds first because he knows he doesn't have time to loose. I had 5 drivers to dispatch at some point and it was very difficult and pretty stressful, providing a good job needs dedication, its hard to dedicate yourself to this many drivers. Dispatching is not only finding loads for your driver but also a lot of calls between dispatch, brokers, customers and drivers, there is always an issue the dispatcher has to handle. For sure there are better dispatchers than I was, maybe they can handle more than 5 drivers at once, but hard. Having too many drivers will turn your job in a mess and no one will be happy. Another downside having to many drivers is that you do not have time to negotiate the rate with brokers. From my experience at least every 3rd load you book you should get a better price.
A bad dispatcher will have you take home atleast 20% less.
Example: You just arrived at the pickup location and the dealer is asking you for a release form. Which you weren't aware of, you call your dispatcher, he dosent answer or he failed to read brokers notes which specified that a release form has to be sent to the dealer 24h in advance or even 1h prior to arrival. All of these events make you loose time and now you will not manage to get in time to your next pickup or delivery. Now you either have to wait till next day, costing you one day of potential income, or you drive without a vehicle on your trailer. In both cases you loose $$$. This is just an example from many events that can occure.
Tip: TIP your dispatcher. Your dispatcher is your best partner. All your business, finances and you’r well being in terms of money depends on your dispatcher, tipping your dispatcher for sure will motivate him and take better care of you.
For ex: When a dispatcher finds an amazing load, paying 4$ a mile, he needs to decide to whom shall he give it to. That happens pretty often. Appreciate your dispatcher and he will appreciate you, keep him happy.
My advice, If you decide to work on your own, find yourself a good dispatcher not affiliated with any company, build trust , pay him more and so he doesn't need to get to many drivers and you will make more.
Even if you pay a company 10% the dispatcher ends up with 2-4%, do the math, how much money is your dispatcher actually making and how many drivers he needs to have in order to sustain his living.
If you make a weekly average less than 2$ a mile, you need find yourself another dispatcher. A good dispatcher should answer your call or your message in less than 10 min. A good dispatcher will organize things in a way that you will not need to contact him very often nor should you make too many calls in regards to a load, such things can be: check until what time you can pickup or deliver, incorrect address, check if the vehicle is ready and more, however is a good practice to keep in control these things and not rely on the dispatcher only. A good dispatcher books you loads days in advance. A good dispatcher will negotiate and get a better pay on your loads.
NOTE: I noticed a lot of negative feedback when claiming that a driver shouldn't drive with less than 2$ a mile. Many are saying this is not real. Do not listen to them, let them take those 50 cents a mile loads. It's not real to them because they haven't seen better, its either because they decided to load themselves, which is a mistake from my opinion, or they simply have a bad dispatcher/company, their stubbornness got them used to cheap loads and they simply do not want to admit they were wrong. When you contact a dispatcher first think you ask whats the average $ per mile and don't forget he works for you, not the other way around. Probably the best method to find a good dispatcher or company to load you, would be trough recommendations or start following groups or chats on facebook, telegram, Whatsapp (again do not hesitate to join our group its a good way to start, I will be there to answer any question https://chat.whatsapp.com/LPAsvbF2PHhCX1O03lh9Af).
If you are not happy with your dispatcher or the company that you are leased on, who is also providing you with a dispatcher, you can always part ways, do not just wait to get better, it never will. In this business there is no time to wait on anyone.
You will pickup the loads coming from and going to, dealers, auctions, private customers or other businesses.
1.Dealers
When picking up from dealers is always a good practice to call the dealer in advance and check if the vehicle is there and ready, ask for their hours, you will save time and money. Open apple/google maps (satellite mode) check the dealer and find a potential place to park your truck before you get there, if you cant find anything, call the dealer let them know you are delivering or picking up a vehicle from them and ask where is a good spot for transporters to park, they will give you instructions.
Some loads will require a vehicle release form which is provided by the broker.
2. Auctions
Most popular auctions and where you will be going a lot is Manheim, Copart, IAA.
Manheim is an auction for dealers, picking up from them requires a gate pass, you will get it from the broker. Their locations are very convenient with lots of parking space and long hours including weekends.
Copart and IAA are auto insurance auctions, most of cars involved in accidents end up there, they use forklifts to load you, to pickup from them, you will need a lot and buyer number, recently Copart is asking for a PIN number provided by the broker or the customer, their hours are M to F, 8 am to 4:30 pm, their office works until 5, you can get loaded only till 4:30, but you need to get there no later than 4pm otherwise you will not get loaded and you will need to cancel the order or wait till next day. Copart has an app for transporters where you have to make an appointment to get loaded, some copart locations are very busy so make sure you make an appointment as soon as you get the order dispatched to you.
This information may change. Please check hours and conditions.
NOTE: Some insurance auctions will not load vehicles as VANS mobile homes and other heavy vehicles. In case they are inoperable you will need a winch to load them. Check with them immediately after you have the load or if possible even before you get the load (dispatcher'job).
3. Private customers
Probably the most convenient to pickup or deliver to and from are private customers, usually they are very flexible with time and location. Always call them in advance, picking up from private customers requires at least 24 h notice and 1 hour prior arrival. Communicate and inform them about any delay and keep them updated with your ETA.
TIP: First thing when you enter a vehicle roll down drivers window, until your vehicle is secured on the trailer, to avoid getting locked outside with the key inside. Find a spot and always keep the keys from your vehicles in the same place, this is a good practice to keep you from loosing them.