Dispatch & Freight Management
Flat-Fee vs Percentage Truck Dispatch
Neither model is right for everyone. A percentage fee moves with your gross revenue; a flat fee stays the same each period. Compare them by calculating the actual dollar cost for your typical weeks — not by comparing percentages alone — and by reading exactly what the written agreement includes.
Educational Guide
How percentage fees work · How flat fees work · Why gross revenue matters · Comparing the two in dollars
The dispatcher receives an agreed share of gross freight revenue, often on each load they help arrange. Because the cost scales with revenue, slow weeks cost less and strong weeks cost more.
How percentage fees work
Many reputable dispatchers use percentage pricing. The model itself is not a sign of a good or bad company.
How flat fees work
The dispatcher charges a set amount for a period, such as per truck per week. The cost is predictable, but it does not shrink in a slow week.
Why gross revenue matters
The same percentage produces very different dollar amounts depending on gross revenue. 7% of $4,000 is $280; 7% of $8,000 is $560. A flat fee does the opposite — the dollar amount is fixed, so its share of revenue changes.
Calculate the dollar amount. Multiply your typical weekly gross by the percentage, then compare that number to the flat fee and to any additional charges.
Comparing the two in dollars
Use your own records to fill in this kind of comparison. The row below is hypothetical.
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Typical weekly gross | $6,000 |
| Percentage offered | 8% = $480 per week |
| Flat fee offered | $350 per week |
| Additional fees (each offer) | Add from the written agreement |
| Difference | $130 per week in this example |
DHC plans to offer a free Dispatch Fee Comparison Calculator in the future. It is not available yet; until then, this worksheet shows the same math.
Questions to ask before signing a dispatch agreement
- How are you paid — a percentage of gross, a flat fee, or something else?
- Are there setup, paperwork, technology or cancellation fees?
- Who makes the final decision on whether to accept a load?
- How are rate confirmations, BOLs and PODs handled and stored?
- How can I cancel, and how much notice is required?
- What account access are you requesting (load boards, email, factoring, ELD), and why?
- Which services are actually included in the fee, in writing?
Possible additional fees
- Onboarding or setup fees
- Per-load paperwork or invoicing fees
- Factoring coordination fees
- Software, tracking or technology fees
- Early-termination or notice-period charges
Why the written agreement matters
Conversations and advertisements are not the contract. The written agreement should state the fee, how and when it is charged, what services are included, who decides on loads, and how either side can end the arrangement. If something you were told is not in writing, ask for it to be added or clarified before you sign.
For situation-specific questions about a contract, consider speaking with a qualified transportation attorney or accountant.
Need dispatch & freight-management support?
Direct Haul Connect provides flat-rate dispatch and freight-management support for owner-operators and small motor carriers. DHC is not a freight broker, and the carrier retains control over load acceptance.
- Semi Truck Service Plan: $350/week
- 26-Foot Box Truck Service Plan: $300/week
- No percentage dispatch fee
Questions? Call (945) 321-2734.