Dispatch fees are not standardized. Different companies charge in different ways, and two quotes that look similar can cost very different amounts once you count what the fee applies to. This guide explains the common models and shows the math so you can compare them yourself.
The three common fee models
- Percentage of gross: the dispatcher takes a set percent of the carrier pay on each load they book.
- Flat weekly or monthly fee: a fixed amount no matter how much the truck earns that week.
- Per-load flat fee: a fixed dollar amount for each load booked.
Published guides from dispatch companies commonly cite percentage fees somewhere in the single digits up to around 10 percent, depending on equipment type and services, and flat-fee models in the low hundreds of dollars per week. These ranges come from companies selling dispatch, so treat them as something to compare against, not a standard.
The math in dollars
Here is the same arithmetic at three percentages. These are illustrations of math, not typical earnings or quotes.
| Fee | On a $2,500 load | On $20,000 of gross in a month |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | $125 | $1,000 |
| 8% | $200 | $1,600 |
| 10% | $250 | $2,000 |
A flat fee works differently. At $300 per week, the monthly cost is about $1,300 ($300 x 52 weeks / 12 months). On $20,000 of monthly gross that is 6.5 percent, but on a slow month with $10,000 of gross it is 13 percent. A flat fee is cheaper when the truck is busy and more expensive when it is not.
What the fee applies to
Before comparing percentages, ask what the percentage is taken from. "Gross booked freight" should mean the total carrier pay shown on the signed rate confirmation. Some arrangements also apply the fee to extras. Ask specifically about:
- Fuel surcharge, if it is listed separately on the rate confirmation
- Detention, layover, TONU, and lumper reimbursements
- Loads you find yourself or loads from brokers you already work with
Fees and terms to ask about before you sign
- Setup fee, onboarding fee, or deposit
- Contract length and how to cancel
- Any monthly minimum or charge when the truck is not moving
- Whether the dispatcher takes possession of your payment, or the broker or factoring company pays you directly
- Whether you approve every load before it is booked
- Whether you can work with other dispatchers or your own broker contacts at the same time
How Truck Peak charges
Your first successfully booked and dispatched load has no dispatch fee. After that, the fee is 5 percent of gross booked freight, meaning the total carrier pay on the signed rate confirmation. On a later load showing $2,500, the fee is $125. There is no forced dispatch, and nothing is booked without your approval. The broker or factoring company pays you directly, and Truck Peak does not take possession of your freight revenue. We do not guarantee loads, rates, or revenue.
Whatever dispatcher you use, put the fee, what it applies to, and how to cancel in writing before the first load.