How much does a truck dispatcher charge?
Dispatch pricing is simpler than it looks once you know the common structures. Here is how it works, what to compare, and what to ask before you sign anything.
The common ways dispatchers charge
Across the industry, dispatch services usually charge in one of three ways:
- A percentage of each load's gross revenue. This is the most common structure. The dispatcher earns more only when you earn more, which aligns incentives. Commonly cited industry figures run from roughly 5 to 10 percent, but the number varies by service and by how much work is included.
- A flat weekly or monthly fee. Predictable for you, but you pay whether or not the dispatcher books loads.
- A per-load flat fee. Less common, and usually seen for occasional loads.
How Sonex charges
Sonex service fees are a transparent percentage of gross load revenue, as defined in your Dispatch Service Agreement, and apply only to successfully booked loads. There are no setup fees. The exact percentage is written in your agreement, so you can read it before you commit.
A worked example, with an illustrative number
This example uses a made-up percentage purely to show the math. It is not a Sonex quote.
- Load pays $2,000 gross.
- At an illustrative 8% dispatch fee, the fee is $160.
- The remaining $1,840 is your revenue, before fuel, tolls and other costs.
The useful comparison is not the fee on its own. It is whether a dispatcher raises your rate per mile, cuts your deadhead and saves your time by more than the fee costs.
Questions to ask any dispatcher before you sign
- What exactly is the fee, and what is it calculated on? Gross revenue, net revenue or flat?
- Is there a contract length or a cancellation penalty?
- Can the dispatcher book loads without my approval? Forced dispatch means you can be sent on loads you did not choose.
- Who pays for detention, layover and TONU, and who collects it?
- Is support available when I need it, including nights and weekends?
- Is everything in writing? A clear agreement protects both sides.
Dispatch services commonly charge a percentage of each load's gross revenue, with industry figures often cited around 5 to 10 percent. Some charge flat weekly or per-load fees. Sonex charges a percentage of gross on loads it books, set out in your agreement.
No. Sonex has no setup fees. Service fees apply only to successfully booked loads, as defined in your Dispatch Service Agreement.
Forced dispatch means the dispatcher can book loads without the carrier's approval. Sonex never forces dispatch, so the carrier approves every load before it is booked and before a fee applies.
A percentage aligns the dispatcher's income with yours, while a flat fee is predictable regardless of results. Compare the total cost with what the dispatcher adds in rate, reduced deadhead and saved time.
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