Every mile driven in trucking is important for both business and profit. For those who own just a few trucks, handling logistics, locating high-paying jobs, dealing with paperwork, and making the best routes can be very difficult. Some manage everything on their own, but this often results in missed profits, lost business, and inefficient operations.
B-LOADED looks at the true, often concealed, expenses of not using a dispatching service. We will go over the numbers and real-life effects to help you decide what is best for your trucking business.
Missed Opportunities for Higher-Paying Loads
Independent truckers often rely on public load boards, which tend to be crowded with low-paying freight. Freight dispatchers can tap into broader broker and shipper networks, increasing your chance of finding better-paying, consistent work.
According to the 2023 DAT Freight & Analytics report, truckers using dispatch services earn up to 25% more per mile than those who go it alone.
Example:
A dispatcher might lock in $2.80 per mile on a 1,000-mile run—whereas a solo driver might settle for $2.30. That’s a $500 difference on one load. Repeat that every week, and you’re looking at thousands left on the table.
Hours That Don’t Pay
Truck dispatching companies free up time. Without them, you could spend 2–4 hours daily looking for loads, handling documents, and managing delivery schedules.
Every hour spent planning is an hour not driving.
Poorly organized routes also add up. The American Transportation Research Institute estimates up to 15% of fuel and driving time is wasted from deadhead miles or bad route choices. A dispatcher improves shipment management by mapping efficient, revenue-focused runs that cut down on waste.
Burnout & Safety Risk
Solo drivers juggle everything from driving, rate negotiations, and client calls to billing and compliance. That mental load leads to fatigue, reduced focus, and long-term burnout.
The more time spent managing the job, the less energy you have to do it right. Dispatch services reduce this pressure by offloading day-to-day coordination. That means fewer distractions and more energy to stay sharp behind the wheel.
Paperwork Problems
Missing deadlines or paperwork errors can cost more than time—they can lead to fines, delays, or even loss of authority. A freight dispatcher typically handles or supports:
IFTA and ELD compliance
Drug and alcohol consortium oversight
BOC-3 filings
Rate confirmations and BOLs
Without a dispatcher, small mistakes can lead to big consequences. Late invoices, missing documents, or audit flags can interrupt cash flow or get you flagged during inspections.
Opportunity Cost
Some avoid dispatch services thinking they’ll save 5–10% per load. But skipping this support can lead to smaller payouts, missed reloads, and longer gaps between hauls.
Example:
Two owner-operators each drive 100,000 miles per year:
Driver A (No Dispatcher): $2.00 per mile = $200,000/year
Driver B (With Dispatcher): $2.40 per mile = $240,000/year
After paying a 7% dispatching fee ($16,800), Driver B still nets $223,200 which is $23,200 more than Driver A. Over three years, that’s nearly $70,000 lost to avoid dispatcher fees.
Dispatching Isn't Always Necessary
Some situations don’t call for dispatch services:
You run consistent freight under a dedicated contract
You have long-standing relationships with direct shippers
You’ve built a background in negotiation and logistics coordination
But for most new or growing carriers, a dispatcher can be the difference between stagnation and profitability.
It may look like handling your trucking business by yourself will save money, but the facts say it won’t. Missing out on a dispatching service can result in lost income and risks of not meeting regulations, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars annually.
Try to review your business activities from the last three months. Find out your average revenue per mile and the amount of time you spend on logistics. After that, look at what B-LOADED’s dispatching service can offer. You might be surprised by what you find!
