Dispatcher fee calculator for owner-operators
Enter the gross and miles for a load or a week. The calculator shows our fee for your rig and authority, the fee you pay now or were quoted, and what each leaves you per mile.
Built and checked by Mike Shelton · Updated · Free, no sign-up
Our fee (5%)
$120
1 truck, 6+ months authority
Other fee (10%)
$240
percent of gross
- Gross per mile
- $2.40
- Net per mile after our fee
- $2.28
- Net per mile after other fee
- $2.16
- You keep with us
- $120
Compare what each fee includes, not just the number. Our fee has no setup charge or minimum and applies only to loads you haul.
On this $2,400, our fee is $120 (5%). You approve every load, and the rate con comes straight to you. Our dispatchers book freight your rig is built for at 5% of gross, and you approve every load.
Get dispatched at this feeHow the dispatcher fee calculator works
- Percent fee = gross × the percentage.
- Flat fee is shown as a percentage of the gross too, so you can compare it with percent fees.
- Net per mile = (gross − fee) ÷ miles, loaded and empty.
Our fee comes from the same rule we use in every agreement, set by your rig, how many trucks you run and how old your MC authority is.
Our fee, by setup
| Fee on gross | Who it applies to |
|---|---|
| 7% | MC under 6 months at any fleet size; 26 ft box trucks and hotshots |
| 5% | One truck, authority 6 months or older |
| 4% | Two or more trucks, authority 6 months or older (limited-time rate) |
No setup fee, no minimums, month-to-month with 30 days notice, and no fee on a load you don't haul. More on what it covers on our dispatch fee page.
Worked example EXAMPLE
A dry van owner-operator with two-year-old authority grosses $2,400 on a 1,000-mile load. At 5%, our fee is $120 and the truck keeps $2,280, or $2.28 a mile. A dispatcher charging 10% would take $240, leaving $2.16 a mile. A flat $150 per load is 6.25% of this load, but 10% of a $1,500 load.
Dispatch fees for new authorities
A new MC is harder to book. Many brokers won't load a carrier until its authority has been active for a while, and every new broker means a fresh carrier packet. That is why our fee is 7% while your MC is under 6 months old, whatever the fleet size, and drops automatically after that. See dispatch for new authority.
Fees for fleets, box trucks and hotshots
Fleets of two or more trucks with established authority pay 4% for a limited time, because planning several trucks in the same lanes lets one dispatcher keep more of them loaded. 26 ft box trucks and hotshots pay 7%: their loads are smaller and often partial, yet each one takes as many calls and as much paperwork to book as a full truckload. On a $900 box truck load, the fee is $63.
What the industry charges
Industry coverage puts typical dispatcher fees at about 4% to 15% of each load, with the spread explained by what the service includes. FreightWaves, Mar 24, 2022Checked October 2026 A low percentage that leaves out rate negotiation, broker setup or detention claims can cost more than a higher one that includes them.
What to compare besides the percentage
- Who signs the rate con. With us, the broker sends it straight to you and you sign it. Never let anyone sign for you.
- Forced dispatch. You should be able to turn down any load without a penalty.
- Setup fees, minimums and contract length. Month-to-month with no minimums keeps the dispatcher earning the fee every week.
- What the fee is charged on. Gross, linehaul only, or loads you find yourself as well.
- Hours. Problems happen at night and on weekends; our desk is open 24/7, nights and weekends.
Dispatch fee vs factoring fee
They are separate costs for separate jobs. The dispatch fee pays for finding, negotiating and managing loads. A factoring fee pays a factoring company to advance your invoices so you don't wait for the broker to pay. You can use either without the other. If you factor, count both fees when you work out what a load leaves you per mile, and read our disclosure about our factoring partner.
Red flags in a dispatch agreement
- A long contract with a penalty for leaving early.
- A fee on loads you find and book yourself, unless you agreed to it.
- Power of attorney to sign rate confirmations or invoices in your name.
- A promise of a weekly gross or a rate per mile. Nobody controls the market.
Is a dispatcher worth the fee?
That depends on what you do with the hours you stop spending on load boards and how the loads compare with the ones you find yourself. Run your numbers in the dispatch ROI calculator, which shows the break-even: the rate change or extra miles at which the fee pays for itself. We don't promise rates; we show you every offer before it is booked, and the call is yours.
Ready to see your own numbers on real loads? Read about dispatch for owner-operators or send an application.
Questions about this calculator
01How much do truck dispatchers charge?
Most charge a percentage of the gross revenue of each load, and industry coverage puts the common range at about 4% to 15% depending on the services. Some charge a flat fee per load or per week instead. Compare what each fee includes, such as rate negotiation, paperwork and detention claims, before comparing the numbers.
02Is a percent or flat dispatch fee better?
A percent fee rises and falls with what the load pays, so a dispatcher earns more only when you do. A flat fee costs the same on a cheap load as on a good one, which can make low-paying loads even worse. Enter both in the calculator for your typical week to see the effective percent of a flat fee.
03Is the dispatch fee charged on gross or net?
Usually on gross, meaning the full amount on the rate confirmation, including fuel surcharge. Ours is 5% of gross for one truck with authority older than 6 months, and there is no fee on loads you don't haul. Ask any dispatcher exactly what the percentage applies to before you sign.
04Do dispatchers charge a setup fee?
Some do, and some ask for a deposit or a minimum number of loads. We don't: no setup fee, no minimums, month-to-month, and you can cancel with 30 days notice. Read any dispatch agreement for setup charges, minimum terms and cancellation notice before you sign it.