What a freight broker does
A freight broker is a licensed intermediary (with its own broker authority) that connects shippers who have freight with carriers who have trucks. The broker agrees a price with the shipper, posts the load or calls carriers, and then pays the carrier a lower amount. The difference is the broker's margin.
Because the broker's profit comes from that spread, a broker's goal is to cover the load reliably at the lowest rate a qualified carrier will accept.
What a truck dispatcher does
A truck dispatcher works for the carrier. Dispatchers search load boards and broker networks, compare options, negotiate the rate up, complete broker setup packets, review rate confirmations, track detention and TONU, and send invoices — so the driver can focus on driving.
An independent dispatcher like Pro Dispatch does not take possession of the freight or hold the carrier's money. Loads are booked under the carrier's own MC, and the broker pays the carrier or its factoring company directly. The dispatcher earns a percentage of the load or a flat fee from the carrier.
Side-by-side
- Works for: dispatcher → carrier; broker → shipper
- Paid by: dispatcher → carrier (percentage or flat fee); broker → margin between shipper and carrier rates
- Goal on rate: dispatcher → highest rate for the truck; broker → lowest rate that covers the load
- Authority: broker needs its own broker authority; an independent dispatcher books under the carrier's MC
- Paperwork: broker issues the rate confirmation; dispatcher reviews it and handles setups and invoicing for the carrier
When does a carrier need a dispatcher?
If you spend hours each day on load boards, accept the first offer because you don't have time to negotiate, deadhead home without a reload, or fall behind on invoices and detention claims, a dispatcher usually pays for itself. The more trucks you run, the bigger the time savings.
If you already have steady dedicated freight and enjoy negotiating, you may not need one. Many carriers start with a one-truck trial to compare their weekly gross with and without dispatch.