Truck Dispatch Pricing
Candor Trucking charges a 5–11% dispatch fee per load (depending on equipment) to dispatch your truck in all 48 states. The fee is calculated on gross load revenue (linehaul plus fuel surcharge), with $0 setup fees and the freedom to cancel anytime with written notice. Typical truck dispatch cost is 5–10% of gross, based on published provider pricing.
What does truck dispatch cost with Candor Trucking?
Candor Trucking charges a 5–11% dispatch fee per load depending on equipment. Here is what the fee is calculated on and when you pay it.
| Item | Candor Trucking |
|---|---|
| Dispatch fee | 5–11% per load depending on equipment |
| Calculated on | Gross load revenue (linehaul plus fuel surcharge) |
| Detention, layover and TONU pay | 100% kept by carrier ($0 fee taken by Candor) |
| Billing | Weekly invoice directly to the carrier; paid by carrier |
| Weeks the truck doesn't run | $0 owed |
| Fee by equipment type | 5–11% (varies by equipment) |
Candor Trucking dispatches dry van, reefer, flatbed, hotshot, box truck and power only. See the equipment we dispatch.
What's included in the fee, and what costs extra?
The 5–11% dispatch fee covers full load sourcing, negotiation and carrier support with zero hidden add-ons. Whoever you hire, get this list in writing before you sign.
| Service or charge | Included or extra? |
|---|---|
| Finding loads on load boards and through brokers | Included |
| Rate negotiation with brokers | Included |
| Broker setup and carrier packets | Included |
| Rate confirmations and BOL paperwork | Included |
| Check calls and broker updates | Included |
| Invoicing or factoring paperwork | Included |
| After-hours or weekend support | Included |
| Setup or onboarding fee | Included ($0) |
| Technology or admin fee | Included ($0) |
| Early-termination fee | Included ($0) |
See how our dispatch process works week to week.
How does our fee compare with typical truck dispatch rates?
Dispatch services commonly charge 5–10% of a load's gross, or about $150–400 per truck per week flat, based on pricing that providers publish. Candor Trucking's fee of 5–11% is within and competitive with that range.
No regulator tracks dispatch fees. These ranges come from providers' own guides, and they differ.
| Pricing model | Typical published range | Source | Candor Trucking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of gross | 5–10% per load | O Trucking pricing guide | 5–11% per load |
| Flat weekly fee | $150–400 per truck per week | Truck Dispatch Experts rate guide | Percentage only (5–11%) |
| Per-load fee | $30–150 per load (sources differ) | O Trucking glossary ($30–75) and pricing guide ($50–150) | Percentage only (5–11%) |
One dispatch software company puts the range wider, at 3–10% of gross.
When is a flat weekly fee cheaper than a percentage?
Divide the flat weekly fee by the percentage. The result is the weekly gross where both cost the same, and above it the flat fee is cheaper.
With illustrative numbers, $250 ÷ 6% is about $4,167 a week.
A percentage fee is $0 in a week with no loads booked. A flat fee charged for a light week takes a bigger share of that week's gross.
What will dispatch cost you in a typical week?
Multiply your weekly revenue by the fee, on the same basis the fee uses. Here is a sample week with illustrative numbers.
- Linehaul for the week: $5,000 (illustrative).
- Fuel surcharge for the week: $800 (illustrative).
- Candor Trucking's fee: 7% on $5,800 gross revenue = $406.
- Left before truck costs: $5,394.
The basis matters. At an illustrative 7% fee, charging on $5,000 of linehaul costs $350, while charging on the $5,800 total costs $406. That is $56 a week, or about $2,900 over 52 weeks.
What are the contract terms?
No long-term contracts; cancel anytime with written notice and zero exit penalties.
- Minimum term: None. Written dispatch agreement on a week-to-week basis.
- Notice to cancel: Written notice anytime.
- Early-termination fee: $0.
- Forced dispatch: None. You approve every load before it is booked.
- Who pays us: You, the carrier. We invoice you directly and never take payment from brokers or factoring companies.
The last point matters legally. FMCSA guidance lists taking load payment from a broker or factoring company as a sign a dispatcher may need broker operating authority.
Is a truck dispatcher worth the cost?
A dispatcher is worth it only if the extra loaded miles and better rates bring in more than the fee. Run your own numbers before you sign with anyone, including us.
ATRI's 2026 operational costs report puts the average cost to run a truck at $2.336 a mile in 2025, or $1.854 without fuel. Your number will differ, but every empty or idle mile costs money and earns nothing.
Running one truck on your own authority? See dispatch for owner-operators.
Truck dispatch pricing FAQ
How do I get started?
Send Candor Trucking your equipment type, lanes and weekly gross, and a dispatcher will reply with your exact rate quote and dispatch agreement in writing. Call (942) 281-1045, Monday–Saturday, 6:00 AM–8:00 PM CT, or email dispatch@candortrucking.com.
More questions? Read the full dispatch FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your dispatch fee charged on linehaul or on the total with fuel surcharge?
Candor Trucking charges its fee on gross load revenue (linehaul plus fuel surcharge). Detention, layover and TONU pay are not part of that basis and are 100% kept by the carrier. Ask every dispatcher this question. At an illustrative 7%, an $8,000 invoice costs $560, but $7,000 of linehaul alone costs $490.
Do I pay anything in a week my truck doesn't run?
You pay $0 in weeks we book no loads. Tell your dispatcher about home time, shop days and planned downtime early, so both sides know what each week costs. With any flat weekly plan, ask in writing whether the fee applies while the truck is parked.
Is there a setup fee or a long-term contract?
There is no setup fee and no long-term contract. You can cancel anytime with written notice and pay $0 in termination fees. Some providers list onboarding, technology, after-hours or early-termination fees on top of the main rate, so compare the total cost, not the headline number. Every Candor Trucking charge appears in the included-and-extra table on this page.
Can I turn down a load you find?
Yes. There is no forced dispatch, and nothing is booked without your approval. You own the truck and the authority, so lanes, weights and home time are your call. Before signing with any dispatcher, check that the agreement says in writing who approves each load.
Does dispatch cost more for reefer, flatbed, hotshot or box truck?
Candor Trucking charges 5–11% per load depending on equipment. We dispatch dry van, reefer, flatbed, hotshot, box truck and power only. Elsewhere, prices vary by equipment. One provider publishes 8% for box truck and hotshot against 6% for semis, so compare quotes for the same equipment.
Do fleets with several trucks get a lower rate?
We offer standard 5–11% rates per truck based on equipment, with tailored terms for small fleets operating multiple trucks. Candor Trucking works with owner-operators and small fleets. One provider's guide says some dispatchers cut 1–2% for multi-truck accounts. Whoever you use, get the total weekly cost for your whole fleet in writing, not only the per-truck rate.
Who pays the dispatcher, me or the broker?
You, the carrier, pay Candor Trucking. We invoice you directly, never the broker or your factoring company. This matters legally, because FMCSA guidance lists a dispatcher taking load payment from a broker or factoring company as a factor pointing toward needing broker operating authority.
Sources and Reference Material
- O Trucking, How Much Do Truck Dispatchers Charge? (provider-published): Dispatch services commonly charge 5–10% of a load's gross; per-load fees of $50–150; some dispatchers cut 1–2% for multi-truck accounts
- Truck Dispatch Experts, Truck Dispatch Rates 2026 (provider-published): Flat weekly fees of $150–400 per truck; one provider's rates are 6% for semis and 8% for box truck and hotshot; add-on fees such as setup, technology, after-hours and early termination exist
- O Trucking glossary (provider-published): Per-load fees of $30–75
- Numeo blog (software vendor): Range of 3–10% of gross
- ATRI, Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update (press release): Average cost to operate a truck was $2.336 per mile in 2025, $1.854 excluding fuel
- Benesch Law summary of FMCSA final guidance: No statutory or regulatory definition of a dispatch service exists
- Benesch Law summary of FMCSA final guidance (PDF): Accepting compensation for a load from the broker or factoring company is a factor indicating broker authority is required
- Federal Register (88 FR 39368, June 16, 2023): FMCSA final guidance on broker authority and dispatch service definitions (primary source)