The short answer
A freight broker holds FMCSA broker authority, arranges transportation on behalf of shippers, and is paid out of the spread between what the shipper pays and what you get.
A truck dispatcher is your agent, works under your operating authority, is paid by you, and never takes a position in the middle of the money. If a dispatch service is keeping a spread, it is brokering — and doing that without broker authority is illegal.
Side by side
| Truck dispatcher | Freight broker | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they work for | You. In writing, as your agent. | The shipper. You are their supplier, not their customer. |
| Whose authority the load runs under | Yours. Your MC, your DOT, your insurance. | Theirs. They hold broker authority and a $75,000 bond. |
| Who pays them | You do, after you get paid. | The shipper. Out of the gap between what the shipper pays and what you get. |
| Do they know what the load really pays | You both see the same rate con. There is no gap. | They do. You only see your side of it. |
| Do they handle your money | No. The broker pays you directly. | Yes. The money goes through them to you. |
| Can they give your load to someone else | No. Your load, your truck. | Yes. That is the business. |
Five signs your “dispatcher” is really brokering your loads
This is not just about rules. If a company without a licence collects the money for your load and then goes under, there is no bond to pay you. You are just another person owed money by a business that closed.
They tell you a flat price for the load
If a dispatch service says “I will pay you $2,000 to run this” instead of showing you the rate con, they are keeping the difference. That is brokering, and doing it without broker authority is against the law.
The money goes through them
If the broker pays the dispatch service and the dispatch service pays you, you are not being dispatched. You are being brokered by someone with no bond behind them. If they go under, your money goes with them.
They will not show you the rate con
The rate con is the document. If you cannot see it before you commit, ask yourself what is on it that you are not meant to see.
Brokers pay them too
Ask them straight: do you take any money from brokers, 3PLs, or factoring companies? A dispatcher paid by both sides is negotiating against you with your own money.
They say they dispatch “for carriers” in general
A real agent tells every broker they are working for one named carrier under that carrier's authority. Vague wording is how a company without a broker licence describes itself.
Where we stand
We are a dispatch service, not a broker. Here is what that means in practice, so you can hold us to it:
Common questions
Is a truck dispatcher the same as a freight broker?
No. A freight broker holds FMCSA broker authority, arranges transportation on behalf of shippers, and is paid out of the spread between what the shipper pays and what the carrier receives. A truck dispatcher is the carrier's agent, works under the carrier's own operating authority, is paid directly by the carrier, and never takes a position in the middle of the money.
Do truck dispatchers need broker authority?
Not if they operate as a bona fide agent of a single carrier under a written agreement, disclose that relationship to brokers, and never handle the money or re-assign loads. A dispatch service that quotes carriers a flat rate for a load and keeps the difference is brokering, and doing that without broker authority and a surety bond is illegal.
How can I tell if my dispatcher is actually brokering my loads?
Ask to see the rate confirmation before you commit. If you can see the rate confirmation and the broker pays you directly, you are being dispatched. If the dispatch service tells you what they will pay you and the money routes through them, you are being brokered — by someone with no surety bond standing behind your receivable.
Can a freight broker also dispatch my truck?
They can arrange your loads, but they are not working for you. A broker's duty runs to the shipper who hired them, and their margin comes out of your rate. That is a legitimate business, but it is the opposite side of the table from a dispatcher you pay to negotiate on your behalf.
More in the full dispatch FAQ, or see how we work day to day.