What's Inside
The complete playbook.
Eight sections. The same five-step framework every Guidebook follows — adapted for the specific moves that matter in this business. Different trade, same playbook structure, every time.
01Understand the Business
How freight dispatch works — the relationship between shipper, broker, carrier, and dispatcher. What dispatchers do, what they get paid, and where the money comes from.
02Get Set Up
Business formation, dispatch agreement template, carrier packet, DAT or Truckstop.com load board access, and the TMS (transportation management software) setup.
03Find Your First Carrier
How to find owner-operators who need dispatch, what to offer in your dispatcher agreement, and the onboarding process that sets up the relationship for success.
04Work the Load Boards
DAT, Truckstop, and direct shipper relationships. How to search, negotiate, and book loads — and the rate per mile benchmarks by lane and commodity type.
05Negotiate Rates Like a Pro
The negotiation scripts, the deadhead cost math, the fuel surcharge formula, and the minimum rate calculation that keeps your carriers profitable on every load.
06Build Direct Shipper Relationships
Getting off the load boards — how to approach shippers directly, what shippers look for in a dispatch partner, and the dedicated lane contracts that eliminate rate uncertainty.
07Scale to Multiple Carriers
How to manage 5, 10, and 20+ carriers simultaneously. The dispatch software, communication system, and check call process that keeps freight moving.
08Build a Dispatch Company
Hiring dispatchers, training them on your system, and the client base that generates a real six-figure dispatch business from a laptop.