Dispatcher fee calculator
Enter your weekly gross, loads and miles. See what a percentage fee, a flat weekly fee and a per-load fee cost on the same week, and what you keep.
Updated October 2026 · Free, no signup
| Fee structure | Fee | Effective % | You keep | Net RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% of gross | -$300 | 5.0% | $5,700 | $2.28 |
| $250 per week (lowest this week) | -$250 | 4.2% | $5,750 | $2.30 |
| $100 per load | -$400 | 6.7% | $5,600 | $2.24 |
A percentage fee moves with your week: a slow week costs less, a strong week more. Flat fees cost the same when the truck sits, so their effective percentage jumps in a bad week. Try a $2,000 week.
At 5% on this week, the fee is $300, charged only on loads you haul, with no setup fee and no contract. Every load comes to you to confirm first.
See if I qualifyHow it's calculated
| Structure | Weekly fee |
|---|---|
| Percent of gross | Weekly gross x percent |
| Flat per week | The flat amount, whether the truck runs or not |
| Flat per load | Per-load fee x loads hauled |
For each, the calculator shows the effective percentage (fee / gross), what you keep (gross - fee) and net rate per mile (what you keep / loaded miles).
Worked example
| EXAMPLE: $6,000 week, 4 loads, 2,500 loaded miles | Fee | Effective % | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% of gross | $300 | 5.0% | $5,700 |
| $250 per week | $250 | 4.2% | $5,750 |
| $100 per load | $400 | 6.7% | $5,600 |
Now a slow week: $2,000, one load. The 5% fee drops to $100. The $250 weekly fee stays $250, which is 12.5% of that week. Over a year with some slow weeks, the structure matters as much as the headline number.
What else to check besides the fee
The fee is one line. Ask what it's charged on, whether there's a setup fee or monthly minimum, how you cancel, and whether loads are booked without your yes. Those terms cost more than half a percentage point when they go wrong. Our guide to truck dispatcher red flags covers the traps.
Our fee, plainly
7% of gross for new MCs under 6 months, 26 ft box trucks and hotshots; 5% standard for one truck with 6+ months of authority; 4% for fleets of 2 or more. No setup fee, no minimums, month-to-month with 30 days notice, and no fee on loads you don't haul. Details on the fee schedule.
Questions about this calculator
How much do truck dispatchers charge?
Most charge a percentage of each load's gross, commonly in the single digits up to about 10%, and some charge a flat weekly or per-load fee. Ours is 7% for new MCs, 26 ft box trucks and hotshots, 5% standard and 4% for fleets of 2 or more, on loads you haul only, with no setup fee.
Is a flat dispatch fee better than a percentage?
It depends on your weeks. A flat fee is cheaper in a strong week and more expensive in a slow one, because it doesn't shrink when the truck sits. A percentage fee moves with your revenue. Put a strong week and a slow week in the calculator and compare.
Is the dispatch fee charged on fuel surcharge and detention?
Ask each dispatcher what the percentage applies to: line haul only, or the total the broker pays. Ours is charged on the total the broker pays for the load. Get it in writing.
Do I pay a dispatcher when my truck doesn't run?
With a percentage fee charged only on hauled loads, no. With a flat weekly fee, usually yes. Read the agreement for minimums and setup fees too.
How does the fee change my rate per mile?
A percentage fee lowers your net rate per mile by the same percentage. At 5%, a $2.40 average nets $2.28. The calculator shows net rate per mile for all three structures.
Numbers done. Want someone to find loads that beat them?
No setup fee. No contract. No haul, no pay.