Better rates
A higher paying loads dispatcher works the terms, not just the number
"Better pay" means different things for different trucks. For a van or flatbed, it's a higher rate per mile with less deadhead. For a dump truck, it's a higher hourly or per-ton rate with minimums and fewer hours waiting at the loader. We negotiate all of it, then send you the final terms to confirm or pass. Nobody can promise you a raise. We can show you the math on every offer.
On every offer you'll see
- Rate per loaded mileYes
- Rate all-in with deadheadYes
- Detention or wait-time termsYes
- Our fee and what you keepYes
Better rates per mile dispatcher work, step by step
Two EXAMPLE negotiations, one for a road truck and one for a dump truck. Each rung shows the offer and what it nets after our fee.
Road truck: 450 mi dry van
Example- 1
Posted
$950 ($2.11/mi)
What every truck in the area sees on the board.
Gross $950 · after 5% fee $902
- 2
Our counter
$1,150 ($2.56/mi)
Backed by the deadhead to pickup, a Friday delivery and an empty market at the drop.
Gross $1,150 · after 5% fee $1,092
- 3
Broker comes up
$1,050 ($2.33/mi)
Plus detention after 2 hours written on the rate con.
Gross $1,050 · after 5% fee $997
- 4
Sent to you
$1,050 + detention
You see the final terms and confirm or pass.
Gross $1,050 · after 5% fee $997
Dump truck: 10-hour day
Example- 1
First offer
$95/hr
Hourly, no minimum, nothing about waiting at the loader.
Gross $950 · after 5% fee $902
- 2
Our ask
$110/hr, 8-hr minimum
Based on the cycle, the haul distance and what nearby jobs pay.
Gross $1,100 · after 5% fee $1,045
- 3
Settled
$105/hr, 8-hr minimum
Plus a wait-time clause: the clock runs from arrival, not from the first load.
Gross $1,050 · after 5% fee $997
- 4
Sent to you
$105/hr + terms
You read the job terms and decide.
Gross $1,050 · after 5% fee $997
Want a target number before you call a broker? Use the counter-offer calculator.
Terms that add up over a year
The headline rate gets the attention. These lines decide how much of it you keep.
- 01
Detention
Free time and the hourly rate after it, written on the rate con. Without it in writing, a four-hour wait pays nothing. Run the numbers with the detention pay calculator.
- 02
Minimum hours
For hourly work, a minimum protects you from being sent home after three hours when the job runs out of material.
- 03
Wait-time clauses
When the clock starts on dump and per-ton work: arrival at the pit, or the first load. It changes your day more than a few dollars an hour.
- 04
Fuel surcharge
On lanes and contracts that include it, a surcharge that moves with diesel prices keeps a good rate from going bad when fuel jumps.
- 05
Layover and TONU
Pay if the load isn't ready and you wait overnight, or if it's cancelled after you're dispatched.
- 06
Extra stops
Stop-off pay for each extra pickup or delivery, agreed before you roll.
“A dispatcher pushing rates will just get me fewer loads.”
Pushing on every load doesn't mean refusing every load. We counter where the numbers support it, accept fair offers quickly, and walk away from the ones that won't move. You see each final offer and decide. If you'd rather take more loads at posted rates some weeks, tell us, and we'll plan that way.
Why the same miles pay differently
Direction matters most. A load headed into a busy market usually pays less than one headed out of it, because brokers know you'll find a reload easily. Day of the week, how far ahead the load is posted, and how many trucks are nearby all move the number.
That's why we judge every offer against its lane, not against a national average, and why a load that looks low can be the right call when it sets up a strong next load.
What not to accept, even when the rate looks good
Worth taking
- A fair rate with detention or wait-time terms written in
- A slightly lower rate that sets up a strong reload
- Hourly work with a minimum
- A short run that keeps your week pointed home
We pass on it for you
- High rate, but a long deadhead that kills the all-in number
- No detention at a dock known for long waits
- Per-ton work with a slow loader and no wait-time clause
- Loads that only work if you run past your hours
Rate questions carriers ask
What is a good hourly rate for a dump truck?
There's no reliable national number. Rates depend on the region, the truck size, the material and the job, and public projects can have prevailing wage rules. A good rate covers your hourly cost to run the truck plus profit, with a minimum and wait-time terms. See our dump truck hauling rates guide.
Should I accept a per-ton job with long waits?
Only if the rate makes up for it. Per-ton pay rewards fast cycles. If you'll sit at the loader, you're hauling fewer tons in the same day, so the effective hourly rate drops. Ask for a wait-time clause, or price the job by the hour instead.
How much does deadhead affect my rate?
A lot. A $1,050 load over 450 miles is $2.33 a mile, but with 60 miles of deadhead to pickup it's $2.06 a mile all-in. Always compare loads on the all-in rate, and look at what you'll find at the delivery before you confirm.
Should I ever take a cheap load?
Sometimes. A lower-paying load that moves you into a strong market, or gets you home, can make the whole week pay more. As a habit, no. Know your cost per mile first, and take cheap loads on purpose, not out of frustration.
Will a dispatcher get me higher rates?
A dispatcher can push every rate and terms on every load, which many drivers don't have time to do from the cab. Results depend on the market and your lanes, so we don't promise a number. With us, you see the final terms and decide, at 5% of gross on most trucks.
Every fee tier is on the fee schedule.
Better terms on every offer, and your yes on each one
No setup fee. No contract. Cancel with 30 days notice.