Freight Dispatching

• Specializes in assisting carriers in securing high-paying freight loads.
• Dispatchers negotiate the highest rates and present the carrier with options for the final decision.
• Carriers are assisted in moving freight safely and cost-effectively everyday.
• Dedicated dispatchers are assigned to each relationship, serving as a single point of contact.
• Dispatchers possess intimate knowledge of the carrier's transportation business.
• Dispatchers prioritize the carrier's best interests.

Types of Equipment

• Power only
• Dry Van
• Reefer
• Flat Bed
• Step Deck
• Box Truck

Driver Categories

• Solo Driver
• Team Driver
• Legal limit for Solo driver is 600 miles a day, averaging 50-55 miles per hour.
• Legal limit for Team Driver is 1,200 miles per day, averaging 50-55 miles per hour.

Driver Requirements

• Copy of Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• Commercial Driver's License is needed
• Hazmat Permit is needed if the driver carries chemicals.
• Truck and Trailer Number

ELD Device

• An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records driving hours of commercial drivers, which are regulated by rules known as hours of service in the United States.
• Drivers must rest for a few hours before driving again.
• For team drivers, the drivers switch with their CDLs.

Power Only

• Involves the truck itself without any trailer attached to it.
• Two types: Day Cabs and Sleeper Cabs
• Day Cabs need to pick up at loads in the morning and return home.
• Load options include load out (trailer for 5-7 days) and Tow Away (Hook & tow).
• Any trailer can be attached, like Dry van, Reefer, Step Deck, and Flatbed.

Dry Van

• Can range from 48 ft to 53 ft.
• Door types: Swing Door or Roll Up Doors.
• Vented DVs are very rare.
• Constructed with aluminum walls and wooden floors.
• Average rate: $2.5 to $3.5 per mile.
• Weight limit: 45,000 lbs.
• Average weekly gross for Local: $7,000
• Average weekly gross for All 48 states: $10,000 - $12,000
• Accessories include straps and E Tracks for securing commodities.

Reefer Temperature Control

• The reefer can be 48ft to 53ft
• Most of the reefers are Swing Door
• The rest of the equipment is the same as a Dry Van
• Weight limit is 45000 lbs
• Average rate $2.8 to $3.5 per mile
• Average weekly gross - Local: $8,000
• Average weekly gross - All 48 states: $13,000 - $14,000
• Accessories: Straps and E Tracks to hold commodities in place with vertical and horizontal options

Flat Bed

• Lengths: 48 ft or 53 ft.
• Max weight is 48000 lbs.
• Average rate: $2.5 to $3.5 per mile.
• In the North, mountain areas have a max weight limit of 38000 lbs to 40000 lbs.
• Accessories include straps, tarps, chains, and dunnage.
• Average weekly gross - Local: $6,000-$7,000
• Average weekly gross - All 48 states: $10,000 - $11,000.

Step Deck

• Lengths: 48ft - 53ft.
• Max weight is 48000 lbs.
• Average rate $2.5 - $ 3.5 per mile.
• Accessories include straps, tarps, chain & binder, and dunnage.
• Average weekly gross - Local: $6,000- $7,000
• Average weekly gross - All 48 states: $10,000 - $11,000

Box Truck

• Two kinds exist and are also known as Straight trucks.
• Length range: 14ft - 28ft.
• Weight limit: 10,000 lbs.
• Average rate: upto $5,000 - $5,500
• Accessories include pallet jack and lift gate
• Requirements: Haul in all 48 states & be 26ft -28ft

Accessories by Equipment Type

• Accessories For Use with Step Deck & Flat Bed:
  • Binders
  • Chains
  • Straps
  • Tarps
  • Dunnage
• Accessories For Use with Dry Van:
  • Dunnage
  • Dunnage Bags
  • E-Tracks (Horizontal and Vertical)
• Accessories For Use with Box Truck:
  • Pallet Jack
  • Lift Gate

Commodities

• Dry Van transports clothing, furniture, electronics, and household goods.
• Reefer Van transports meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and medicines.
• Flat Bed transports building & construction materials, backhoes, cranes, and logs.
• Step Deck transports building & construction materials, backhoes, cranes, and logs.
• Box Truck is best for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight.
  • Types of LTL freight include parcel delivery, furniture hauling, food delivery, households goods, and appliances.

Payment Methods

• Standard payment is when the carrier gets paid in 30 days
• Quick pay – From Broker is when the carrier gets paid by the broker in 48 - 72 hours after deducting 7-9% from the total amount
• Factoring company – Financial Institute is when the carrier gets paid by the factoring company in 48 - 72 hours deducting 2 - 3% from the total amount.

Services Provided

• Negotiating top paying rates based on the market rate.
• Setting up paperwork, including agreements between broker and carrier, liable to pay in damage.
• Providing fax, email, and documentation when the driver is out of reach.
• Conducting credit checks (A grade, B grade, or C grade) using the Motor Carrier number (MCN).
• Requesting quick pay and fuel advances.
• Requesting insurance certificates in case of loss at the end of the carrier.
• Providing driver director assistance (No GPRS, no internet, send direction through call).
• Negotiating quick pay rates and assisting with factor setup.
• Collection assistance handles carrier bills, proof of delivery, invoice, rate confirmation to factoring, and sends payment to the carrier directly.
• Providing layover charges assistance if the truck goes to the PU and loading starts after 2 hours.
• Unused truck order assistance (TONU) pays charges if the truck reaches the PU and the load gets cancelled.
• Detention charges assistance is available if the truck goes to the PU and loading starts after 6 hours.

Documents Required

• From the Carrier & by the Broker at times
• MC Authority: Motor carrier authority
• W 9 Form: For EIN, EIN: Employee Identification number
• COI: Certificate of insurance
• NOA: Notice of assignment from factoring company
• Voided Check: For Quick Pay

Key Documents

• MC Authority. Motor Carrier Authority, issued by the government, empowers the carrier’s business operations.
• W9 Form. Secures the Employer Identification Number (EIN) from clients for collaborative work. EIN serves as the employee identification number.
• COI: Certificate of Insurance. Verifies the carrier's insurance coverage, including trailer interchange insurance and includes insurance company name, company address, agent details, contact number, and insurance amount.
• NOA: Notice of Assignment from Factoring Company. Issued by factoring companies (e.g., OTR, RTS, Thunder funding), a financial institution, this assigns carriers funds and pays them in 48-72 hours.
• Voided Check. Used for Quick Pay

CDL Permits

• Hazmat Permit (HMSP) - Legal ability to transport hazardous materials that could potentially harm the public and the environment.
• Tanker endorsement - Legal ability to transport bulk quantities of liquids and gasses via truck.

Required Access Cards

• TWIC Card is used to provide access to seaports.
• TSA Certificate grants access to airports

Dispatcher/Broker Questions

• A dispatcher has to have a strong grip over his clients/ carrier docs & details
• Dispatcher should ask;
  • How old the MC is
  • Max Weight he can carry * this will differ from the legal weight
  • Dead Head he can cover
  • Type of door
  • Preferred lanes
  • Accessories he has
• A Broker will ask:
  • What is the commodity
  • Exact pickup location & time
  • Drop off location and time
  • weight
  • what is the current rate he is offering, ALWAYS negotiate for a higher rate
• The broker will also ask: -MC Number -ETA - estimated time of arrival

Documents for Payment Processing

• Required so the carrier can get his payment from either a factoring company or Brokerage for Quick pay
• Rate Confirmation
• Bill of Lading
• Proof of Delivery
• NOA / VOIDED CHEQUE to get his payment

Key Documents Defined

• Rate Con - is the first document the carrier receives, once they agree to pick the load up and it has the pick up location and drop off location.
• BOL – Bill of Lading - Document carrier receives once the Power unit (truck) is loaded with commodity, and includes weight, pickup location, and layover/detention charges
• POD – Proof Of Delivery - For payment shows the address, signatures, and time in & out

Freight Guard

• Freight Guard is when the carrier cancels the load at the last moment, and can result in the carrier's MC not being able to book any loads for at least 90 days with any broker.

Invoice

• The invoice Stellar Dispatch LLC generates to get the amount agreed by the carrier at the time of signing SDS as his independent dispatch.

Regions Served

See images for The West, The Midwest, The North-East, and The South.

Zones

See images for geographical DAT Zones