A dispatch service like Truck Relay acts as your back-office support and partner on the road. We find and book loads for you, negotiate rates with brokers, handle all necessary paperwork (carrier setups, rate confirmations, certificates of insurance), and coordinate details like pickup/delivery appointments. Essentially, we manage the logistical planning and administrative hassles so you can focus on driving and making money.

It's simple and carrier-friendly. Once you sign up with Truck Relay, we'll discuss your equipment and preferences – what kind of freight you want, which regions you run or avoid, your home time needs, etc. Then our team starts searching for loads that fit your criteria. We present you with the best options (usually via a call, text, or email), and you choose which loads to take. After you agree, we handle the broker setup, sign the rate confirmation on your behalf, and send all the pickup and delivery info straight to you. We keep in touch during the haul in case any issues arise, and once you deliver, we can even assist with sending invoices or communicating with your factoring company if needed.

Great question. A freight broker is an intermediary who works for the shipper – they find carriers to haul the shipper's loads (and take a cut of the rate). A dispatch service works for the carrier – we help you (the trucker) find loads, usually from brokers or sometimes direct shippers. We don't have freight of our own; instead, we act as your agent to source good loads and handle negotiations/administration. Another difference: you pay a dispatch service a fee for helping you, whereas brokers get paid by the shipper (you're not directly paying the broker, though their cut affects the rate you get). In short, Truck Relay represents your interests – we're not in the middle of the shipper-carrier transaction taking a slice off the top; we're on your side earning a fee for the service we provide.

Absolutely. No forced dispatch here – you're the boss. Truck Relay works for you, and you maintain complete control. We will never book a load without your approval. Our job is to find great options and give recommendations, but the decision to accept or decline is 100% in your hands every time. If you say "no" to a load, no problem – we'll keep looking. We want you to feel comfortable with every haul you do.

We're flexible. While many of our clients prefer to have us handle all their dispatching (so they can truly offload the work and maximize efficiency), you're to use our service as much or as little as you want. If you want to book some of your own loads and use us to fill in gaps, that's okay. If you have a direct customer load one week, you can run it – just let us know your schedule. Our dispatch agreement is non-exclusive. We do find that carriers who let us plan out their week ahead of time tend to see the best results (since we can line up a smoother itinerary), but it's your business and we're here to help in whatever capacity works for you.