Notes from the desk
Written from the dispatch floor. Operational detail on dispatch, back office, billing and freight sales for small carriers and brokerages in Canada and the USA.
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Back office
Why carrier invoices get short-paid, and the documents that stop it
Short pays are rarely disputes about whether the freight moved. They are disputes about whether the carrier can prove what happened. The proof is a fixed set of documents, collected at a fixed point in the load.
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Choosing a partner
Who owns the customer? The questions to ask before you sign with a dispatch service
Most disputes between carriers and dispatch services are not about service quality. They are about who controls the broker relationship, the credentials and the notice period. Here is what to read before you sign.
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Night operations
What happens to your freight between midnight and six
Freight does not stop when the office closes. It just stops being watched. Here is what actually moves across a dispatch desk between midnight and six, and what it costs when nobody is at that desk.
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Cost and decisions
What a full-time dispatcher actually costs a small fleet, per year
The salary figure is the part everyone quotes. The employer contributions, the software seats, the vacation coverage and the cost of replacing someone who leaves are the part that decides whether the hire works.
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Sales and growth
Cold calling shippers as a small carrier: what works and what gets you blocked
Direct shipper freight is the goal for most carriers that grow past a few trucks. The calling is unglamorous and most of it is done badly. Here is what separates the calls that get a lane from the ones that get a block.
Tell us what is falling through the cracks
A short call is enough to work out whether a dedicated seat, a shared seat or a single service is the right shape. No commitment, no pressure, and we will say so if we are not the right fit.