Dispatch AutopilotGuide
Dispatching for car hauler owner-operators: a simple daily routine
Small carriers lose more money in the office than on the road: a missed invoice, a forgotten COD, a broker who pays 40 days late. A simple routine fixes most of it.
Every day
- Morning: confirm today’s pickups and delivery hours by phone, and check where each truck is.
- During the day: update load status as cars are picked up and delivered.
- After each delivery: send the invoice and signed BOL to the broker the same day.
- Evening: book tomorrow’s loads and plan the next trip, including the backhaul.
Every week
- Call brokers whose payments are late, oldest first.
- Reconcile COD and COP money.
- Run driver and dispatcher settlements and send statements.
- Check expiring documents: registrations, insurance, medical cards, inspections.
Every month
- Calculate your cost per mile and compare it with your average rate per mile.
- Review which brokers and lanes paid best.
- Back up your records.
Keep it in one place
The routine is easy to follow when loads, invoices, payments, expenses and settlements live in one system instead of five spreadsheets and a pile of paper. That is exactly what Dispatch Autopilot is built for.
Questions
Should I hire a dispatcher as an owner-operator?
Many owner-operators dispatch themselves at first. A dispatcher can help as you add trucks; pay is usually a percentage of gross or a flat fee per load.
When should I send the invoice?
The same day as delivery, with the signed BOL. Every day you wait is a day later you get paid.
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