Most box truck dispatchers charge 8–10% per load. Here's what drives the cost, what to watch for, and how TLS keeps it to a flat 5%.
Most independent box truck dispatchers charge between 8% and 10% of each load's gross. Some charge a flat weekly fee instead. On top of the percentage, watch for hidden costs: setup fees, factoring tie-ins, and "extra service" charges that quietly eat your margin.
On a $2,000 load, the difference between a 10% dispatcher and a 5% one is $100 — every single load. Over a month of steady freight, that's the difference between a good month and a frustrating one. The dispatch fee is one of the few costs you can actually control.
TLS isn't a third-party dispatcher reselling load-board freight — we're an asset-based carrier with a 6,000+ truck network. Because the freight is ours, we keep the fee to a flat, industry-low 5% with no hidden fees. You also get AI load matching, QuickPay, real-time tracking, and 24/7 support. Learn more about our box truck dispatch service.
Most dispatchers charge 8–10% of each load, sometimes with hidden setup or service fees. TLS keeps it to a flat 5% with no hidden fees because the freight comes through our own asset-based network.
A dispatcher saves you hunting time, but the fee matters. A lower flat fee with consistent freight — like TLS at 5% — usually beats a high-percentage dispatcher reselling load-board freight.
Anything at or below the market 8–10% range is typical; a flat 5% with no hidden fees is on the low, owner-operator-friendly end.
No. TLS charges a flat 5% with no hidden fees or surprise deductions.
Join a carrier that keeps you loaded, pays fast, and actually picks up the phone.
Sign Up to DriveThe headline number matters less than what is bundled into it. A dispatcher charging 8 to 10 percent who only books loads is expensive; a partner charging a flat 5 percent who also handles paperwork, tracking, and fast pay is a different value entirely. When you compare quotes, ask what is included: Are factoring fees separate? Is there a sign-up cost or a monthly minimum? Who handles broker packets and detention claims?
TLS keeps it simple — a flat 5 percent with no hidden fees, because we move freight direct instead of marking up a broker's load. That means more of every rate stays with the driver who earned it, and you always know exactly what you are paying for.