Best hotshot dispatch services: how to judge any of them

There is no honest ranking of "the best hotshot dispatch companies." Nobody can see every company's results, and a list where the publisher ranks itself first isn't worth reading. What you can do is ask every dispatcher the same questions and judge the answers. That's what this guide gives you, with a scorecard at the end that works on any dispatcher, including us.

Why hotshot dispatch is different

A hotshot isn't a small semi. Its loads are decided by weight and deck in a way a 53 ft van's rarely are. A dispatcher who treats your rig like a semi will send you posts that are over your combined rating, too long for your deck, or need ramps you don't carry. The first test of any hotshot dispatcher is whether they understand that before they start searching.

If you run non-CDL, the stakes are higher. A load that puts your rig over 26,000 lb combined makes it a Class A CDL vehicle on that trip, whatever the plates say. A good dispatcher filters for that every time. Our hotshot dispatch page shows how we match loads to ratings.

The 10 questions to ask any hotshot dispatcher

1. How is the fee calculated, and is it written down?

Why it matters: "Percentage of the load" can mean gross or net, and some dispatchers add fees on top. Good answer: a single percentage of gross on loads you haul, in the agreement, or a flat weekly amount with no extras. Bad answer: "It depends," or a number that only appears after you sign.

2. Is there a setup fee?

Why it matters: setup fees get paid whether a single load ever moves. Good answer: no. Bad answer: an "onboarding" or "packet" fee due before your first load.

3. How long is the contract, and how do I leave?

Why it matters: if the service doesn't work, you need a way out that doesn't cost you a month's profit. Good answer: month to month, or a short notice period. Bad answer: six or twelve months with a cancellation fee.

4. Do I approve every load before it's booked?

Why it matters: forced dispatch is the most common complaint about dispatchers. Good answer: yes, every load is an offer you can pass on with no penalty. Bad answer: "We book what's best and you run it."

5. Who gets and signs the rate confirmation?

Why it matters: the rate con is the contract for the load, under your MC. Good answer: the broker sends it to you and you sign it. Bad answer: the dispatcher signs on your behalf, or you only see a summary.

6. Did they ask for your GCWR, trailer and deck length first?

Why it matters: this is the hotshot-specific test. Good answer: they ask for your truck and trailer ratings, deck length, gear and CDL status before they search. Bad answer: they only ask where you want to go.

7. Do they check brokers before offering a load?

Why it matters: one unpaid load can cost more than a year of dispatch fees. Good answer: credit, days to pay and history checked on every broker. Bad answer: "The board shows they're fine."

8. Who owns the broker setups if we part ways?

Why it matters: your history with brokers is part of your business. Good answer: setups are under your MC and stay with you. Bad answer: setups run through the dispatcher's own account.

9. Can I reach someone at night and on weekends?

Why it matters: hotshot freight is often expedited, and problems don't wait for Monday. Good answer: yes, the desk covers nights and weekends. Bad answer: an email address and business hours only.

10. What do they promise you'll earn?

Why it matters: honest dispatchers can't promise income, because rates move with season, lane and weight. Good answer: ranges with a source and a date, or a sample week clearly labeled as an example. Bad answer: "$10k a week, guaranteed."

6 red flags

1. Forced dispatch. Loads assigned without your yes, or pressure to take whatever comes.
2. Fees on top of fees. A percentage plus a setup fee, a weekly "admin" charge, or fees on loads you didn't haul.
3. Long contracts. Six or twelve months with a buyout or cancellation fee.
4. Income promises. "$10k a week," "guaranteed loads," or anything that sounds like a sure thing.
5. Booking over your weight. Any dispatcher who doesn't ask about your ratings will eventually send you a load that puts you over the CDL line or your trailer's GVWR.
6. Pressure to use their factoring partner. Factoring can be useful, but it should be your choice. A dispatcher who requires it is selling you something else.

Score any dispatcher

Answer the ten questions for the dispatcher you're considering. The ticket totals the score and prints a verdict. Use the print button to save it as a PDF and compare dispatchers side by side.

A score of nine or ten means the basics are right; a trial month will tell you the rest. Seven or eight is workable if the "no" answers are things you can live with. Below seven, get the gaps in writing or keep looking.

How we answer the 10 questions

We'd rather you judge us on the same card. Here are our answers.

1. Fee: a published percentage of gross on loads you haul: 7% for a single hotshot, 4% for fleets of two or more trucks with authority older than 6 months. See rates and fees.
2. Setup fee: none.
3. Contract: month to month, 30 days notice to cancel.
4. Approval: every load is an offer you accept or pass. Passing costs nothing.
5. Rate con: the broker sends it straight to you, and you sign it. We never sign for you.
6. Ratings first: your truck GVWR, trailer GVWR, deck length, gear and CDL status are the first questions on the first call.
7. Broker checks: credit, days to pay and history on every broker before an offer reaches you.
8. Setups: under your MC; they stay yours if you leave.
9. Nights and weekends: the desk covers them.
10. Income: we don't promise any. Our pages use labeled examples and sourced ranges.

If you run one truck, our page on dispatch for owner-operators goes further into what you keep control of. If you're weighing a dispatcher against doing it yourself, the honest comparison is on dispatcher vs load board.

What a good first month looks like

Whoever you choose, the first month tells you most of what you need to know. In week one, they should collect your paperwork and send carrier packets to brokers on your lanes, and the first offers should arrive with every detail you need to decide. By week two, the offers should fit better because they've learned what you take and what you pass. By week three, reloads should start lining up before you deliver. At the end of the month, you should be able to look at a report of every load, its rate, its miles and the fee, and decide from real numbers whether to keep going.

If a dispatcher can't show you that kind of report, or if the offers in week three still don't fit your rig, that's your answer.