1. How the two models work
Percentage (5–10% of linehaul). The dispatcher takes a cut of each load's linehaul revenue – lower percentages for semis, higher for hotshot and box truck work. Your cost moves with your revenue: slow week, smaller fee.
Flat weekly ($250–$350 per truck). One fixed payment per truck per week, no matter how many loads get booked. Your cost is identical in a $3,000 week and a $7,000 week.
2. The break-even, worked out
Take a midpoint dispatcher at 7% versus a $300 flat week:
At $3,000 weekly gross: 7% = $210. Flat = $300. Percentage wins by $90.
At $4,300 weekly gross: 7% = $301. Flat = $300. Dead even – this is the break-even.
At $6,000 weekly gross: 7% = $420. Flat = $300. Flat wins by $120.
The formula is simple: break-even weekly gross = flat rate ÷ percentage. $300 ÷ 0.07 = ~$4,285. Gross less than that consistently, and percentage is cheaper. Gross more, and flat saves you money every week.
3. When percentage is the smarter choice
New authorities and inconsistent lanes: revenue swings wildly in the first year, and percentage keeps dispatch cost proportional. Seasonal or part-time operations. Anyone testing a dispatcher – percentage on a trial week tells you exactly what the relationship costs at your actual volume.
4. When flat rate wins
Steady high-mileage operations grossing over $5,000 per truck weekly: flat is almost always cheaper, and the savings compound across a small fleet. Three trucks at $300 flat is $900/week – at 7% on $18,000 combined gross, percentage would cost $1,260.
5. What to watch in either model
Percentage should apply to linehaul only, not fuel surcharge or accessorials – confirm this in writing. Flat should not quietly exclude services like detention follow-up or invoicing. And in both models: no forced dispatch, everything documented, no long-term contract before you have seen a trial week of real work.
Run the math on your operation.
Free trial week, your choice of model after: 5–10% of linehaul or $250–$350 per truck per week. No setup fees, no contracts, no forced dispatch.