It’s exciting to start a dispatch business, but then you realize that knowing how to dispatch isn’t enough. You also need customers. Most new dispatchers find that the hardest first step is learning how to find dispatcher carriers who are willing to give you a chance.
You need carriers more than you think. Owner-operators and small fleets are busy driving trucks. They don’t have time to look for loads, work with brokers, and keep up with paperwork all day. That’s where you come in.
Here’s how to find dispatcher carriers and start building your client list from scratch.
Table of Contents
How to Find Carriers for Your Dispatching Business
Start with Load Boards: Your Fastest First Step
When you’re just starting, load boards are the easiest way to find dispatcher carriers. The two most common ways to find carriers are to use a load board like DAT or Truckstop. These are the trucking industry’s open marketplace, where available trucks post their information to let people know that they have a driver with a certain type of equipment available on a certain date.
When you’re on a load board, you can see which carriers are available in certain lanes and contact them directly. Sign up for as many load boards as you can before you get your first client. Having different load boards can make the difference between keeping a client and having them find a new dispatcher.
DAT One and Truckstop are the best places to start. Learn how they work because you’ll use them every day.
In addition to load boards, there are several other ways new dispatchers can build their “carrier outreach” pipeline.
Work with Factoring Companies
This is one of the best things new dispatchers can do that people don’t talk about enough. A factoring company is one of the best places to look for carriers and owner-operators. When you work with a factoring company, trucking companies trust them. This means that when they introduce you to their carrier network, those carriers are much more likely to respond. For a small fee, some factoring companies will send your introduction to their list of carriers. These leads are much more likely to turn into sales than cold outreach alone.
Look in the FMCSA Database
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains a public database of licensed carriers. You can make your own list of “trucking leads” by filtering by equipment type, state, and the age of the authority. This is free and lets you get in touch with real, verified carriers directly.
Join Facebook Groups
One of the best ways to connect with potential carriers and offer your services is to join and participate in transportation industry Facebook groups. Look for groups focused on owner-operators, trucking companies, and dispatching. Be there every time, answer questions, and say hello. Don’t just try to sell something; first, earn their trust.
Real-World Tips for Finding New Dispatcher Carriers
The next step is to stand out once you know where to look. Dispatchers are always trying to get carriers to do something. Here’s how to get through the noise.
- Call First—Don’t Just Email — If you’re good at talking or closing, the best way to reach carriers is to call them directly. Introduce yourself and ask for the contact information of carriers who might be interested in your services. A real voice will make people trust you faster than any email ever could.
- Be Ready to Look Professional — Before you reach out to people, make sure you have a place for them to go. A simple website or a well-designed Facebook page shows carriers that you mean business. When you get in touch, make sure to show off your services with a strong visual presentation. Your website is the best place to do this, but if you don’t have one yet, a Facebook page will work too.
- Aim for New Authorities — Carriers who got their MC authority in the last 6 to 12 months are usually the easiest to work with. They are new to the business and are still working on their processes. They are also looking for help. You can create your own lead lists based on equipment type, authority age, state, and number of power units. The best carrier lists are updated daily to remove companies that don’t do trucking.
- Use Mass Outreach Wisely — It works to call carriers one at a time, but it’s slow. Using mass email or text blast services can help you reach many carriers quickly. Some dispatchers have seen results within the first few days of using these tools. Use this to get people interested at first, and then follow up with those who respond.
Improve Your Reputation and Network as a Dispatcher
Building relationships is the best way to find long-term dispatcher carriers, not cold outreach. Dispatch networking is what keeps your pipeline full without having to look for new leads all the time.
- Get Referrals — Ask your satisfied carriers to refer you once you have one or two. Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the best ways to get new clients. Ask your current clients to tell others about your dispatch work and make personal recommendations for you.
- Get in touch with other dispatchers — Don’t think of other dispatchers as your enemies. Many experienced dispatchers will give you leads they can’t take, especially if you get to know them well. Join online groups for dispatchers and don’t just ask for things; bring something of value.
- Go to Events in Your Field — Attending events, seminars, and local trucking meetings can help you meet industry experts and potential carrier clients that you wouldn’t be able to meet online. These “logistics partnerships” can lead to long-term business relationships and reliable referral sources.
- Give Help with Back Office Tasks — Many owner-operators don’t like paperwork. If you offer more than just finding loads, like handling invoices, tracking, or fleet connections support, it will be harder to find someone else to do your job. Your carriers will be more loyal if you provide them with greater value.
Keep Showing Up
More than anything else, you need to be consistent to learn how to find dispatcher carriers. It might take two weeks of outreach to get your first client. You might get your fifth from a referral you didn’t expect. The dispatchers who grow the fastest aren’t always the ones with the most experience. Instead, they’re the ones who keep reaching out and getting better at selling their services.
Start with load boards, get involved with factoring company networks, and grow your social media presence. Then let your results do the talking.
Are you ready to get your first client as a carrier? Visit Welocity.ca, call +1 (905) 901-1601, or email info@welocity.ca to find out more about dispatcher jobs and how to get in touch with carriers who need reliable dispatch help right now.