Forced Dispatch

So I do understand that you don't want to turn down runs, especially just starting out, just because you don't want them or whatever reason. Take the bad loads too until you've really earned that big favor back from DM.

What I'm not sure of, is while looking for companies, do I WANT them to have forced dispatch? Will I never have any say in where I go?

Meaning, are you supposed to want forced dispatch?

If you can help it you do not want a forced dispatch that mean whether you want to or not they can make you do the load.. Ive only had to turn down 2 loads in the whole time Ive worked here. And only 1 of which was a hard no. But I want the option.

So I want a company that doesn't have forced dispatch?

They aaall have forced dispatch tho TT.TT

also, newb question. What is drop and hook? What does is mean, what do the percentage in a company mean?

Thank you Red Gator :3

I agree with Red, if I were still OTR I too would want the option. Maybe not so much to actually turn down a load but it gives you negotiating power. When I worked for Knight if they had a load they really wanted to get covered it was pretty easy to get some extra cash thrown on top of the standard pay. With forced dispatch this would not have been an option. While I never turned down a load I did earn some extra cash from time to time.

Woody

Drop and hook means you drop one trailer and pick up another one. This way you don't have to set waiting to get loaded or unloaded and gets you moving quicker.

Knight is the only one on my list that isn't forced dispatch lol.

So what if I want to go with a company that is? How do I handle it?

And ah. Thank you Woody :3 so the higher the company percentage the better chance of not wasting time waiting on loads? Correct?

If the company has forced dispatch then only way you handle it is to do it. I personally am hoping to find something with no NYC. From what i read that place sucks! To put in nicely..

So I suppose it would go back to, ' do the bad ones without complaint, and maybe you can get the favor repaid with a good run'

Hopefully then it would balance itself out in the end.

And I've always want to go to NYC but most certainly NOT while driving a big rig lmao.

Yes the higher percentage means drop and hook more often. But sometimes this can bite you in the keister. Just because a load is to be dropped does not always mean there is a trailer there to pick up. Meaning you may be sent on a wild goose chase looking for another trailer. My worst case was spending an entire weekend looking for a trailer then when I finally got one and made it to the shipper the load was already gone. Yes I was paid for the miles but I really didn't make any money. I was amazed how many times the company really didn't know where their trailers were.

Brett mentioned in his book about making notes on where you have found empties in the past, it is a good habit to get into.

Woody

I wouldn't let it be a factor in my decision making. Theres so much bigger and more important things you have to think about. You won't be turning down loads, especially as a rookie. Honestly, you could really dig yourself a deep grave if you use this "power" often.

So I'm going to go against the tide here and say it doesn't matter. If you aren't forced dispatch that's great, if you are that's great too. This isn't something that should even be a factor in your decision.