Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies
Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies
Before You Use This Article
- Access needed: Carrier/trucking setup in Load Manager, including driver, equipment, driver settlement, or driver/mobile dispatch access.
- Use this article when: you are a carrier, owner-operator, or trucking company using company drivers, equipment, driver settlement, or driver/mobile dispatch. Full company path: Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies.
- Use a different article when: you dispatch for carrier customers; use Dispatch Report Overview for Dispatch Services. If you broker freight to outside carriers, use Rate Confirmation Layout and Features.
The Dispatch Report gives the assigned driver the load details they need to pick up, transport, and deliver a load. Carrier and trucking company accounts use Dispatch Reports for driver-facing paperwork because the company itself is the carrier.
Before you start: Applies to carrier, owner-operator, and trucking company accounts.
If your company is a Dispatch Service, you may also use Dispatch Reports, but your setup is carrier-profile based. See the Dispatch Service version in Related Articles.
When to Use the Dispatch Report
| TMS Type | Who Is Assigned on the Load | Driver-Facing Document |
|---|---|---|
| Freight Broker | Outside carrier from the Carrier tab | Rate Confirmation |
| Dispatch Service | Carrier from the Carrier tab | Dispatch Report |
| Carrier or Trucking Company | Driver from the Driver tab | Dispatch Report |
Open the Dispatch Report
- Open the saved load from My Loads, All Loads, the Dispatch Board, or load search.
- Confirm the driver is assigned to the load.
- Review pickup and delivery stops, driver notes, critical notes, equipment, truck, trailer, and driver pay details.
- Select the Dispatch Report button on the saved load.
- Review the report before sending or sharing it with the driver.
Screen cue: open the saved load and use the document buttons near the top of the load screen to open the Dispatch Report.
What the Dispatch Report Contains
The exact layout can vary by setup, but the Dispatch Report commonly includes:
- Load information: Load number, order date, and company details.
- Driver or assignment details: The assigned driver, truck, trailer, equipment, and related dispatch information when entered on the load.
- Pickup and delivery stops: Location names, addresses, phone numbers, dates, times, and stop instructions.
- Commodity and accessorial details: Freight description, weight, charges, or instructions entered in the Commodities and Accessorials table.
- Driver notes: Driver-facing instructions entered on the load.
- Critical Notes to Driver: Important driver instructions that should stand out on dispatch paperwork and mobile dispatch workflows.
- Terms and instructions: Driver or dispatch terms used by your company setup.
Show Driver Pay on the Dispatch Report
Driver pay can be shown on the Dispatch Report when your workflow is set up to display it.
- Go to the Drivers tab.
- Open the driver's profile.
- Select Show Terms & Amount.
- Save the driver profile.
- Regenerate or reopen the Dispatch Report for the load.
If more than one driver is assigned to the load, review the report carefully to confirm the amount shown matches your expected driver-pay workflow.
Before Sending the Report
Before sending a Dispatch Report to a driver, review the load for missing or outdated information.
Screen cue: review the assigned driver, phone, rate, reference, and dispatch notes before sending the driver-facing report.
- Driver name and contact details.
- Pickup and delivery dates, times, and location instructions.
- Truck, trailer, and equipment details.
- Driver pay, accessorials, and terms if those should print.
- Critical Notes to Driver and regular driver notes.
- Any attachments or mobile dispatch instructions the driver needs.
Dispatch Report vs. Mobile Dispatch
The Dispatch Report is a document-style view of the load. Mobile Dispatch and the Driver Web App are driver communication workflows that can send dispatch details, GPS tracking, document upload options, and load status update tools to the driver's phone.
Many companies use both: the Dispatch Report for paperwork and Mobile Dispatch or Driver Web App for day-to-day driver communication.
Troubleshooting
- The button says Rate Con instead of Dispatch Report: Confirm your company's TMS type and report setup. Freight Broker accounts normally use Rate Confirmations.
- The wrong driver appears: Update the driver assignment on the load, then save and reopen the report.
- Pay is missing: Confirm the driver's profile has Show Terms & Amount enabled and that driver pay is entered on the load.
- Notes are missing: Confirm the note was entered in a driver-facing notes field, not only an internal note field.
- The report is outdated: Save the load after making changes, then regenerate the Dispatch Report.