Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies

Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies

Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies

[Audience: Carrier or Trucking Company TMS - Dispatchers, Operations Users, Admin Users, and Drivers]

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.

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

  1. Open the saved load from My Loads, All Loads, the Dispatch Board, or load search.
  2. Confirm the driver is assigned to the load.
  3. Review pickup and delivery stops, driver notes, critical notes, equipment, truck, trailer, and driver pay details.
  4. Select the Dispatch Report button on the saved load.
  5. Review the report before sending or sharing it with the driver.

Saved load screen buttons including Rate Con or 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.

  1. Go to the Drivers tab.
  2. Open the driver's profile.
  3. Select Show Terms & Amount.
  4. Save the driver profile.
  5. 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.

  • 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.

Related Articles

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