Chris Dispatch Service LLC.

03/19/2024

A brand built to last.
Since it was founded in 1939, Peterbilt has been at the top of the trucking industry, creating purpose-built vehicles that stand the test of time.

03/16/2024

FTR Transportation Intelligence recently finalized its market conditions indexes for December.
The indexes found that the trucking market faced challenging conditions through the end of last year, while the shipping market maintained exceptional health.

Read more in our new blog post where we share data regarding possible market upturn in the future:

https://chrisdispatch.com/blog/post/2291984/trucking-industry-outlook-for-2024-by-fleetowner

02/25/2024

Recent years have been rough for small carriers and owner-operators. The impacts of high fuel costs, inflation, and the overall global crisis made keeping operating costs low and maintaining the same profit levels incredibly challenging.

With costs rising and owner-operators facing a down market, optimizing your operations and running your trucking business efficiently is more important than ever.
Here are a few key reasons why it’s necessary to optimize your operational costs:

▪️ Maximize financial efficiency by understanding day-to-day costs.
Refueling, deadhead miles, parking and even the money you spend on meals can eat into your profits if you’re not careful. Keeping tabs on all the areas where you spend helps you know exactly where you can cut costs and improve your profit margin.

▪️ Ensure that you’re actually making a profit.
Even if a load looks like it would pay well, carriers must consider many other factors to determine whether it’s worth taking. No trucker wants to find out that they barely made a profit or just broke even at the end of the week.

▪️ Make informed decisions that lead to long-lasting success.
The trucking industry is cyclical, and even the worst markets will rebound eventually. Costs will return to normal, and rates will grow. Learning how to outlast downturns like the current one will set you up for even greater success once conditions improve.

▪️ A quality dispatch service can generate more profit for your company.
In theory, it's considered an expense. But a knowledgeable person can ensure you are taking the best prices possible, running on the right lane, and keeping your business operations up and running while you're driving the truck. At the same time, the more money you make on the load, the higher the income of the dispatcher. It's a perfect win-win.

Visit our website and learn more content at:
www.chrisdispatch.com

01/28/2024

Trucks move roughly 72.6% of the nation's freight by weight.
11.46 billion tons of freight (primary shipments only) transported by trucks in 2022, representing 72.6% of total domestic tonnage shipped.

Below you will find more interesting facts about the industry:

Taxes:
- 24.4¢ in federal fuel tax paid for each gallon of diesel fuel as of January 2023.
- 18.4¢ in federal fuel tax paid for each gallon of gasoline as of January 2023.
- 33.9¢ paid on average in state fuel tax for each gallon of diesel fuel as of January 2023.
- 31.6¢ paid on average in state fuel tax for each gallon of gasoline as of January 2023.

Number of trucks:
- 13.86 million single-unit (2-axle, 6-tire or more) and combination trucks registered in 2021, representing 5% of all motor vehicles registered.

Number of companies:
- According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, as of April 2023, over 750,000 active US motor carriers own or lease at least one tractor. Out of those carriers:
- 95.8% operate 10 or fewer trucks.
- 99.7% operate 100 or fewer trucks.

Visit our website to learn more about the trucking industry:

www.chrisdispatch.com

11/12/2023

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 98 percent of truck drivers regularly experience difficulty finding safe parking—a sharp uptick from the 75 percent figure reported just four years earlier. USDOT also found that the truck parking shortage exists in every state and region.
Year after year, truck drivers have indicated that the parking shortage is one of the top three challenges they face, rising to number one in 2022. With the volume of freight moved by trucks expected to increase by more than 21% over the next decade, this problem is only going to get worse.

The American Trucking Association (ATA), through its federation of 50 state associations, called on the governors of every state to prioritize truck parking with their infrastructure spending priorities.

“Truck drivers are the backbone of our society and our economy. Without them, the daily conveniences we take for granted. From freshwater to fuel to the literal roofs over our heads—would not exist,” the letter said.
“We urge you to examine the availability of truck parking within your State and take such actions as are necessary to ensure that truck drivers have a safe place to sleep when they are out on the road delivering more than 70% of America’s freight. We hope you will use the aforementioned resources, as well as other non-Federal resources, to prioritize and address this serious safety problem.”

07/01/2023

A new blog post where we explain what is TONU, Layover, Detention and Lumper service.

https://www.chrisdispatch.com/blog/post/2247802/tonu-layover-detention-time-and-lumper-service

Visit our website to get more information about the industry:
www.chrisdispatch.com

04/24/2023

Throughout the winter months, this industry experiences a shift in many respects. That said, depending on your latitudinal location, climate and overall elevation, your business may not actually feel the impact of this change. Shippers sending retail freight from Albuquerque, NM to customers around the South-Southwest, for example, will likely see the business continue as usual.

This area of the United States doesn’t experience the same level of disruption as other portions of the nation once winter settles in. Northern states like Minnesota, North Dakota, New York and Michigan to name a few, have an entirely different reality.

◾️ Truckers can’t drive quite as far
Less sunlight, and therefore visibility, will force truckers - who only make money while they haul freight, to travel with a bit more caution during these periods. In turn, the loads behind these carriers simply won’t be able to move as expeditiously as other months of the year would allow.
Truck drivers, as a profession, are only legally allowed to haul freight for 11 hours within a 24-hour period. And, naturally, if more of these hours are spent in the dark, decreasing their speed, truckers will get less productivity from them.

◾️ If you’re a company that frequently moves over-dimensional (OD) or overweight freight, you know that these shipments can’t legally be moved when the sun isn’t up.
If you didn’t know this, here’s your warning. Although oversized regulations vary from each state to the next, the vast majority of them limit OD freight movement to daylight hours.
Without understanding this, you might find yourself in a pickle, watching your timelines shift due to a lack of understanding and preparation. As winter arrives, expect the movement of your over-dimensional freight to slow down due, in large part, to a lack of sunlight nationwide.

◾️ The Exceedingly Unpredictable Weather
Throughout many portions of our country, and the world, winter has become synonymous with blizzards, harsh winds and parking lots full of snow. Sure, there are certain regions of the United States where winter isn’t accompanied by any of these.
But in locations like the upper-Midwest, Northeast and Northwest, winter weather can be brutal. Not to mention, unpredictable.

For this reason, the transportation of your cargo in these areas will likely experience delays and failures during the winter months. Try as they might, transportation providers are helpless against a quick-onset snowstorm or a bout of extreme wind.
These are just a few of the situations that can happen along the road. Daily checking on the weather can help you send your driver to a safe area, where they don't have to deal with all of the above.
We, as dispatchers, have to make sure we checked the region where we send the driver before we even call the load to check for details.

Learn more at: www.chrisdispatch.com

04/20/2023

Lower rates and increased air cargo capacity may benefit shippers in 2023, as carriers contend with lower demand, according to industry analysts. More businesses came to rely on airfreight during the pandemic as a way to circumvent lengthy delays caused by port congestion. But with ocean congestion clearing, demand for pricier air cargo services has declined. Lower demand also comes as more capacity hits the market.
That’s led to a very competitive market, which is expected to provide shippers with more pricing and capacity options.

Higher expenses affect all businesses, but motor carriers operating in the spot market have felt the pain more than most, caught between falling linehaul rates and climbing costs. For typical long-haul carriers, diesel prices rose 42% in the first 11 months of 2022, and the national average was above $5 per gallon for 33 out of 48 weeks.

There should be some relief on the revenue side of the ledger by mid-year, with truckload rates expected to rebound in Q2. But the focus for 2023 will be on the expense side of the books. With thinner margins, carriers will need maximum asset utilization. That means reducing empty miles, emphasizing fuel economy and coordinating with their customers to reduce dwell times as much as possible.
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Read the blog post where we go further into details about market insights you could use when negotiating a rate. It makes a difference. ⬇

https://www.chrisdispatch.com/blog/post/2191850/freight-market-insights

04/04/2023

Dispatchers are responsible for arranging the delivery and pick up of freight, including making schedules, selecting routes, keeping records, generating documents, and maintaining communication with clients. This job can be lucrative and rewarding, but its fast pace means not everyone is cut out for it.
Here are a few qualities typically found in top dispatchers:
◾ Organization
- Dispatchers have to make schedules, plan routes, and keep records to name a few duties. All of this requires exceptional organizational skills.
◾ Communication
- Communication is a big part of a truck dispatcher’s duties. They have to be able to communicate effectively with drivers, brokers, insurance companies, etc.
◾ Technical Skills
- The transportation industry has undergone a technological revolution in recent years. Today, technology plays a huge role in the industry, and dispatchers need to know how to use it.
◾ Multitasking
- Truck dispatchers are responsible for multiple freight loads at a time, often for different companies. Being able to multitask and keep on top of everything is crucial to the role.
◾ Adaptability
- A lot of unplanned situations can arise, from long loading times, traffic delays, or bad weather. A good dispatcher is able to quickly come up with a backup plan and act on it.

Learn more at: www.chrisdispatch.com

01/25/2023

The more knowledge you have on the market, the better you will handle the negotiations. With that, you can secure a better deal on the rate. Find out which state moves the cargo that your truck is hauling the most:

▪️ Texas
Petroleum and coal products, electronics, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment and agricultural products. Freight rates are generally consistent in Texas because it is both a producer and consumer of many different types of goods.

▪️ California
The primary products moved by trucks include aircraft parts, electric vehicles, raw diamonds, telecommunications equipment, shelled almonds, petroleum oils, and Integrated circuits. The large number of railroads in California makes intermodal transportation to and from the state easy and price competitive.

▪️ Georgia
Vehicles, ores, slag and ash, beverages, spirits, vinegar, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, and fruits and nuts are Georgia’s most common loads. During Georgia’s peach, pecan and peanut growing seasons, trucks can be hard to find.

▪️ Illinois
In Illinois, you’re likely to find loads of light petroleum oils, heavy trucks, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications equipment, cell phones, aircraft components, and corn. Its large population, industry, and central location make Illinois economical for freight shipping.

▪️ Ohio
Ohio’s most common loads include aircraft parts, soybeans, mid-sized automobiles, large automobiles, motor vehicle parts, engines, and small automobiles. The state’s central location and large industrial markets make shipping affordable compared to the national average.

▪️ Pennsylvania
Coal, medications, liquid propane, aircraft parts, motorcycles, and palladium all make up the Keystone State’s most common loads. Location, location, location: shipping near large cities will be less expensive than in Pennsylvania’s rural areas.

▪️ Indiana
Miscellaneous medications, motor vehicle transmissions, gas-powered trucks, aircraft parts, large automobiles, and diesel engines are Indiana’s most frequently moved products. Freight volumes and rates do not fluctuate much, making Indiana shipping reasonable for both inbound and outbound.

▪️ Tennessee
Medical, surgical, dental, veterinarian instruments, large automobiles, aircraft parts, mid-sized automobiles, cotton, orthopedic appliances, portable computers, and whiskey. You’ll see higher rates in the fall due to lumber and Christmas tree exportation.

▪️ North Carolina
Common freight loads on North Carolina’s roads include aircraft parts, medications, wood pulp, bombs and mines, and diesel engines. Outbound shipping in the fall will be more expensive due to the state’s large lumber industry.

Pay special attention on the day-to-day market condition, as it changes very often.

Visit us: www.chrisdispatch.com

One of the biggest questions every owner-operator must address is whether to use a dispatch service to find loads or rely on self-dispatching. There’s no universal right answer to that question and there are many different factors that can make either choice the right option. However, a well-knowl...

12/23/2022

Being a trucking dispatcher for owner-operators (or company drivers) has its pros and cons, but if you’re up for the challenge, make sure you implement the tips below.

▪️ Be honest - integrity and honesty have to be the cornerstone of your relationship with your drivers. As soon as you get caught just once in a little white lie, you’re done. You need to be sure you will not be trusted from there on. Form a good working relationship, since after all, you both have the same goals for the company.

▪️ Be confident - from start to finish, every aspect of dispatching requires you to be fully informed and prepared. When negotiating rates with brokers, you can reach higher prices if you know your business. This knowledge will boost your confidence while dealing with tasks. Also, this will show that you are knowledgeable about your job which will result in success.

▪️ Get to know your drivers - as a trucking dispatcher, it’s important to make an effort to get to know drivers on a personal level.
Not only will this improve the day-to-day working relationship, but it also shows the driver that you value them as a person instead of just another asset to move cargo.

▪️ Plan ahead - planning ahead minimizes last-minute changes and improves general workflow and productivity. A lot of time can be saved by setting up geo zones, adding subcontractors, and creating templates when you receive the job frees up a ton of your time on the day of the project. Devote 5-10 minutes at the end of the working day to confirm plans for the upcoming day.

▪️ Know the market - this includes knowing the best routes and shortcuts, as well as having a firm memory of current pricing. Local knowledge is one of the biggest assets you can have as a dispatcher. This knowledge will enable you to make the most efficient dispatching decisions on the fly – a valuable ability since time is of the essence for most contractors and haulers.

As a trucking dispatcher, there is rarely any downtime. A good dispatcher must be able to coordinate trip schedules, manage routes, and handle calls and requests from operators, third-party vendors, and their drivers. They must make decisions confidently and have the knowledge to support them.