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Box truck dispatch
Straight trucks live on expedite, partials and freight that a 53-footer physically can't get to. Different load boards, different brokers, different rules.
or $325/week flat
The market
Box truck freight is its own ecosystem
Box truck and cargo van operators don't compete with semis — they compete with each other and with LTL carriers. The freight comes from expedite brokers, LTL partial overflow, retail and fixture deliveries, medical and lab logistics, and any consignee whose dock or street can't take a 53' trailer. Much of it never appears on the load boards a semi driver watches.
The economics are also different. Lower rates per mile, but much lower fuel and maintenance cost per mile, and often no CDL requirement under 26,001 lbs GVWR. The margin trap is unpaid time: liftgate work, inside delivery, residential appointments and multi-stop routes that eat a whole day for a single load's pay.
How we run a box truck
- Expedite boards, not general freight. We work the broker lists where straight truck freight actually sits rather than fishing for scraps on the main boards.
- Liftgate and inside delivery paid separately. If the load needs the gate or the driver walking it inside, that is an accessorial and it gets negotiated as one.
- Multi-stop routes priced by the day. A five-stop route is a day of work, and we price it against your day rate rather than against the mileage.
- Appointment reality checked. Residential and retail deliveries with tight windows can strand you for hours. We confirm the window and the site before you accept.
- Equipment and endorsements matched. Liftgate, pallet jack, ramp, air-ride — what you carry decides what we can book, and we record it once at onboarding.
Answers
Box truck dispatch — questions
How much does box truck dispatch cost?
8% of gross linehaul revenue, or $325 per truck per week flat. Liftgate fees, inside delivery pay, detention and fuel surcharge are yours in full and never included in the percentage.
Do I need a CDL to run a box truck under dispatch?
Not for a straight truck rated under 26,001 lbs GVWR carrying non-hazardous freight, but you do need your own operating authority, a DOT number and the correct insurance to be dispatched. Requirements vary by state and by what you haul, so confirm your specific setup with FMCSA and your state authority.
What kind of loads do box trucks get?
Expedite and time-critical freight, LTL partial overflow, retail fixtures and store deliveries, medical and lab courier work, and any delivery where a 53' trailer physically can't reach the dock. Much of it comes from expedite brokers rather than the general load boards.
Can you dispatch a cargo van or sprinter?
Yes, on the same rate card. Sprinter and cargo van freight is almost entirely expedite work, and the earnings depend heavily on being positioned in a busy freight region and being genuinely available at short notice.
Want to see what's moving in your lanes this week?
Send your MC number and your usual lanes. We'll pull live loads you could run and show you the rates before you commit to anything.