Conestoga trailer dispatch services

What the 4% dispatch fee includes

Rai Dispatch charges 4% of gross revenue on loads we book for Conestoga trailers. Confirm the billing base and service scope in writing before onboarding. Fee schedule effective October 30, 2026.

• A dedicated truck dispatcher for your truck
• Load search and carrier approved booking
• Freight rate negotiation with brokers
• Broker communication from pickup to delivery
• Lane and route planning
• Rate confirmations and paperwork support
• 24/7 live dispatch support for active carriers

No forced dispatch: you approve every load before it is booked. We dispatch under your MC authority and never collect freight payments; brokers pay you or your factoring company.

Documents to start: Prepare your operating authority details where applicable, Certificate of Insurance, W-9, equipment specifications, and a signed dispatch agreement. A factoring notice of assignment may also be needed. Broker requirements vary by load and carrier.

Start with the covered loading envelope

The Conestoga name identifies a rolling tarp system, not a universal cargo size or payload. Record the usable deck, clear height under the bows, interior width and space needed to close the system. Include the actual trailer configuration and any restrictions created by the bulkhead or rear closure.

Ask for dimensions that include packaging, skids and projecting parts. A commodity described only as machinery or building products is not enough to approve a load. Your dispatcher can collect missing details, while you confirm whether the complete shipment fits the trailer and can be carried safely.

Discuss how the shipper will load the trailer

Clarify whether loading is from the side, rear or above and how much access the facility needs. The operator must confirm that the tarp system and loading process are compatible. A request for crane loading, for example, needs more detail than a general flatbed designation.

We ask about the loading appointment, site contact, equipment available and time allowed to open, secure and close the system. If the receiver uses a different unloading method, establish that before departure. Include any driver assist duties in the load discussion instead of discovering them at the gate.

Separate weather protection from cargo securement

Explain why the customer requested covered equipment and what protection the commodity needs. Confirm whether packaging, dunnage or additional protection is specified. A rolling cover does not make a shipment refrigerated, and it should not be represented as satisfying every moisture or contamination requirement.

The carrier remains responsible for the appropriate cargo securement plan. Send details of the available straps, chains, anchor points and other relevant equipment when requesting a service review. The cover and the load restraint serve different purposes, so both need to be considered.

Compare the entire covered freight trip

A specialized trailer can face a different reload choice from an uncovered flatbed. Compare pickup deadhead, loading time, delivery hours and acceptable freight near the destination. Tell your dispatcher which commodities you accept and whether you prefer regional runs or longer OTR trips.

When comparing offers, identify extra stops, difficult access, waiting time and any change to the planned loading method. We support rate discussions around the work actually required. A quoted premium or return load should be treated as unconfirmed until the responsible party agrees to it.

Set the operating scope and fee together

Conestoga dispatch is 4% of gross revenue on loads we book. A dedicated dispatcher supports the agreed search, rate negotiation, booking communication and paperwork process. There is no setup fee; confirm the billing base and invoice schedule in writing.

Your first conversation should establish trailer specifications, preferred regions, available days and service expectations. You approve each load. Oversize work, unusual handling and permit dependent moves need an additional capability review before they become part of the plan.

Conestoga versus a tarped flatbed: confirm the requested access

A Conestoga uses a rolling tarp system, which makes the loaded cargo envelope and the opening process part of the freight review. An uncovered flatbed with separate tarps presents a different loading and protection arrangement. Ask why the shipment requests one configuration and what access the facilities need.

We clarify the loading method and provide the actual trailer information for the carrier and booking party to review. A broad “covered flatbed” description is not enough to substitute equipment. Confirm that the cargo, packaging and securement fit when the system is closed and that both facilities can work with the proposed arrangement.

Keep the covered dimensions current through booking

A change to packaging, skids or a projecting component can affect whether the rolling cover closes even when the base footprint is unchanged. If the cargo information changes, send the revised dimensions and obtain carrier review before treating the shipment as the same load.

Consider a machine whose initial dimensions exclude a later added crate or protective frame. We ask for the complete prepared for shipment dimensions, not the earlier product specification. The carrier then checks the covered space, loading access and securement plan. Agreed changes to equipment or loading instructions belong with the final rate confirmation.

Conestoga dispatch is 4% under the published equipment schedule, with the billing base agreed before service. Share your actual covered dimensions, accepted commodities and operating region. The open deck load checklist provides the cargo questions, while our lane planning guide helps compare a specialized outbound trip with the realistic next search area.