Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers about how we work, who we work with and what to expect. Do not see your question? Call our operations team.
Who we work with
Do you work with fleets?
Yes. Small, growing and established fleets are the core of what we do. Support is scoped to your fleet size, your equipment and the services you choose, whether you run 5 trucks or 50.
Do you work with owner-operators?
Yes. Owner-operators and 1 to 2 truck carriers are welcome. You get the same process and communication as a larger fleet, sized for one or two trucks.
Can you support carriers that already have dispatchers?
Yes. We can take administrative work off your in-house dispatch team, including rate confirmations, BOL and POD collection, billing preparation, factoring submissions, check calls and detention documentation, so your dispatchers can stay focused on moving trucks.
Do you work with new authorities?
Yes. Many brokers want a carrier to have some time in business before they will set it up, which is exactly when a new carrier needs an organized desk working the brokers that will. Tell us when your authority was granted in the fleet assessment.
Can I use a dispatcher if I am leased on to a carrier?
Usually not, and we will tell you so on the call. If you are leased on, that carrier is already sourcing your freight. Our services make sense once you run under your own authority.
What areas do you serve?
We support carriers based in the United States hauling freight within the United States. Lanes and regions are agreed with each carrier during onboarding.
Services
Do you provide dispatch-only services?
Yes. Our Dispatch Support package covers load sourcing, rate negotiation, broker communication, load booking and trip coordination, for carriers that handle their own back office.
Do you provide back-office-only services?
Yes. Carriers that dispatch their own trucks can hand us the administrative side on its own: rate confirmations, BOL and POD management, billing and factoring submissions, track and trace, and accessorial documentation.
Do you handle paperwork?
Yes. Rate confirmations, BOLs, PODs, carrier setup packets, detention and accessorial documentation, and the records that go with them. We collect, check and organize them so they are ready for billing.
Do you support billing?
Yes. We prepare invoices, verify that the supporting documents are complete, submit to brokers or your factoring company, and follow up on open payments as part of billing support.
Do you work with factoring companies?
Yes. We prepare and submit invoice packets to the factoring company you already use, and check that the rate confirmation, BOL and POD match before anything goes out.
Do you provide track and trace?
Yes. Pickup and delivery updates, check calls, appointment communication and exception management, so brokers get updates without calling your drivers or you. Coverage runs 24/7.
Equipment
Do you work with flatbeds?
Yes, along with step decks, conestogas and hotshots. Open-deck loads involve more detail on commodity, weight, dimensions, tarps and securement, and our workflow confirms those before a load is booked. See our open-deck support page.
Do you work with box trucks?
Yes. Box truck freight tends to be local or regional, often multi-stop, with payload, liftgate and dimension limits that need checking on every load.
Do you work with dry vans?
Yes. Dry van is supported across regional and long-haul lanes, including appointment scheduling, lumper receipts and detention documentation.
Do you work with reefers?
Yes. Reefer loads carry more requirements on the rate confirmation, including temperature settings and appointment windows, and we track those along with the paperwork.
Do you work with hotshots?
Yes. Hotshot loads are checked against your truck and trailer weight limits and deck length before booking.
Onboarding and pricing
How does onboarding work?
It starts with a fleet assessment. We learn your fleet size, equipment, lanes and current workflow, build a support plan from the services that fit, then set up communication channels, document handling, preferences and responsibilities before we start. How quickly we start depends on your fleet size and how many services you choose, and we agree a start date with you during the assessment.
How is pricing determined?
Pricing is built around your operation. It depends on the number of trucks, your equipment and which services you choose, and it is confirmed with you before any work begins.
Do you require a long-term contract?
No long-term commitment and no cancellation penalty. The arrangement can be ended with written notice. We would rather keep your business because the work is good than because you are locked in.
Control and compliance
Do carriers maintain control over their operations?
Yes. You keep your authority and your decisions. Loads are booked under your own MC number, nothing is booked without your approval, and you can turn down any load. The exact service structure and responsibilities are set out in the carrier agreement.
Are you a freight broker or a carrier?
No. Smart Lane Solutions provides dispatch and administrative support services to motor carriers. We do not hold operating authority, we do not take possession of freight, and we do not sell shipper freight to carriers. The carrier contracts directly with the broker or shipper.
How do I know you are legitimate?
Ask that of anyone who contacts you. We never ask for your operating authority, every broker we bring you can be checked on the FMCSA SAFER database before you accept, and the terms of our work are written down before we start.
Do you provide legal or regulatory compliance advice?
No. Our compliance administration is administrative support, such as organizing documents and tracking renewal dates. We are not a law firm or a compliance consultancy, and responsibility for regulatory compliance stays with the carrier.
Grow your fleet without growing your office at the same pace.
Smart Lane Solutions provides outsourced dispatch and back-office operational support, so adding trucks does not mean adding the same amount of administrative work.