Post, Freight and Carriers

What is the difference between a Truck Dispatcher and Freight Broker (EXPERT NEEDED)?

I am in a leagal dispute with my former employer in which I worked as a freight broker. One of the carriers I used as a broker asked me if I knew of someone to become his personal dispatcher. I then set up a company and my g/f handeled the dispatching service from her home. My employer then terminated me and is sueing me because they claim I set up a competivie business against him. I would like the thoughts of other Transportation Industry Pros on this. If anyone could help or send information about this issue I would be very gratefull. Thank You All.

Public Comments

1. Having been in the transport industry for almost 21 years, I would have fired you as well.
2. A broker collects the freight info and can send or sell the "trips" to thier company/s or sell them to another company for a share of the profits. A dispatcher just tells which truck to do which job. A broker requires a license but a dispatcher does not. When you started working for that one company (will will pick J.B. Hunt out of the air) you probly were also still employed as the broker yes? You were then able to influence what work went in which direction which is considered a conflict of intrest and there was probly a non-compitition clause in your employment contract with the broker. Sad to say you most likly will lose this one.
3. did you have a contract with these people and if so was there a no compete clause- it sounds like they had every right to terminate you but unless there was a contract thats all they can do-when i drove for indian river the dispatchers only assigned loads but the brokers had auth to do BOTH- and those guys switched companies alot between all the central fl juice haulers