# Dispatcher Qualifications & Responsibilities

> What a freight dispatcher legally can and cannot do — agency doctrine under 49 CFR §390.5, broker boundary, and dispatcher liability.

Source: <https://www.fasttruckingcompliance.com/guides/dispatcher-qualifications-and-responsibilities>
Publisher: Fast Trucking Compliance
License: All rights reserved. Citations welcome with attribution and a link back to the source.

## Key takeaways

- Dispatchers are agents of the motor carrier under 49 CFR §390.5, not separately FMCSA-licensed.
- Dispatcher acts bind the carrier under §390.11 — HOS pressure becomes a carrier violation.
- Brokering loads in the dispatcher’s own name without MC-Broker authority is illegal under 49 USC §13904.
- 1099 contract dispatcher arrangements face IRS Section 530 and state ABC test scrutiny.
- Unauthorized brokerage carries civil penalties >$10K per incident under 49 USC §14901.

## Topics covered

- freight dispatcher
- 49 CFR 390.5
- agency doctrine
- dispatcher vs broker
- dispatcher liability

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