# Load-to-truck matching for carrier dispatch

Load-to-truck matching is the decision to assign suitable capacity to a specific load. A good match considers more than proximity: equipment fit, driver availability, service commitments, the next move, and the cost of a poor assignment all matter.

## A review sequence

1. Confirm the load's stops, appointment windows, freight, equipment, and special instructions.
2. Identify candidate trucks with known location, availability, and compatible equipment.
3. Check driver availability and the relevant legal operating limits before promising a move.
4. Compare deadhead, schedule risk, existing commitments, and likely downstream effects.
5. Ask a dispatcher to approve the assignment and record why it was chosen.

For example, the nearest empty truck may be a poor choice if its driver cannot reach the delivery within the agreed window or it would strand capacity for the next committed load. A useful assistant can narrow choices and surface constraints, but the decision should stay inspectable.

Hours-of-service rules vary by jurisdiction. For US operations, consult [FMCSA's hours-of-service summary](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations); for federally regulated Canadian operations, consult [Canada's Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2005-313/). Do not treat a TMS suggestion as a compliance determination.

RunaboutX's [AI Dispatcher](/features/ai-dispatcher/) is intended to assist this review. Start at [rate confirmation to load entry](/resources/learn/rate-confirmation-to-load-entry/) if the load details themselves are uncertain.

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Canonical: https://www.runaboutx.com/resources/learn/load-to-truck-matching/
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14