Plan loads that fit the clock, and keep drivers legal.
The clocks defined precisely, sleeper berth splits, exceptions, ELD mechanics, trip planning and log auditing, with worked examples you can copy.
The clocks defined precisely, sleeper splits, exceptions, ELD mechanics, trip planning, auditing logs and fatigue.
- 4 modules
- 8 lessons
- about 10 hours
- Certificate of completion
- US rules and employers
Does this sound like you?
Hours of service feel like riddles
11, 14, 70, splits and resets. You want one clear explanation with examples.
You plan loads that cannot be legally run
A late delivery caused by a bad plan hurts everyone. You want to plan against the real clock.
Logs confuse you
Edits, unassigned driving and malfunctions have rules. You want to audit logs with confidence.
What is the Hours of Service & ELD course?
Plan loads that fit the clock, with fewer violations and fewer late deliveries.
What will you be able to do after the Hours of Service & ELD course?
By the end of the Hours of Service & ELD course you will be able to do the 3 things listed here. Each skill is practised in the lessons and checked in the final scenario exam, so you can test your own progress before you apply for work or take on a client.
- Plan a legal trip against the clocks
- Audit logs for violations
- Never pressure a driver to break the rules
What is in the curriculum?
The Hours of Service & ELD course has 4 modules and 8 lessons, about 10 hours of study in total. The lessons are written in plain English, and the course closes with a final scenario exam and a certificate of completion. It starts with the rules in detail and moves on to the eld in practice.
Module 1The rules in detail3 lessons · 4 h
Lessons
- The clocks, defined precisely (read free)
- Sleeper berth splits in depth
- Exceptions, exemptions and special situations
Module 2The ELD in practice1 lesson · 1 h
Lessons
- ELD mechanics: statuses, edits, malfunctions and roadside
Module 3Planning and dispatching2 lessons · 3 h
Lessons
- Planning a trip against the clocks
- The dispatcher's HOS toolkit
Module 4Enforcement and improvement2 lessons · 3 h
Lessons
- Auditing logs, violations and consequences
- Team driving, long-haul planning, fatigue and capstone scenarios
| Module | Lessons | Study time |
|---|---|---|
| The rules in detail | 3 | 4 h |
| The ELD in practice | 1 | 1 h |
| Planning and dispatching | 2 | 3 h |
| Enforcement and improvement | 2 | 3 h |
| Total | 8 | about 10 h |
| Price | $39, one payment, final exam and certificate included | |
Also included
- A workbook of templates and exercises you can copy into your own files
- Monthly updates when rules change
Final exam and certificate
A 25-question scenario exam covering: The rules in detail; The ELD in practice; Planning and dispatching; Enforcement and improvement. Pass mark is 80%. You then receive a Truck Dispatching USA certificate of completion with a QR code that anyone can verify online.
Who is this course for?
This is for you if
- Dispatchers, small-fleet owners, owner-operators, brokers and safety staff who want to plan legally and audit logs well.
Who is behind this course?
Truck Dispatching USA LLC is a US dispatch company. This course is written by our editorial team, in plain English, around US rules and US employers. We check facts against the regulator or agency named in each lesson, show you the source, and date the page. When a rule changes, the lesson changes.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Questions: contact us or write to [email protected].
Check the facts yourself
What jobs and pay can this lead to?
The Hours of Service & ELD course prepares you for roles such as dispatcher who plans legal trips, eld and logs administrator at a small fleet and safety or compliance support. Pay depends on the employer, the state and your experience, so the figures below come from published sources and job listings. Read the roles first, then check which ones are hiring near you.
Roles this skill opens
Dispatcher who plans legal trips
Know each driver's clocks before you book the next load.
ELD and logs administrator at a small fleet
Review logs, edits and violations each week.
Safety or compliance support
Audit logs, coach drivers and prepare for audits.
Owner-operator
Plan your own driving time so you do not lose a day to a violation.
Ways to use it
Add it to a role you already have
For many people this is a skill that makes them better and safer in the job they already do.
Offer log checking to small fleets
Some people review logs for small fleets as a service. It is education and organization, not legal advice.
Official US pay figures
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (employees)
- Median pay per year
- $58,640
- Lowest 10% under
- $40,140
- Highest 10% over
- $79,380
- Jobs in the US
- 2,221,200
- Outlook 2025 to 2035
- 4% (as fast as average)
- Usual entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award (CDL training)
Transportation, storage and distribution managers
- Median pay per year
- $107,230
- Lowest 10% under
- $65,120
- Highest 10% over
- $194,900
- Jobs in the US
- 228,100
- Outlook 2025 to 2035
- 6% (faster than average)
- Usual entry
- High school diploma plus 5 or more years in a related job
The driver figure is for employee drivers and is a reference point only. This course is about planning and auditing, a skill used inside several different roles.
How to put it to work
- Finish the course and the examUse the certificate and your trip-planning samples as proof.
- Use the dispatcher HOS toolkitShow you can plan a multi-day trip against the clocks.
- Search the right titles"Dispatcher", "fleet safety", "compliance coordinator" and "operations coordinator".
- Check the official rulesUse the FMCSA hours of service page for the current rule text.
Risks, said plainly
- HOS rules have many exceptions and can change. Confirm with FMCSA.
- ELD systems differ by provider.
- A planning mistake can cost a driver a violation or a day.
- Educational only. This is not legal advice.
Reported pay ranges
Trucking dispatch
- Employee dispatcher
- $35,000 to $60,000 a year (median $47,500)
- Entry-level freight dispatcher
- $45,000 to $55,000
- Intermodal dispatcher
- $65,000 to $70,000
- Trucking dispatcher, Charlotte NC
- $60,000 to $70,000
- Independent dispatcher (6 to 8 trucks)
- $85,000 to $180,000+ (industry-quoted; depends on fleet, lanes and fee, see the maths table)
- Dispatcher fees
- 5% to 10% of gross revenue (most 6% to 8%)
- Flat weekly fee
- $150 to $400 per truck
- Per-load fee
- $30 to $75 per load
Freight broker
- Average
- $64,803 to $65,698
- Experienced, first year
- $75,000 to $100,000+
- Top earners
- $144,384
2026 reported ranges from public pay sources. Pay depends on state, employer, shift and experience. Official national figures: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dispatchers.
Hiring sectors and demand
- Freight dispatching: "Not oversaturated. Most people quit within months. Demand for skilled, reliable dispatchers remains steady."
- Aircraft dispatcher: reported 21% job growth through 2028 (an older projection, faster than average; check the current BLS outlook).
- Flight dispatcher: reported +13% year-over-year vacancy growth globally.
- Largest dispatcher employers: land transport (12.3%), specialised construction (6.2%), employment and staffing (2.6%).
- Health care and social assistance employs the largest share of dispatchers.
- AI impact: job growth, not contraction, may be the near-term story for dispatchers willing to learn the tools.
How to apply
Where to look
- Indeed
- ZipRecruiter
- FlexJobs
- FreightWaves Classifieds
- TruckingJobs.com
- DAT Job Board
- JobsInLogistics.com
Your resume
One page, plain format that applicant-tracking systems can read. Put numbers on what you did. Add your Truck Dispatching USA certificate and the course name under training.
- Many entry-level roles say: no experience needed, training available.
- Small fleets hire by referral, phone call and trial.
- Resume: 1 page, readable by applicant-tracking systems, 6 sections, quantified track record.
Start today
One payment. No subscription. Your access is linked to your email.
$39 $59
Launch price until 30 November 2026. One payment, no subscription.
- 4 modules, 8 lessons, about 10 hours
- Downloadable templates and checklists
- Final exam and certificate of completion
- Updates when rules change
What do people ask before they enrol?
These are the questions people ask most before they enrol: who the course is for, what it covers, how long it takes and what the certificate means. If your question is not answered here, write to [email protected] and we will reply by email.
Do I need experience?
No. The course starts from the basics and builds step by step. Lesson 1 is free to read, so you can check the level before you pay.
What do I get?
8 lessons (about 10 hours of study), a workbook of templates and exercises, a 25-question final exam and a certificate of completion with a QR code anyone can verify.
How long do I have access?
Your access is linked to your email and stays open. You can study on any device, at your own pace.
Where do the pay numbers on this page come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (pay: May 2025; jobs and outlook: 2025 to 2035). They are national figures for related jobs, with a link to the source under each one.
Will this help me get a job or start earning?
The course gives you the skills, checklists and numbers people in this field are hired for. Finish the lessons, pass the exam, put the verified certificate on your resume, then apply. What you do with it depends on your effort, your market and your decisions.
How much does it cost?
It is $39 at the launch price until 30 November 2026, then $59. One payment, no subscription.
What about refunds?
This is digital content, so there is no refund once access is unlocked. Read lesson 1 free first. The full terms are on the Training Terms page.
Is it for the United States only?
Yes. It teaches US rules and US freight. Outside the US, local law and tax differ, so get professional advice before you act.
Is the content kept current?
We review the courses every month and update them when rules change. The Courses page shows what changed.
Which courses come next?
- Truck Dispatcher ProTrucking$49
- Freight Broker ProTrucking$59
- Carrier Authority & StartupTrucking$49
- Safety & ComplianceTrucking$49
- Owner-Operator BusinessTrucking$49
- Back-Office & Career TrackTrucking$49
- Box Truck & Sprinter DispatchTrucking$100
- Reefer DispatchTrucking$100
Browse every course by field on the Courses page. Already read about the trucking basics? Start with Truck Dispatcher Pro.
Want the whole field? This course is also in the Trucking Career Bundle. One payment covers every course in it.
Hiring or looking for work? Browse the US truck dispatchers directory or the directory of dispatchers outside the US.
Start today.
Learn the skill, finish the course, apply for the jobs or build the business. The only wrong move is waiting another month.
Get the course, $39Educational material for the United States. Not legal, tax, medical or financial advice. Truck Dispatching USA LLC is not affiliated with any certifying body named on this page. Last reviewed November 2026.